Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #32: Heavy (6/25/98)
Nick hurries towards the City Hall, stumbling through the storm damage.
Nick notes the path of the twister, figuring that Snake will want to do a personal inspection so as not to miss any injuries.
Nick is so busy rubbernecking that he fails to notice a brick in his path, and trips.
Wise Snake climbs up the stairs out of the basement of Town Hall, carrying the bags and satchel she had brought down with her.
Nick: Ooooff!
Wise Snake fails to notice that one of the items Eliza had pulled out of a box ended up hooked onto the medical satchel.
Nick gets up, noting with displeasure the large mudstain on his new pants.
Eliza and Tanzarra follow. Eliza is carrying the dress and still wearing [forgotten] the molted wings.
Nick takes a step and winces as his ankle objects loudly.
Nick: Shen!
Wise Snake looks about in displeasure at the windblown, water-stained state of the Mayor's office, then sighs and forgets it immediately.
Nick limps onward, trying not to feel so "loudly".
Nick is glad that it isn't far to the City Hall.
Wise Snake sits at the Mayor's chair and puts the rest of the stuff down, then picks up the crown, wondering how she ended up with that.
Eliza: I hope people weren't badly hurt.
Wise Snake sets the crown on the desk.
Eliza drapes the dress over the back of a chair.
Wise Snake: Yes, some of us will have to go out and check for injuries, and some will have to stay here so people will be able to find a channel if they require one.
Nick turns the last corner and starts down the home stretch.
Wise Snake studies Eliza and Tanzarra, frowning, and hopes they are up to handling City Hall by themselves.
Nick: ~~ yeow ~~ ~~ yeow ~~
Eliza: I hope Nick's okay.
Eliza realises that this was probably a tactless thing to vocalize.
Wise Snake's frown deepens as she zlins something she really didn't want to zlin, coming down the street.
Eliza blushes.
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Wise Snake: Excuse me.
Eliza: I'm sure he is. I mean, he is very careful.
Wise Snake gets up and rushes out the door.
Nick pauses to rest a moment.
Nick then grits his teeth and limps on.
Wise Snake bolts out of the door of City Hall and runs down the street toward Nick.
Wise Snake: Stop... stop.. don't walk on it!
Eliza turns to watch the blur speed through the door.
Nick sees Snake coming and groans.
Nick stops as ordered.
Nick: Are you all right, Snake?
Wise Snake performs a slide that would do a professional Bezbol player proud.
Wise Snake grabs Nick around the ankle and proceeds to check it out very thoroughly, until she is convinced it is not a fatal injury.
Nick wobbles on one foot.
Annika cheers as she passes by, being an avid Bezbol fan.
Eska opens her eyes to see a lot of nothing.
Wise Snake: You should be more careful!
Nick reaches down to steady himself on Snake's shoulder.
Wise Snake proceeds to work on Nick's ankle.
Nick: I only twisted it.
Wise Snake: Only! You should feel what it zlins like!
Eska wiggles one limb at a time to make sure they are all there.
Nick: Snake, most of the Simes that I passed hardly noticed.
Eska is distressed to find that her left leg seems to be held down by a large weight, like an elephant or perhaps a building.
Wise Snake: That's why you were creeping down the street like an elephant with a house on its leg?
Eska also realises that it hurts like shen!
Eska: ~ panic and pain ~
Nick wonders what elephants and houses have to do with anything.
Nick: Are you sure it's just my pain that you're zlinning?
Wise Snake: Either that, or there's another Gen lying in that house over there with a crushed leg.
Nick: Because I don't think an elephant could creep anywhere with a house on its leg.
Eska takes a deep breath to scream with and discovers another source of pain.
Wise Snake: Just hold still.
Nick surveys the ruined building.
Wise Snake grapples with Nick's leg, and manages to get it into a better position for the healing work.
Eska gasps.
Nick: It did take quite a bit of damage.
Eska: Oh shen oh shen I'm going to die!
Nick wobbles, then gives up and sits down.
Nick: Here.
Nick puts his foot in Snake's lap.
Wise Snake: Thank you.
Wise Snake finishes working on Nick's leg.
Wise Snake: [having to pull off his shoe and sock and pull up his pants leg to do so]
Nick would prefer to put something else there, but figures that Snake wouldn't go for that, when she can work instead.
Eska starts to cry.
Wise Snake comes out of the healing mode, then notices Eska's field.
Wise Snake: Oh, shen.
Wise Snake drops Nick's mostly-healed ankle into the mud and scrambles up, heading toward the fallen house.
Nick grabs his shoe and sock, and hobbles after her as fast as he can with one bare foot.
Nick: Wait for me!
Wise Snake: Don't step on any glass!
Eska: I don't want to die yet!
Wise Snake circles the house, looking for some way in.
Wise Snake: Hey... can you hear me? [calls to the Gen field]
Eska freezes.
Nick pauses to put on the shoe, sans sock, and continues.
Eska: Yes! ~ hopeful ~
Eska: Yes I'm here! I'm trapped! I can't get out, my leg is under something!
Wise Snake can barely hear Eska, but she can feel the Gen's attention is on her now.
Wise Snake: We're going to try to get you out.
Nick catches up to Snake.
Nick: Where is she?
Wise Snake avoids some semi-broken out windows, and finally locates a door half-popped out of the frame.
Eska rests, allowing herself to hope.
Wise Snake tugs on the door, then manages to force it open.
Wise Snake: She's underneath.
Nick: Careful.
Wise Snake peers into the house's formerly roomy, but now rather cramped, interior and her tentacles retract in nervousness.
Nick: Zlin for stability before you go in there.
Eska: [small bits of rubble crumble down]
Wise Snake: I don't have to zlin for stability. Any house whose roof was on top two hours ago and is now in the basement counts as unstable in my book.
Wise Snake's nerves are making her testy.
Wise Snake doesn't realize the roof is actually from a house two blocks down, and Eska's house's roof is about a half mile to the East now.
Wise Snake finally nerves herself to step over the threshold.
Nick: Zlin before you step.
Wise Snake nearly falls over as Nick speaks halfway through the motion.
Wise Snake grabs the doorway, then zlins carefully, before completing the step inside.
Wise Snake wonders if she should go back and draft Tanzarra for this job.
Eska strains to hear what is happening.
Nick: And tell me if you step on something which won't hold my weight.
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Wise Snake creeps farther into the house, or I should say, down into the house, as the floor is sloping diagonally into the basement.
Wise Snake: How are you doing? [nervously, to Eska]
Wise Snake: We're coming down toward you.
Nick: ~~ encouragement ~~
Nick: ~ slight ache in ankle ~
Eska burst into tears again.
Eska: ~ pain and relief ~
Nick steps carefully in Snake's wake, being careful to step where she does.
Eska: [small fragments and dust fall down on Eska]
Eska screams.
Wise Snake skids the rest of the way down into the basement, managing to stop herself before she gets wedged into the crack between roof and floor.
Eska: Stop! It's falling on me!
Eska: ~ panic! ~
Wise Snake: Eeiii!!
Eska: I don't want to die!
Nick halts before he skids after her.
Nick: Snake! Are you all right?
Wise Snake freezes, braced between two "walls", as the dust drifts all around.
Wise Snake: [panting] Yeah... yeah. That was a little faster than I'd had in mind....
Eska: ~ terror ~
Wise Snake can hear water gurgling somewhere, courtesy of the house's ruined plumbing system.
Wise Snake zlins for Eska without extending her laterals, hoping to avoid the worst of the dust.
Wise Snake: It's all right... it's all right. We'll get you out of here.
Eska tries to wiggle out a bit and almost passes out as the pain spikes.
Nick debates the advantages and disadvantages of following.
Wise Snake: Nick, can you go find me a rope or something?
Wise Snake: You may have to help get her out, from above.
Nick: Sure.
Nick backs out carefully.
Wise Snake carefully creeps farther downward, and squeezes through a crack into the darkness of the basement.
Wise Snake: What's your name?
Wise Snake zlins the Gen and moves over to where she is lying, pinned under fallen lumber.
Wise Snake: I'm Hajene Farris, I'm a channel.
Eska looks up at Snake.
Eska: I'm Eska Lomas.
Nick is not happy about leaving Snake alone with an injured person.
Eska: My leg... it's stuck.
Wise Snake crouches over Eska and zlins her carefully.
Eska: ~ pain in throbbing waves ~
Nick checks the gardening shed in back of the house, which didn't get caught in the twister.
Nick is happy to find a stout rope hung on a nail inside.
Nick: I love people who organize their storage space!
Eska: ~ leg crushed under a roofing beam, just below the knee ~
Wise Snake winces at the leg's condition.
Nick grabs the rope and returns to the ruined house.
Eska: ~ shock from pain and blood loss ~
Nick carefully enters the ruin.
Nick: I found a rope, Snake.
Wise Snake engages Eska's field and works to balance her bodily systems.
Wise Snake: Great. Hold on a minute.
Wise Snake: That's my Companion, Nick, Eska. He's going to help get you out of here.
Nick: ~~ long distance support ~~
Wise Snake: Now, can you help me here, Eska? If I can lift this beam just a little, can you drag yourself backward?
Eska: All right. But be careful! Please!
Wise Snake: We're going to be just as careful as we can, Eska. Don't you worry.
Eska: I'll try.
Wise Snake keeps her voice quiet and soothing as she looks around for another piece to use as a pry.
Nick waits for Snake to assess the situation.
Wise Snake: Nick, I'm going to try to free her now. She is trapped under some debris.
Eska gets ready to pull herself out.
Nick nods, figuring that Snake will zlin it even in the dark.
Wise Snake locates a suitable snapped-off beam and braces it underneath the fallen roof as close to the Gen as possible.
Wise Snake: I'm not going to be able to lift this very far, so it'll be up to you to try as hard as you can, okay?
Nick concentrates on ~~ steady support ~~ figuring that any movement of an injured limb will be painful.
Eska: ~ fear at possible outcomes ~
Eska: I'm ready.
Wise Snake augments to try to lever the fallen beam, and roof, and floor... etc... upward the critical inch or two.
Eska pulls herself backward with her arms, screaming as her leg shifts along the "floor".
Wise Snake struggles to maintain the position until Eska is clear.
Nick feels the wreckage shift as Snake heaves.
Nick: Careful!
Eska collapses.
Eska: I can't go any further.
Eska hopes she is clear.
Wise Snake zlins to see if Eska is clear or not.
Eska is clear, but only just.
Wise Snake lets the mass come back down in a semi-controlled fashion. [crash]
Nick yelps as the floor shifts underneath him.
Eska groans.
Wise Snake backs off from the dust-and-splinter-and-rubble cloud raised, then forges forward again to crouch over Eska.
Wise Snake: You're okay, you're okay, you're going to be fine.
Eska: It hurts.
Nick: Is it stable enough for me to come down there?
Nick: Or can you bring her up?
Wise Snake tries to block as much of the pain as possible for her.
Wise Snake: Let down the rope, we'll have to bring her up.
Nick: ~~ distant support ~~
Nick uncoils the rope and throws it, remembering at the last moment to hold on to one end.
Wise Snake takes the other end of the rope and ties it around Eska, firmly.
Wise Snake: We're going to have to move you now. We'll be very careful.
Nick admires Snake's ability for bald-faced lying, knowing as he does that not too much care is possible under the circumstances.
Eska: Oh it's going to hurt!
Eska: ~ fear of pain ~
Wise Snake: I'll try to block as much of the pain as possible.
Eska sobs.
Wise Snake: I'm sorry.
Nick: Tell me when to start pulling.
Wise Snake picks up Eska and turns her in the best position to get through the crack.
Wise Snake: Ok... gently now, Nick.
Eska: ~ pain ~
Wise Snake supports the crushed leg as well as possible.
Nick gives the rope a steady pull.
Wise Snake works to keep Eska conscious.
Wise Snake eases Eska through the crack and down against the sloped "floor".
Wise Snake squeezes through after her.
Eska shrieks.
Nick ignores the sound.
Wise Snake: Easy... easy, now.
Wise Snake is wearing a long-lived, steadily worsening wince.
Wise Snake: Pull, Nick.
Wise Snake braces herself against the "roof" and helps to push Eska upward.
Nick: Is she thorough?
Nick is, of course, unable to determine this himself in the darkness.
Nick pulls more.
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Eska grits her teeth.
Nick drags Eska towards him.
Wise Snake follows, braced awkwardly between the two layers, helping Nick where possible.
Nick shifts his stance to get a better angle, ignoring the twinge in his mostly-healed ankle.
Wise Snake finally climbs out onto the relatively flat area nearest the doorway to the outside.
Nick sees a shadowy Snake emerge from the blackness.
Eska sobs with relief to be outside and still alive, even if still in pain.
Nick: Can we carry her from here?
Wise Snake: Yes.
Nick: This rubble isn't very stable.
Wise Snake picks up Eska and carefully carries her out the door to the front yard.
Wise Snake lays Eska on the damp front lawn, looking up at a perversely sunny sky.
Nick follows them out.
Eska clings gratefully to Snake's small frame.
Nick sits beside Snake.
Eska: I thought I was going to die!
Wise Snake is sweating and covered head to toe in plaster dust, basement dust, and storm detritus, but other than that looks like her usual self (unfortunately).
Wise Snake looks around for something to clean her arms on, then uses the grass with an expression of distaste.
Nick looks around.
Nick: There's a hose over there in the garden.
Wise Snake zlins Eska carefully.
Wise Snake: This leg is going to be pretty nasty. [to Nick in English, trusting that someone this far In-T won't know it]
Eska: ~ less pain now that the weight is gone ~
Eska: What? What did you say?
Nick nods grimly, glad that he spent so much time trying to communicate with Linn.
Wise Snake: Can you run get the medical kit in the Town Hall? [to Nick, this time in Simelan]
Nick: Sure.
Wise Snake: Don't worry, Eska, you're in fine hands.
Nick proceeds at a fast walk, not trusting his ankle to hold up under additional stress.
Wise Snake thinks, she wouldn't want to see most channels trying to handle this injury.
Wise Snake pushes up Eska's dress to bare the injury, then zlins it carefully.
Eska lays still as that is the lest painful thing to do.
Wise Snake groans inwardly at zlinning what happened to the bone.
Wise Snake knows this isn't going to be like the trap injury they'd healed before.
Eska: Will it be okay?
Eska: I'll be right, won't I?
Nick returns with the satchel.
Nick: Here.
Nick settles in beside Snake.
Wise Snake: You'll be fine. [emphasis on you'll]
Nick: ~~ heavy support ~~
Wise Snake tries to ignore the tourists starting to gape through the streets, including some who are gathering to watch over the fence.
Wise Snake thinks, some things never change no matter what town you're in.
Wise Snake works to support Eska while clearing bone fragments out of the open wound, dismayed by the extent of the wreckage.
Godfin comes running over.
Godfin: Oh sweet Maty Groves! Eska! Is she okay?
Nick frowns at Godfin.
Nick: Stay back, please.
Eska: Fin? Oh Fin!
Godfin: But my Eska Eska! Please tell me you are okay, Eska!
Eska breaks into tears.
Nick: Don't interfere with the ambient, or Hajene Snake won't be able to work.
Godfin takes a step or two back.
Godfin: Is she okay?
Wise Snake gropes for a tool with blood smeared hand and tentacles, then begins to trim the shattered ends to come close to matching.
Nick: Fin, please leave the yard entirely.
Nick: We're doing everything we can for her, but that won't be enough if your field keeps interfering.
Nick has his attention firmly on Snake.
Eska passes out.
Godfin backs another step or two.
Wise Snake works to control the bleeding and help Eska's body cope with the shock.
Godfin wrings his hands together frantically.
Nick looks up long enough to glare at Godfin.
Nick: Back to the street, and keep that worry under control.
Nick: Now.
Godfin turns and flees, choking back sobs.
Wise Snake puts down the tools and, holding the leg in position, begins to work on rejoining muscle tissues and blood vessels, reconstructing cell by cell.
Turdof, one of the ladies looking over the fence, turns to one of the others and says, "He was a bit hard on poor Fin wasn't he?"
Turdof: I mean, being her betrothed and all!
Nick is putting all his energy into maintaining a bubble of nageric quiet for Snake to work in.
Wise Snake works to close the wound on the surface of the leg.
Wenex: I always say that healing isn't enough, you have to have compassion too.
Wise Snake fumbles for one of the new splinting kits purchased while she was in Novic Place.
Turdof nods in agreement and continues to watch from a Nick safe distance.
Wenex: It's amazing really that there wasn't more damage!
Nick hands Snake the opened kit, which he has already removed from the satchel.
Turdof: There hasn't been a twister through here since Kimet had the triplets!
Turdof: Oh that was a night I tell you!
Wise Snake labors to keep Eska stable while she splints the leg, joining the two new bone-ends as carefully as possible.
Wenex: Oh I remember. I wasn't here then of course, I was in Frewmet with my aunty who has the gout. But I remember the uproar when I got back, and her not even married!
Nick assists Snake with the splint.
Turdof: I know! It was the talk of the town for ages! One of each colour we used to say. Of course, no one says anything about it now.
Wenex: What happened to Kimet anyway?
Wise Snake takes Eska into a full transfer position briefly to check her for other damage, worried that she has been unconscious for so long.
Turdof: She moved of course, couldn't take the scandal. Last I heard she had sent the kids to live with her mother in Fizbin.
Nick: Shock?
Eska: ~ away with the pixies ~
Wise Snake grunts.
Nick: Is that a "yes" grunt or a "no" grunt?
Wise Snake: We'd better bring her back to City Hall and put her on a cot there. Let Eliza and Tanzarra keep an eye on her.
Nick nods and looks around for something to use as a stretcher.
Wise Snake: I'll carry her.
Wise Snake: In just a moment.
Wise Snake finds she requires a bit of time to recover from the complex healing job.
Nick settles back to wait.
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Wise Snake rests on Nick's support.
Wenex: Looks like they might be finished. I wonder if she is alive?
Nick gauges Snake's condition, and decides the extra work and the challenge has helped.
Turdof: I can't zlin anything, but then, with all those fields around I probably couldn't anyway.
Wise Snake: Ok, let's take her in.
Wise Snake picks up Eska carefully and stands.
Eska hangs limply in Snake's arms.
Nick picks up the satchel and stands as well.
Wise Snake steps carefully over debris and walks towards the Town Hall, being careful not to jostle her burden.
Wise Snake carries Eska the short distance down the road, then up the Town Hall's steps.
Eliza and Tanzarra have been dealing with multiple small cases, nothing more then scratches and bruises and bumps on the head.
Wise Snake brings Eska into the room where they'd set up a few cots for patients, and lays her down on one.
Wise Snake: Ah, hello, Eliza, Tanzarra.
Wise Snake sees that everything seems to be in order and is relieved.
Eliza walks over and looks at the damaged Gen.
Wise Snake: This woman's leg has been badly injured. She passed out during the healing work and hasn't come around again. I'd like the two of you to keep an eye on her for me?
Nick smiles to see Eliza and Tanzarra working together so productively.
Eliza: Of course.
Eliza: I'll get a blanket.
Wise Snake: [to Nick] Even if she recovers fully from this, she's going to require a cane, and a special shoe.
Wise Snake: [disappointed that she couldn't do better for the woman]
Nick: Yes.
Wise Snake: That leg will be an inch or two shorter than the other.
Nick: But that's better than dying under the rubble.
Nick: ~~ encouragement ~~
Nick: Alone and in the dark.
Wise Snake: Umh... no doubt.
Wise Snake is cheered somewhat by Nick's encouragement.
Wise Snake hopes Eska and her loved ones see it that way as well.
Godfin hesitates at the bottom of the Town Hall steps, needing to know what is happening with his beloved, but fearing that they might drive him away again.
Wise Snake: Well, we'd better go check for others like her.
Nick: Yes. There will be more, with a storm like that.
Wise Snake: Nobody's said anything, but... [past experience has shown her that gawkers do not necessarily equal rescuers]
Godfin plucks up his courage and mounts the steps.
Wise Snake turns and hurries out the door, comes face to face with Godfin.
Wise Snake zlins Godfin, not recognizing him due to having been completely out of it when he appeared before.
Wise Snake: Can I help you?
Godfin: I, is Eska all right? I'm her, we are to be married.
Wise Snake: Ah. Come in.
Wise Snake turns around and goes back in, leading Godfin to Eska's bedside.
Godfin follows the channel anxiously.
Nick sees the gawker and stands by Snake, in hopes of keeping her as polite as possible despite the delay in seeking more work.
Wise Snake shows Godfin where Eska is lying.
Godfin: Is she going to be okay?
Wise Snake: Well, her leg was crushed underneath a wall. I have done the best I can to repair the damage, but only time and her own courage will tell how much it will affect her future life.
Nick wishes, as his ankle twinges, that they could do a bit less running back and forth.
Wise Snake: I am leaving her here so that our other channel, Tanzarra, can keep an eye on her.
Wise Snake: You may remain here, if you like, so long as you stay out of the way and do as Eliza and Tanzarra ask. Or, you can come back in a few hours to find out how she's doing.
Nick looks to see if their patient has regained consciousness.
Wise Snake, seeing that Godfin is settled, nods to Nick and leaves the building once again.
Klina shrieks and runs into the street.
Klina: Oh, it burns, it burns!
Klina's clothing is indeed blackened in spots, and wet as well.
Klina: ~~ dull burning ~~
Wise Snake zlins something up the street and hurries in that direction.
Nick limps after her as quickly as he can.
Klina: Oh, help!
Wise Snake rushes up to Klina, then looks around to see where she came from.
Klina reeks with a throat-rasping pungency.
Klina ran out of a warehouse, which shows some storm damage, although not as much as Eska's house.
Wise Snake zlins Klina.
Wise Snake jumps back as she realizes the woman is covered with acid.
Wise Snake: Nick, don't touch her.
Wise Snake would not have known about acid except for a regrettable incident in Bender Cove which she still has a scar or two from, fortunately not on her laterals.
Wise Snake: Hose... hose...
Wise Snake looks around and spots a hose lying in a lawn nearby.
Wise Snake: Come here!
Wise Snake: [to Klina]
Klina: The sulfuric acid canister split right open.
Wise Snake runs to the spigot and turns it on, praying the water is still functional.
Klina stumbles after Snake.
Klina: It burns!
Wise Snake: Take off all your clothes. Now!
Wise Snake: Hurry.
Klina fortunately remembers enough of her safety training that she doesn't take this the wrong way.
Klina fumbles with buttons.
Wise Snake starts hosing Klina down even before she's started undressing.
Klina gasps at the coldness, and splutters as the stream of water hits her face.
Klina finishes removing her shirt and starts on her acid-washed jeans.
Nick wonders why any time a woman strips in front of him, she ends up looking like a drowned rat. Or ferret.
Wise Snake continues to hose and hose, because she'll be damned if she'll lay a tentacle on that woman if there's so much as a molecule of acid remaining.
Klina gradually realizes that the regulation fifteen minutes is up and then some.
Wise Snake thinks if she was holding 4 hoses instead of one, it would be sort of like giving channel's transfer to unwilling recipients.
Klina: Thanks, but [splutter] I think [choke] that's enough.
Klina spits out a mouthful of water.
Wise Snake: Um....
Wise Snake turns the water off and zlins Klina cautiously.
Klina: ~~ dull, almost sunburn-type throbbing on splashed parts ~~
Wise Snake: Ok, come over here and sit down so I can look at those burns.
Klina squelches over and sits, shivering.
Wise Snake sets to work on the injuries.
Klina: Sh-sh-shenned wind.
Wise Snake: Nick, can you run over to Eska's house and get some of those clothes that had fallen on the floor by the doorway?
Wise Snake wouldn't want the poor lady to get pneumonia on top of everything else.
Wise Snake: [evidence enough that Snake has been getting an adequate amount of work lately]
Wise Snake: Was there anybody else in the building who may have been injured?
Klina: No.
Nick: Sure.
Klina: I was the first one in. Should have waited.
Klina smiles crookedly.
Nick checks to make sure that Snake can finish the job alone without endangering herself, and sets off to get clothing.
Wise Snake carefully tends to each burn, first doing what she can nagerically and then rubbing on some of Titty Bittles-Fumbucker's Ragin' Firebalm.
Klina wrinkles her nose at the sharp herbal smell.
Klina: What is that? Horse liniment?
Wise Snake: Ah, an herbal remedy for burns of this type.
Wise Snake: Just be glad the sulphur smell isn't around to compete with it.
Klina: It wouldn't be a good combination, that's for sure.
Wise Snake: Now, make sure to let these get plenty of air, but not to dry out.
Wise Snake: Er, and if you continue to feel discomfort, come by Town Hall for more channel's attention.
Wise Snake: Nick should be back any minute with some clothes for you.
Wise Snake: Are you going to be able to stay here to warn people coming in to work about the acid?
Wise Snake: Or do we have to post a sign?
Nick returns with an outsized bathrobe, much the worse for wear.
Wise Snake looks at the bathroom and suspects Klina is going to want to make a trip home first.
Klina looks at the robe in disbelief.
Nick: I think that pile of clothes was supposed to be for the ragpicker, but the robe's big enough not to rub those burns too badly.
Klina nods and accepts the robe.
Klina soon realizes that she's going to find walking and using her hands difficult while wearing it.
Wise Snake: Do you need a ride home?
Klina rolls the sleeves up to half their length, and doubles the rest of the robe up around her waist before tying it.
Wise Snake looks around for a horseman, or failing that, a free renSime.
Klina: I think I'd better. I'm not going to walk far in this.
Wise Snake: Here, I'll assist you. Nick, can you get some kind of warning up on that building?
Nick: Sure.
Wise Snake: You know, "Smells awful, stings too, keep out" or some such.
Wise Snake is sure Nick will think of something appropriate.
Wise Snake scoops up Klina carefully.
Wise Snake: Where are we going?
Nick pulls a large piece of chalk out of the satchel and writes "PAY TAXES HERE" in large letters on the door.
Klina points down the street.
Klina: That way.
Nick: There. I don't think anyone will go in there now.
Wise Snake starts off in the indicated direction.
Wise Snake is unaware of the irony of a Farris being used as transportation.
Klina starts to get ~~ nervous ~~ as the storm damage increases along their route.
Klina indicates a turn.
Wise Snake goes in the indicated direction.
Wise Snake is making mental notes and keeping a zlin-out for more vict.. er, patients.
Klina lets out a wail of despair as she sees that her house is not crushed, but totally gone.
Cuxie walks down the street wearing a bloody bandage around his head, a bamboozled expression, and very little else.
Nick limps after Snake.
Nick wonders why they seem to be running into so many naked people today.
Wise Snake: Er....
Wise Snake: Is there a problem?
Nick wishes they would wait until he's off duty and able to take advantage of them.
Wise Snake notices that they are standing at the end of a sidewalk with nothing but a basement in front of them.
Wise Snake: Ah.... I see.
Wise Snake sets Klina down carefully.
Klina: My house!
Wise Snake: It seems to be, er... [distracted, turns towards Cuxie]
Wise Snake hurries toward Cuxie.
Cuxie weevels by. 1
Wise Snake follows Cuxie.
Klina is appalled to find that her sole possession at the moment is a very ratty used bathrobe that fits her like a tent.
Wise Snake: Excuse me sir, do you require a channel's assistance?
Cuxie: A what?
Klina then realizes that she might be glad of a bathrobe-tent before the day is out.
Cuxie looks at Snake in a cross-eyed manner.
Wise Snake grabs hold of Cuxie.
Cuxie wonders where all the ferrets came from.
Wise Snake: I think you should sit down, please. [gently, but firmly]
Wise Snake guides him over to the side of the road, where a large fallen tree makes a splendid bench.
Cuxie plonks down where she points him.
Cuxie: Where did everyone go?
Nick is glad that at least this one is reasonably cooperative.
Wise Snake: I think they're all looking at other people's wrecked houses.
Wise Snake zlins the head injury.
Cuxie: ~ big bump, cut which has stopped bleeding, concussion ~
Wise Snake abhors disaster-sightseeing, although she sees nothing wrong with ambulance chasing, or rather, ambulance-racing.
Wise Snake: Hmmm...
Wise Snake: What is your name, please?
Cuxie: It was like wow! We had some stuff and....
Cuxie: My name?
Cuxie thinks really carefully.
Wise Snake: Forget it. Can you tell me where you live?
Cuxie: Cuxie Moris.
Wise Snake: Ah, Cuxie, great. I want to take you back home. Where do you live?
Cuxie: Yeah corner of Second an oh my God!
Wise Snake flinches.
Cuxie clutches his head.
Cuxie: Ohhhhhh why did I take the moxie?
Wise Snake: Oh my God? Is that East or West of Beechnut?
Cuxie: ~ bright swirling colours of pain in a F-sharp key ~
Wise Snake winces further.
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Cuxie: But wow! What a swing! It was like a tornado man!
Wise Snake zlins Cuxie and sighs.
Wise Snake: [to Nick] He's too doped up to know what is going on.
Wise Snake: Ok, Cuxie, [wonders if that's his real name or a nickname to rhyme with the drug]
Wise Snake: Where did you say you live? 2nd and...?
Cuxie: 3rd?
Cuxie: 4th?
Nick nods, recognizing the symptoms from two days before.
Cuxie: Ummmm who cares man. Where's the next party, that's the important thing.
Cuxie puts his hand up to his head.
Nick: There's a party at your home.
Nick: Tell us how to get there.
Cuxie: Hey! Who hit me!
Wise Snake calls out to Klina.
Wise Snake: Excuse me, do you recognize this fellow?
Wise Snake figures Klina doesn't have anything better to do, since she is still standing there holding her cheeks with a pale open mouthed expression.
Cuxie: It's the blue house with the pink and orange walls.
Wise Snake: Shen, there can't be too many like that in a town like this. [mutters to Nick]
Klina looks over at Snake's patient, and wrinkles her face in disgust.
Klina: Him.
Wise Snake: Do you know where he lives? I want to take him home before he gets hurt worse.
Klina: The shelter on Beechnut is the closest to a home he has. Outside of his imagination.
Klina then realizes that she's just as homeless, and wails again.
Cuxie spins around on the log.
Cuxie starts to giggle.
Cuxie: What a spin man! Like riding a cone!
Cuxie: Oh my head.
Cuxie: ~ ouch ~
Cuxie: I need like more moxie man.
Cuxie: You got any?
Nick is glad the guy isn't a honeybee-intoxicated Torn By Tentacles fan, at least.
Cuxie: Where is Carmon? What you do with Carmon?
Wise Snake: Can you show us where it is, Klina?
Wise Snake is starting to feel kind of stressed out.
Klina sighs.
Wise Snake helps Cuxie up.
Wise Snake: Come on, we have to go now.
Klina: I might as well.
Klina hikes up her bathrobe once more and leads the way.
Wise Snake walks Cuxie along after Klina, as well as possible.
Nick falls in at Cuxie's other side, to keep him from veering off.
Wise Snake: Sorry about this, Cuxie, but you are going to require some rest with that concussion of yours.
Wise Snake also would rather take care of him somewhere besides the street.
Cuxie: What? Rest? No rest, have to party!
Wise Snake: Ok... whatever you say, dude.
Wise Snake keeps marching him along in Klina's wake.
Cuxie starts singing "Party party party..." as they walk.
Klina winches and walks faster.
Cuxie: ~ loud colours ~
Wise Snake wonders what she is doing wrong in her life that she could be lord and Mayor of an entire town in the morning, and marching through Territory disaster zone with a singing naked man hours later, and nobody thinks it's odd.
Wise Snake wonders if it's possible to attain some kind of happy medium, or if life just goes on this way.
Cuxie points "That way."
Wise Snake marches Cuxie along a little faster so as not to allow Klina to give them the slip.
Cuxie starts to reach and bends over to throw up.
Wise Snake stops and waits for Cuxie to finish.
Wise Snake: [carefully moving out of the way]
Cuxie manages to get Nick's pants, however.
Nick: ~~ disgust ~~
Nick grins when Cuxie sways and falls in the mess he just made.
Wise Snake crouches over Cuxie and zlins him carefully.
Cuxie: ~ like wow ~
Cuxie: ~ out of it ~
Cuxie gets up on all 4s.
Cuxie crawls away.
Klina is almost out of sight by this time.
Cuxie: Carmon? Carmon? Where you hiding girl?
Cuxie looks down as if expecting to see her under him. That is where he left her, after all.
Wise Snake helps Cuxie back up and steers him in the direction of the shelter, which fortunately is in view now.
Wise Snake: [of course it's a pretty little wood frame building with a nice garden, since it's in a small town]
Wise Snake: Oh look! Maybe she's at the shelter.
Cuxie: Oh yeah!
Wise Snake forges onward in that direction.
Nick follows, keeping a slightly greater safety margin between the druggie and his precious pants.
Notes:
1) Weevils? Weebles maybe? [return]