Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #33: Quality Time (6/25/98)
Wise Snake asks somebody to get Tanzarra and bring her to the Mayor's office.
Wise Snake has finally managed to get the storm victims sorted out, the junct search back on track, heard back from the Tecton and thinks she has time to see to Tanzarra's mental state at last.
Tanzarra is heading back to City hall.
Wise Snake hears that Tanzarra isn't anywhere in the building, sighs, tells people to send Tanzarra her way whenever she shows up.
Eliza: And then he grabbed the gun and it went off! But it didn't hit anyone. Mostan's arms were hit though, I think with the gun and on top of the previous damage they didn't think he would be able to manage another transfer....
Wise Snake goes back to the article she is attempting to write for the local newspaper: A call for nominations for a new Mayor and Sheriff.
Tanzarra: My that sounds dreadful.
Wise Snake is having difficulty with the wording, as she wants to make it clear that strong, competent people are needed, not pliable namby-pamby jellyfish.
Tanzarra: How did he manage?
Wise Snake is, however, unfortunately aware that people held under the thumb of a tyrannical Genrunner for 30 years are hardly likely to have any clue what strength in public officials actually is.
Eliza: Mostan is very strong-willed.
Eliza: They thought he was going to be fixated on me, but he wasn't of course.
Tanzarra stops outside the bakery.
Tanzarra: Shall we get something to take back with us?
Eliza: [the person sent to fetch Tanzarra finally finds her and gives her the message]
Tanzarra: Oh well, we better get back to the Mayor's office then.
Eliza looks at the buns.
Eliza: I'll follow if you like.
Tanzarra: We do have time if you want to grab something.
Eliza puts her hand in her pocket for change.
Eliza: Errr, do you have any money?
Tanzarra: ~~ mild hunger ~~ [from Eliza]
Tanzarra: Yes, a little. Quickly get what you want and let's get back.
Eliza orders a dozen current buns, takes the parcel, waits for Zarra to pay then follows her.
Tanzarra walks quickly as she has probably kept Snake waiting too long already.
Eliza thinks about eating a bun, but decides to keep them all together until they are all together.
Eliza trots to keep up.
Tanzarra tries to walk slower for Eliza.
Tanzarra manages to get to City Hall and not run.
The Buns manage to get to City Hall uneaten.
Tanzarra: We better go straight to Snake's office.
Tanzarra goes through main entrance and heads toward the Mayor's, Snake's office.
Tanzarra: Ummm, do you want to put those away in the kitchen?
Eliza: No, someone might eat them.
Eliza is just scared of what Snake would say if Zarra turns up sans Companion.
Tanzarra: Okay, but remember, try to keep your hunger from showing.
Tanzarra: Either that or eat one while were in there.
Eliza is surprised.
Eliza: I'm not that hungry, you can tell?
Tanzarra signals on the office door.
Wise Snake: Come.
Wise Snake is scribbling madly away, having had some ideas.
Wise Snake: Ah... yes... yes... [inspired]
Tanzarra: I know, but with them sitting under your nose you will get hungrier.
Eliza: ~ support, control, lots of control, look at this control! ~
Tanzarra enters the office.
Tanzarra: You wanted to see me?
Tanzarra enters far enough for Eliza to come in as well.
Wise Snake jumps, as she sees/zlins them there.
Wise Snake: [pen flies out of her hand]
Eliza: ~ control and support for Zarra ~
Wise Snake: Oh! Uh... yes, please have a seat.
Eliza's control slips sightly as Snake drops the pen.
Eliza: ~ oops, control control ~
Tanzarra goes and sits on one of the chairs opposite Snake.
Wise Snake crawls under the Mayor's desk in search of the pen.
Eliza sits next to her.
Eliza gets down on her elbows and knees on the other side of the desk.
Tanzarra wiggles about to look under the desk, sees the pen and reaches for it.
Eliza: I see it Snake. Ah, Zarra has it.
Wise Snake gets up.
Tanzarra hands the pen to Snake.
Wise Snake sits back in the Mayor's big chair, looking like she hasn't slept in 2 days and spent most of that time crawling through the plaster-dust covered, mud spattered wreckage of family homes. [fancy that!]
Tanzarra: I am sorry that I startled you.
Wise Snake: Thank you.
Wise Snake: It wasn't your fault.
Wise Snake puts the pen in the Mayor's expensive pen holder.
Tanzarra: Is there something you would like me to do for you?
Wise Snake: Ah, actually I wanted to talk to you about the work you've been doing already.
Eliza concentrates on being a really good Companion for Tanzarra.
Tanzarra: ~~ mild nervousness ~~
Eliza: ~ support ~
Tanzarra always feels like she's in the Principal's office when she is in these situations.
Tanzarra tries to stay calm as Eliza supports her.
Tanzarra: Well things have been going okay.
Tanzarra looks at Eliza, then back to Snake.
Wise Snake: How comfortable have you felt handling the walk-ins while I've been out in the town?
Eliza: Lots of work after the storm.
Tanzarra: I have been coping fairly well, although I am aware that the closer to turnover I get the harder things will be.
Eliza: ~ support, here for you ~
Wise Snake: Tanzarra, you are only 4 days after transfer.
Wise Snake: You have 10 days until turnover.
Tanzarra: I have had a few people who were difficult as they didn't control their nervousness that well, but I just grinned and beared it.
Tanzarra realises this, but the less she dwells on it the better she can function.
Tanzarra: I try not to think on it all the time, it helps me to get on with things.
Wise Snake: That's good.
Tanzarra: The main problem is getting used to the feel of another field.
Wise Snake studies Tanzarra while she speaks.
Tanzarra: I have spent many times having to get used to other's field.
Wise Snake: Explain.
Tanzarra: Well, when we would try to break the dependency I would have to try to get used to other people.
Tanzarra: I'm not sure I can explain how it feels. It's like after Soli, anything else just doesn't mesh properly.
Wise Snake: Well, remember, you're not going to be taking transfer from Eliza necessarily. She's just helping you while you work.
Wise Snake: Think of her as a, a buffer between you and the townspeople.
Wise Snake: She is also your student. You are helping her a good deal more than you realize.
Tanzarra: Yes, and she is helping quite well.
Tanzarra is pleased she is able to at help, at least a little.
Tanzarra: I am trying to get her to be aware of her feelings. So when she feels excitement she can try to keep it from exploding through her field.
Wise Snake glances at Eliza.
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Wise Snake: Back to the subject of work....
Tanzarra: Yes.
Wise Snake: I am expecting the Tecton team to arrive in three days. I want to get the door-to-door canvassing done by then, and I think it will be necessary for you two to assist in that in order to finish it on time without entran difficulties.
Wise Snake hates to have to mention her entran difficulties around this channel but if the woman is going to be around a lot, she'll figure it out on her own anyway.
Wise Snake: How good is your memory for visual and spoken detail?
Tanzarra: It's average.
Tanzarra: I'll take notes if I have to.
Tanzarra: It sometimes depends on what is happening, and the state I'm in.
Wise Snake: Try to work out a method whereby you can write the information down after you've left, so that the people don't see you doing it.
Tanzarra: Of course.
Wise Snake: This storm provides a good cover.
Wise Snake: What I'd like you to do is go from door to door, and take a census of who is living in each house, make sure all Gens are donating and all renSimes are receiving channel's transfer from the official town channel, that all present are healthy and not in need of channel's services, and that there aren't any undiscovered 3rds or natural Donors lurking about.
Wise Snake: The records of the local channel were completely destroyed when his house blew up, and I want the replacement channel to have something to work with.
Wise Snake: Also I don't want to leave whoever it is a scrap of work to do if I can possibly help it.
Wise Snake: Anybody you find who requires assistance of a serious nature, arrange for them to come in and see me.
Wise Snake: We'll set up a schedule in here where anybody can check on it.
Tanzarra: Yes, I can get started on that as soon as possible.
Wise Snake: Hold your horses.
Wise Snake: Now about these juncts.
Wise Snake: I don't want you two running off in a frenzy trying to catch them yourselves if you get any clues.
Wise Snake: We're leaving that to the Tecton.
Wise Snake: Simply write down the information and bring it back, all right?
Tanzarra: As you say. I think it would be too dangerous.
Tanzarra: They must be pretty desperate by now.
Tanzarra: Yes, Snake.
Wise Snake pulls out a map of the town, crudely copied from a real one onto a blank sheet of paper.
Wise Snake: Here's the breakdown of the residential neighborhoods.
Tanzarra leans forward to get a better look at the map.
Wise Snake: I want you to take this section here tomorrow morning, then this one, then these two. That ought to be about 3 day's work if you hustle.
Tanzarra: Okay.
Wise Snake: I'll handle Town Hall in the mornings. You book in people for mornings, that have to see me.
Tanzarra looks at the map upside down and reverses it in her head, to get her bearings.
Wise Snake, having been raised in Sime Territory, doesn't know from upside down for maps.
Wise Snake: I'll handle the night shift for the door-to-door stuff.
Wise Snake: During the nights, you'll be back here. You'll have to work without Eliza for part of the night of course.
Tanzarra: That should be fine.
Wise Snake: Do your best to save the heavy duty stuff for me, especially if it isn't anything that requires instantaneous attention.
Tanzarra tries to subtly turn the map around so that she is looking at it the right way up, from her point of view.
Tanzarra: Yes, all right.
Wise Snake: And that isn't because I don't trust you, it's because I need the work. Plain and simple.
Wise Snake wonders what Tanzarra is doing to the map.
Tanzarra: I understand.
Tanzarra: ~~ sort of ~~
Wise Snake studies Tanzarra, trying to figure out which part of what she said Tanzarra only sort of understood.
Wise Snake: Do you?
Tanzarra thinks Snake must really suffer entran bad if she "needs" all this work, and is glad she is just a Second, and not a First and a Farris.
Tanzarra: No, not fully, but I accept that you have a good reason.
Wise Snake zlins Tanzarra and nods.
Wise Snake: Well... now it's been a couple of days since we've really had a chance to talk, do either of you have any questions or concerns?
Wise Snake looks between Eliza and Tanzarra.
Tanzarra: At the moment I can't think of anything specific.
Tanzarra: Although I was wondering if you managed to see Bowwser the other day.
Tanzarra: We went to his house but he was not home, or just not answering.
Tanzarra: Eliza explained to me about what had happened to him, so he may have just holed up in his house.
Wise Snake: No, actually, I have not had a chance to speak with him again.
Wise Snake: I had hoped to speak to him about going in for Donor training with the Tecton. He managed to serve 4 renSimes during the rioting.
Tanzarra: Yes, fascinating.
Wise Snake: I had talked with him briefly during the trouble, but he seemed to, ah, not take the post of Donor very seriously.
Wise Snake: Well, I will pass on the information about him to the Tecton representatives when they arrive, and it will be out of my hands.
Tanzarra: Eliza and I could drop in again on our rounds one day if you would like to try again.
Tanzarra has managed to get the map the right way up and now knows that she has the west side and a section of the southside from the city hall to cover.
Wise Snake: You can keep this map, I have the original here.
Tanzarra takes the copy of the map and begins folding it up.
Wise Snake looks at Eliza and Tanzarra.
Wise Snake: It may be some time before we get a chance to talk like this again, so if you have anything else you wish to discuss or ask...?
Eliza sits quietly continuing to concentrate on Zarra.
Tanzarra looks at Eliza.
Tanzarra: I think everything will be okay. [to Snake]
Tanzarra is pleased that Eliza has been so supportive.
Eliza: [mind you, the effort of continued concentration is exhausting her]
Tanzarra puts map in shirt pocket and sits back in her chair.
Wise Snake: Umh.
Tanzarra: Is there anything else you would like us to do?
Wise Snake: No.
Eliza is unused to prolonged periods of concentrating - or thinking either for that matter.
Wise Snake is disappointed that neither of them has any interest in taking advantage of the "quality time".
Wise Snake: Well then. That is all.
Tanzarra: Well, If you will excuse us, I think that we should start our preparations.
Wise Snake: Thank you for your time.
Eliza: Oh. Can I ask a question before we go?
Tanzarra stands.
Wise Snake sighs.
Wise Snake: Yes, Eliza?
Tanzarra waits.
Eliza pulls out the buns and puts them on the desk.
Wise Snake looks at Eliza's buns.
Eliza: I guess entran isn't a problem at the moment, hey? But when did you eat, sleep and wash last?
Eliza gets ready to dive out the door.
Wise Snake stares at Eliza.
Eliza pulls out a bun and holds it out to Snake. [shaking only slightly at her daring]
Wise Snake takes the bun.
Eliza: Forgive me Snake, but you look a mess.
Wise Snake: ... umh. ~nonplussed~
Wise Snake: Well, ah, there has been quite a bit of hectic running around because of the storm and everything...
Eliza hands Zarra a bun too.
Eliza: I know, it's been a busy time.
Wise Snake pushes back her scraggly, plaster-dust filled mane.
Tanzarra takes bun and starts nibbling on it.
Tanzarra: Thank you Eliza.
Wise Snake: It is important that we have everything prepared for the Tecton's arrival.
Eliza: If you like, I could help you wash your hair, Snake.
Wise Snake: Er....
Eliza: Snake, the Tecton wouldn't be impressed if they turned up and you were running the town looking like that.
Wise Snake quickly takes a bite of the bun to avoid answering that.
Eliza: Appearances are everything to them!
Wise Snake: I promise you I will be the picture of cleanliness for that day.
Eliza: Everything will be ready. You have already done so much!
Wise Snake senses bath-pressure building up against her and resists automatically.
Eliza: I mean, you caught the bad guy and cleaned up the town. It isn't your fault if it blew down afterwards!
Wise Snake's eyes widen as she considers, for the first time, the possible effects the appearance of the town itself might have on the Tecton representatives.
Wise Snake: I wonder if we should... [imagining trying to organize crews to deal with the trees, etc. within 3 days]
Eliza: Should what Snake?
Wise Snake: Shen, the amount of labor would be stupendous.
Wise Snake: Repair the houses and haul away the trees and debris before the Tecton gets here.
Wise Snake: Do you realize what they're going to think if they come in here and the place looks like a disaster area?
Wise Snake: Shen, we still have craters on 3 different streets.
Eliza looks at Snake as if she were crazy. [Well, she has to be right occasionally just on the law of averages]
Tanzarra: Couldn't we get some of the townspeople to do some of the work?
Wise Snake: Obviously.
Wise Snake: It would have to be all townspeople, who else would be doing it?
Eliza: If you offered extra transfers for augmentation....
Wise Snake: But the level of destruction, and only 3 days to deal with it...
Eliza: Even if they only got a start on it, that would be something.
Wise Snake: Fine. Fine, I'll handle it. You two go ahead and do your share of the door-to-door canvassing as we discussed.
Wise Snake: I'll get Verli to coordinate the cleanup and repairs, he's got the employees and he owes us big time.
Wise Snake thinks, and if that isn't enough, she knows where Verli lives.
Tanzarra: I don't think that the Tecton will expect absolute perfection. They do know there has been trouble here.
Wise Snake of course would never consider anything but absolute perfection, being a Farris.
Eliza: And you will take the time to get a proper meal and wash and sleep?
Wise Snake: Er... yes, yes, I'm sure there will be a few moments for that at some point.
Tanzarra: We can talk to people as we do the census.
Wise Snake: Tanzarra... please.
Wise Snake: If you manage to do exactly as I asked, and do it very well, I will be pleased.
Wise Snake implies that if a bunch of what she really wants ends up getting left out because of excessive creativity, she'll be PO'd.
Tanzarra: Yes, Snake.
Eliza: Snake, you need more then a few moments. Where's Nick? I'm sure you would listen to him.
Wise Snake: He's getting some sleep.
Wise Snake had kept up Nick all night the previous night, and he ended up fading around mid day.
Eliza: So now you can go join him.
Eliza feels like a mother hen.
Wise Snake: Will you two stay here for the rest of the afternoon, then? Until I get back?
Eliza: If that is what it takes. We can start the census tomorrow.
Tanzarra: Of course we will. I can show Eliza the map.
Eliza at least knows which way a map should be read.
Wise Snake frowns, since she had told them not to start it until tomorrow anyway.
Wise Snake: Of course.
Eliza: We will hold the fort here Snake, you go have a wash and get some sleep.
Wise Snake zlins them for sincerity.
Eliza hopes that Snake will do it in that order, as she would hate to see the sheets if she does it the other way around.
Tanzarra: ~~ sincere ~~
Eliza: ~ honest concern for Snake and support for Zarra ~
Wise Snake grunts.
Wise Snake: Fine, then. I'll be back, oh, around sundown.
Tanzarra: Things will be all right, you go look after yourself.
Eliza: Here, [hands her the bag of buns] these are for Nick and Linn and Griff.
Wise Snake takes the buns and the Nick/Snake medical satchel and leaves.
Eliza turns the map around and looks at it.
Tanzarra: See you later, Snake.
Tanzarra turns back to Eliza and the map.
Froddy comes running into the Town Hall screaming.
Froddy: The channel the channel!
Froddy: We need a channel!
Froddy runs into the office [the door was open] looks frantically from Eliza to Tanzarra and turns to Tanzarra.
Froddy: You gotta come quick!
Froddy: My mum, she is having the baby!
Tanzarra stiffens and looks to the door.
Tanzarra: Come on.
Eliza grabs the remaining medicine bag and runs after her.
Froddy augments up the street.
Tanzarra runs out of the room and to the front of the hall.
Tanzarra gets to the front door but sees no one.
Froddy stops at the corner and sees they aren't following him.
Froddy runs back a short way.
Froddy: Hurry up!!!!
Tanzarra zlins the traces of panic heading up the street.
Eliza runs down the stairs and starts in his direction.
Froddy dances with impatience.
Eliza: You will have to go slower, I can't keep up with you if you augment, and she doesn't go anywhere without me. Right?
Tanzarra catches up and heads for Froddy.
Froddy: All right! But hurry!
Tanzarra: Hold on, hold on. My Companion can't run that fast.
Froddy runs [slower] back up the street.
Eliza hopes it isn't too far.
Tanzarra follows Froddy but holds back so Eliza can keep up.
Froddy jumps a fence and runs into a small ramshackle house.
Tanzarra stops and puts her hand out to stop Eliza.
Eliza thinks about jumping it, but decides that the spikes on top of it look a little bit dangerous, so she opens the gate instead.
Danu sweats and strains and cries out as another contraction twists her body agonizingly.
Froddy picks up a cloth which is in a bowl of water at the bed side.
Froddy: It's okay Mum, the channel is here.
Danu reaches out and takes his hand, squeezing it tightly until the contraction is past.
Froddy: Just breath mum, like this.
Froddy puffs.
Tanzarra follows Eliza through the gate and points to the right side of the house.
Tanzarra: They're in the room on the right, and she having contractions.
Eliza follows Zarra into the house.
Froddy zlins the channel coming.
Froddy: Here they are, mum.
Danu rests from the contraction.
Tanzarra augments past Eliza and enters the room to find a Sime woman on a shabby looking bed.
Eliza follows her into the room and takes stock..
Tanzarra goes over and begins to give nageric support.
Eliza: [to Froddy] Your mum will be okay. I want you to boil water, and put it in some very clean vessels. We need enough to wash the baby and your mum too okay? And we need some clean towels or something.
Tanzarra zlins the mother-to-be.
Danu: ~ exhausted and very low field ~
Froddy nods, looks doubtful about leaving his mum, but goes off to do as he was asked.
Tanzarra: Eliza!
Eliza moves into support of Zarra.
Tanzarra: I'm going to require some help here.
Eliza: I'm here.
Tanzarra leans into Eliza so she can whisper.
Tanzarra: I haven't had much to do with giving birth.
Tanzarra thinks, she's about to learn though.
Danu: ~ panic at the channel's words ~
Tanzarra turns to the Sime woman and focuses her full attention on her and the baby.
Eliza: That's okay, I have.
Eliza doesn't think it's prudent to say that they were all farm animals.
Danu moans as another contraction wracks her body, costing her more selyn.
Tanzarra: Ok, I'm going to have to check to see how the baby is. [to Danu]
Tanzarra sits on the edge of the bed and pulls the sheet off the woman's stomach.
Danu: Oh, why isn't it here!
Danu groans again.
Tanzarra spreads hands over Danu's stomach.
Eliza wipes the lady's head gently with the cloth.
Tanzarra: Hold as still as you can while I zlin the baby.
Eliza: You will be okay now, Zarra will look after you.
Eliza keeps a neutral field for Zarra.
Tanzarra extends her laterals and zlins the baby.
Baby: ~ strong, regular, healthy ~
Tanzarra: Well everything zlins fine.
Danu smiles her thanks for a second.
Danu then grimaces in pain as another contraction starts.
Tanzarra massages the woman's stomach gently to relax the muscles.
Eliza: That was quick! It shouldn't be long now.
Tanzarra: ~~ blocks some of the woman's pain ~~
Tanzarra: I have to check to see how dilated you are.
Tanzarra moves to the bottom of the bed.
Eliza strengthens her resolve never to have babies.
Danu: ~ very low in selyn, and weak ~
Danu: I have... to push!
Eliza: ~ support ~
Eliza: Zarra!
Tanzarra zlins that Danu is almost fully dilated, and that she is using way too much selyn on the baby.
Tanzarra: Eliza. Take care of the baby when it comes.
Eliza hopes that the boy is getting the things she asked for.
Tanzarra augments to Danu's side and takes her arms in transfer, not waiting for permission.
Danu groans as another contraction subsides.
Tanzarra waits for the contraction passes and leans over and makes lip contact to begin pushing selyn into the woman's depleted system.
Danu's system accepts the selyn.
Tanzarra pushes as much selyn as the woman can take.
Danu struggles as another contraction begins.
Eliza: Zarra, can you help her sit up?
Tanzarra eases the flow to it's end and slowly releases woman's arms.
Danu grits her teeth.
Tanzarra reaches behind woman's back and helps her to sit up.
Danu pushes.
Eliza: I can see the head!
Eliza: You are doing really well.
Tanzarra: ~~ support ~~
Tanzarra: Okay, just take a few deep breaths before you push again.
Danu turns puce.
Danu breathes as instructed.
Danu feels another contraction and grits her teeth again.
Tanzarra: Okay, get ready to push again.
Danu pushes.
Eliza takes the head and gently helps the baby turn.
Tanzarra zlins Danu to check her selyn rate.
Danu: ~ exhausted, but selyn use is within acceptable limits ~
Eliza: I got it! It's her! It's a girl!
Danu leans back, exhausted.
Tanzarra supports the mother as Eliza takes the baby.
Danu: [the baby cries]
Eliza puts the baby up on the mothers tummy.
Tanzarra: Okay, just rest a minute, I'll check the baby.
Danu: A daughter! I have a little girl!
Danu: [baby stops crying and lays peacefully on her mother's tummy.]
Tanzarra: Yes, congratulations.
Eliza: Zarra, are you okay if I see if the boy has the things ready?
Tanzarra gently touches baby and zlins her.
Tanzarra: Yes. We'll be fine now.
Tanzarra: Oh, and Eliza!
Eliza: Yes?
Eliza wonders if she has found something wrong with the baby, and pauses, worried.
Tanzarra: Thank you for your support. You did a great job.
Eliza blushes.
Tanzarra smiles quickly before turning back to the baby.
Eliza goes off to find the boy.
Tanzarra lets the mother and baby rest while maintaining nageric support.