Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #35: Some People's Kids (6/27/98)
Eliza dishes out two bowls of hot cereal for her and Tanzarra, and pours some tea.
Eliza: Zarra! Breakfast is ready.
Tanzarra looks up from the batch of census forms.
Eliza: Did you get much sleep?
Tanzarra: Oh, good, but I’m not that hungry, so make mine a small amount.
Tanzarra is rereading the report on Danu and her family.
Tanzarra: I got enough.
Eliza looks at the huge bulk of cereal she made and wishes that she could learn to get the volume right.
Eliza: ~ sigh ~
Eliza nudges the cereal closer to Tanzarra.
Tanzarra: Umm... Thanks.
Eliza starts to eat, hoping that her appetite will stir up the channel's.
Tanzarra doesn’t think she can eat so much in one go.
Eliza: What’s so interesting?
Tanzarra: I was thinking. I would like to go and visit Danu and check on her and the baby.
Eliza: ~ pleased ~
Eliza: That would be nice. We should take her something.
Eliza wonders if she would like a gallon of cold, hot cereal.
Tanzarra runs a tentacle down the page, stopping at Froddy’s name.
Tanzarra: I also want to take a closer look at Froddy while we’re there.
Eliza didn’t think he was that cute.
Eliza: Why?
Tanzarra taps on the paper as she thinks.
Tanzarra: I don’t know exactly, but I thought I zlinned something odd in him the other day.
Tanzarra: Snake would have to confirm it, but I think he could be an undiscovered 3rd.
Eliza: Oh!
Eliza swallows the cereal and takes an excited gulp of tea.
Eliza: ~ burn ~
Eliza: Oh shen! That’s hot!
Eliza waves her hand in front of her mouth.
Tanzarra: ~~ pain ~~
Tanzarra: Ahhh.
Tanzarra flinches and freezes.
Eliza: I burnt mah tongue.
Eliza: Sorry. It’s okay.
Tanzarra takes a deep breath and relaxes a little.
Tanzarra: I’ll get you some water.
Tanzarra rushes to get some water for Eliza.
Eliza: No, it’s okay really, it’s just tea!
Eliza thinks that Tanzarra is even jumpier then Snake. Well, maybe not.
Tanzarra: Are you sure?
Eliza: Sure sure, just be sure to sip it carefully.
Tanzarra wonders if she is sensing more pain than Eliza is actually feeling.
Eliza: Zarra, I know that you have some problems with transfer, other than the dependency that is.
Eliza: Do you want to talk about it?
Tanzarra: I’m sorry. I guess I overreacted.
Tanzarra: Maybe what they said is true.
Eliza is lost.
Eliza: What who said? What?
Tanzarra: The people who worked with me during and after disjunction.
Tanzarra: ~~ unsure ~~
Tanzarra: It sometimes happens with the channels, but mainly with the Gens.
Eliza: What sometimes happens?
Tanzarra: ~~ nervous ~~
Tanzarra isn’t sure she wants to say, because it might upset Eliza, but she can’t not tell her either.
Eliza: ~ curious and supportive ~
Tanzarra: Well, whenever I had Gen transfer I would sense some discomfort or slight pain and I would automatically abort.
Tanzarra: However, when I told them what I sensed they said they never felt anything.
Eliza: Why would a Donor feel pain? Transfer doesn’t hurt! It feels good!
Eliza: ~ wistful ~
Tanzarra: They said that I was reacting to something, but it wasn’t their pain.
Eliza: I wonder what it was.
Tanzarra: At first I thought they were just saying that it was okay, but it happened to every Gen I tried to have transfer with.
Tanzarra: Some more than others.
Eliza: What about your friend, umm Soli?
Tanzarra visibly deflates and stares at the papers in front of her.
Tanzarra: ~~ Sad, lonely ~~
Eliza: ~ support ~
Eliza: It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.
Tanzarra: It still happened the first time but because we were matchmates she overrode the abort and from then on I never sensed the pain or discomfort in her field.
Tanzarra: The times we tried to break the dependency I would feel it again in the other Gens.
Eliza: But there wouldn’t have been any pain of discomfort!
Tanzarra: ~~ sighs ~~
Tanzarra: I’m beginning to realise that.
Eliza: Even if there was slight discomfort, and I don’t see why there would be, couldn’t you just sort of, go past it?
Tanzarra closes her eyes and tries to feel the moment of perceived pain or discomfort she always detected.
Tanzarra: ~~ fear to accept what she feels ~~
Eliza takes her empty bowl to the sink and washes it.
Eliza: Well, don’t worry about it too much. Just let Snake handle it for you until you are well.
Tanzarra: Yes, I guess you're right.
Tanzarra starts gathering the forms together.
Tanzarra: Are you ready to go visit Danu?
Eliza looks at Tanzarra’s nearly untouched cereal.
Tanzarra: No, really, I’m fine. Let's get going.
Tanzarra stands and heads out of the kitchen.
Eliza: If you are sure you aren’t hungry.
Tanzarra is feeling too down to eat.
Eliza picks up the medicine bag and hurries after her.
Tanzarra stops outside and realises she rushed out and waits for Eliza.
Tanzarra leaves the building and heads toward Danu’s house.
Froddy finishes hanging out the nappies and goes back inside to wash the dishes from breakfast.
Tanzarra: We’ll check Danu and her baby, then we will have a talk to Froddy. [to Eliza]
Tanzarra approaches from the front door this time and knocks on the door with her pen.
Froddy turns off the tap and goes to see who is at the door.
Froddy: Oh! Hajene!
Froddy: It’s so nice of you to come back! Mum and the baby are fine. I can’t thank you enough for what you did.
Froddy doesn’t quite get down on his knees and kiss her hand.
Tanzarra: That’s okay. I’m glad we could be here to help. May we come in?
Froddy: Of course! Mum will be so pleased to see you.
Tanzarra follows Froddy through to his mother.
Tanzarra: Oh, Froddy. I was wondering if I could have a word with you after I’ve seen your mother and sister?
Froddy: With me? Sure! What about?
Eliza keeps up a steady support.
Tanzarra: I just want to talk, it’s nothing bad.
Tanzarra: ~~ truth. support ~~
Froddy: Ok. Mum! Guess who is here!
Danu: Who is it? Come in.
Danu sits up in bed with the baby at her breast.
Tanzarra: Hello! It’s Tanzarra and Eliza.
Tanzarra: We have come to see how you are doing.
Danu: Who? Oh! The channel! Come in, sit down. We are doing well, aren’t we little one?
Tanzarra stands in the doorway.
Tanzarra: Thank you.
Eliza wonders how big Alea’s baby is now.
Tanzarra goes up to Danu and looks at the baby.
Tanzarra: May I zlin her?
Danu: Of course! I’m very grateful for you taking time out to come see us.
Tanzarra zlins the baby.
Danu: [Baby is ~ healthy ~ and dry and well fed.]
Tanzarra lets the baby hold one of her handling tentacles.
The Baby's eyes are dark and unfocused.
Tanzarra: Well she’s doing fine. How about you, how do you feel?
Danu: I feel very well, thanks to you.
Tanzarra zlins Danu just to be sure.
Danu: ~ a well woman who gave birth two days ago ~
Tanzarra: I hope you are taking thing easy?
Tanzarra: Feel free to come and get her, and yourself, checked as often as you want.
Danu: Oh yes. Froddy is doing all the work and making sure I don’t have to lift a finger. He is a very good son.
Tanzarra: I’m sure he is.
Tanzarra: We will have to get going so I might just go and see how he’s doing and we’ll be on our way.
Danu: Thank you again for coming. [smiles]
Tanzarra reclaims her tentacle from the baby’s grip.
Eliza smiles back at the lady and follows Zarra out.
Froddy is waiting just outside of the small room.
Tanzarra: Your mother and sister are both doing well.
Froddy smiles at Tanzarra.
Froddy: I know her lungs are good when she is hungry that’s for sure!
Froddy looks worried.
Froddy: I mean the baby's, not mum's.
Tanzarra laughs.
Tanzarra: Yes, babies do know how to get attention.
Tanzarra: Would you mind if I examined you?
Tanzarra: Just to make sure you are taking care of yourself.
Froddy: Err, sure! But I feel fine.
Tanzarra doesn’t want to say why, in case she’s wrong.
Tanzarra: Thank you. is there somewhere we can go?
Eliza stays in ~support~.
Froddy: The kitchen okay?
Tanzarra: Fine.
Froddy leads them into the kitchen.
Tanzarra smiles at Eliza.
Tanzarra: This shouldn’t take long. [to Froddy]
Froddy: It’s okay. I only have the chores to do anyway.
Tanzarra follows Froddy to kitchen.
Froddy pulls out a chair at the kitchen table and faces it towards another one.
Froddy: That okay?
Tanzarra sits and waits for Froddy.
Froddy sits opposite and holds out his arms to her.
Tanzarra: Eliza!
Eliza: Yes?
Eliza wonders what she has done wrong now.
Tanzarra: Could you keep you field neutral for this?
Eliza: Yes... OK Zarra.
Eliza: ~ controlled neutral field ~
Tanzarra: Okay Froddy.
Froddy nods.
Tanzarra takes Froddy’s arms and entwines her tentacles with his.
Tanzarra extends laterals.
Tanzarra deeply zlins Froddy.
Froddy: ~ shadowy flutter ~
Tanzarra breaks the fifth contact and slowly disengages her tentacles.
Tanzarra: That’s it, all done.
Tanzarra looks to Eliza and raises an eyebrow.
Tanzarra: Thank you Eliza, that was great.
Eliza smiles.
Froddy looks at Tanzarra questioningly.
Froddy: Everything okay?
Tanzarra: Yes, you’re healthy enough.
Froddy smiles at her.
Tanzarra: Froddy, do you know much about channels?
Froddy: I’ve gone to the channel every month since changeover, and when I was a kid mum would take me if I was sick.
Eliza realises that this must mean that Froddy is indeed a channel.
Eliza: ~ excited ~
Tanzarra: Yes, but do you know about the different levels of channels?
Tanzarra tries not to show the smile that she knows is from Eliza’s excitement.
Froddy: I know what everyone knows I guess.
Froddy looks at Eliza oddly.
Tanzarra: Well it is commonly known that there are 1st order Channels and 2nd order Channels, which I am one.
Tanzarra: But there are also 3rd order Channels.
Froddy: Oh? and 4th’s and 5th’s?
Eliza gets a sudden odd image of a 4th of a channel.
Tanzarra: Uhhh. No. There are only the three levels.
Tanzarra: There are many Simes who are thought to be renSime that are actually 3rd order Channels.
Froddy: Oh?
Tanzarra: When I zlinned you the other day, and more so just now, I detected a secondary but unused selyn system.
Froddy: So I’m a channel?
Froddy: Ooohhhhh!
Tanzarra: Yes.
Tanzarra: I would like you to go and see Hajene Snake.
Tanzarra: ~~ support ~~
Froddy jumps up.
Froddy: Now? Shall I go now?
Froddy: I have to do the dishes first, and tell mum, and will I be gone long? I would have to get mum lunch, and bring the nappies in....
Eliza: You don’t have to go right this moment. Whenever you are ready.
Eliza: ~ soothing ~
Tanzarra: There’s no rush.
Tanzarra: We can make an appointment for tomorrow if you like?
Froddy: Sure!
Froddy: ~excitement ~
Froddy: Oh I got to tell mum!
Froddy remembers his manners.
Tanzarra is pleased he took the news well.
Froddy: Would you like a cup of tea or something?
Tanzarra looks to Eliza.
Tanzarra: Would you like one?
Eliza is still full from all that hot cereal.
Eliza: I wouldn’t, but Zarra, you haven’t had much this morning.
Tanzarra: We should be on our way.
Froddy: Oh, well, okay. I’ll see you tomorrow maybe then.
Froddy goes and opens the front door for them.
Tanzarra: Maybe, you go and see to your mother and don’t forget to See Hajene Snake tomorrow.
Eliza follows Froddy to the door.
Froddy: I will, I won’t, thank you very much!
Tanzarra leaves and smiles back at Froddy.
Froddy shuts the door.
Froddy: MUM!!!! Guess what!
Tanzarra heads down the street.
Eliza follows her, dancing with excitement.
Eliza: Snake will be so impressed you picked that up so quickly!
Tanzarra: I’m just glad he accepted it so well.
Eliza: Why wouldn’t he?
Tanzarra: Also when with Danu’s baby using so much selyn I wouldn’t be surprised if her baby isn’t a channel also.
Tanzarra: Oh, I have met some Simes who wanted to be anything else, but I don’t know why.
Eliza: Oh. Well I guess that with the Donor shortage, but it shouldn’t be a problem for a third, and he has a job almost instantly!
Tanzarra: Exactly. I was pleased to find out I was a channel.
Tanzarra: Okay, where were we up to with this?
Tanzarra holds up a survey sheet.
Eliza: Oh, the census. ~ sigh ~
Tanzarra : Come on, let's get going.
Eliza stays close.
Eliza: ~ support ~
Tanzarra lifts the heavier bag over her shoulder and heads to the area they half finished yesterday.
Eliza: I hope that the Tecton appreciates all this.
Repug watches from behind a broken fence at the Sime and Gen carrying bags and wonders if there is anything worthwhile in them.
Repug is an unkempt, grotty boy who steals what he can to get by.
Tanzarra: So, how about we do the rest of 7th, then stop for lunch? I think you’ll be requiring something by then.
Eliza: Whatever you say Zarra. But I had breakfast!
Tanzarra: What ever you say.
Tanzarra thinks that within a few hours she’ll be hungry again.
Repug watches as they walk past and prepares to move.
Tanzarra walks to the end of the street, past an empty block surrounded by a worn out fence.
Eliza shifts the medicine bag to her other shoulder.
Repug notices the that Gen is carrying a smaller bag and decides that might carry any money or valuables.
Repug quickly darts out as the two pass, and as quick as a flash grabs the bag and pulls it off the Gen’s shoulder and beats a retreat to where he come from.
Eliza: Hey! You! Stop!
Eliza takes off in pursuit.
Tanzarra turns to see and zlin the child squeezing through the palings of the fence.
Eliza takes the top road and jumps the fence.
Tanzarra: What the....
Tanzarra augments over the fence and chases the boy to an abandoned house.
Eliza: He went in there, but I can’t fit through the opening.
Repug makes it to a small hole in the house wall just in time to avoid the adults, especially the Sime.
Tanzarra: Oh great.
Tanzarra: ~~ agitation ~~
Eliza: Snake will kill me!
Eliza: She rode miles for that stuff!
Eliza: ~ panic ~
Tanzarra: Let's try the front door...
Tanzarra: ~~ panic ~~
Tanzarra: Calm down. We’ll get them back.
Tanzarra hopes.
Eliza: Front door, front door. Where’s the front door!
Eliza: [bellows] Kid! Don't take any of those medicines! They can be dangerous without a channel's supervision!
Repug hides in a back room and tries to open the bag.
Tanzarra: Well he’s still in there, I can just zlin him.
Tanzarra: He’s only a kid, that’s why I didn’t zlin him when he was on the other side of you.
Eliza runs up the front stairs, putting her foot through the 3rd step as she goes and landing flat on her face on the verandah.
Eliza: Oooffff!
Tanzarra augments to catch Eliza before she hits the floor boards.
Eliza pulls her leg out of the hole.
Eliza: I’m okay! Go get the kid!
Tanzarra: Okay, take it easy.
Eliza starts kicking off the broken bits of wood.
Tanzarra goes into house and zlins the kid in a small room near the back.
Repug can’t work out the lock on the bag and starts hitting at it.
Tanzarra quietly makes her way to the room.
Eliza gets up and follows noisily behind.
Eliza: Zarra? Zarra? Where are you Zarra?
Eliza trips over a chair and falls into a dead potted plant.
Repug hears footsteps and tries to make a bolt for the door.
Eliza: Oooph!
Eliza knocks the plant pot over into the kid's path.
Tanzarra thinks, oh, Gens.
Eliza tries to look like she did it on purpose.
Tanzarra realises the element of surprise is lost and augments to the small room in time to see the boy at the door.
Repug sees the blur of movement and stops momentarily.
Eliza struggles to disengage herself from the dead branches of the plant.
Tanzarra: Stop there.
Eliza stops.
Eliza: Oh, you mean him.
Eliza finishes getting to her feet.
Tanzarra: Give that back, there is nothing in that you can use.
Repug stares, frightened, at the Sime looming over him.
Eliza: We won’t hurt you [much], just give us back the bag.
Eliza: Believe me, you don’t want Snake to come after you!
Repug slowly starts toward the back door.
Repug: No, please don’t kill me. I didn’t mean nothin’. I was just tryin’ to get somethin’ for some food.
Eliza: No one is going to kill you. Give me the bag and I’ll give you some food.
Repug is so scared that he just throws the bag at the Sime and makes a run for it.
Eliza takes off after him again.
Eliza: Wait! Kid! Don’t you want something to eat?
Tanzarra catches the medicine bag in mid flight.
Repug gets to the back door and fights with the lock.
Eliza grabs his shoulders.
Eliza: Don’t keep running away. We won’t hurt you.
Repug turns expecting to see the Sime and stops when he sees the Gen.
Tanzarra stays back so she won’t scare the boy any more than he is.
Eliza: What’s your name?
Repug: I don’t really have one.
Repug: But everyone calls me Repug.
Eliza: What do you call yourself then?
Eliza: Ah. OK Repug, where do you live?
Repug looks around.
Repug: Here!
Eliza: Do you have any folks?
Tanzarra watches quietly.
Repug: ~~ sadness and loss ~~
Repug fights tears welling in his eyes.
Repug: Not any more.
Eliza: I know a lady who doesn’t have any folks either. She lives all alone and could do with some help, and do you know what?
Repug: ~~ hesitant ~~
Repug: What?
Eliza: She loves to cook. Just yesterday she made a carrot cake and a whole heap of biscuits. How about we go and see if she has any left?
Repug looks behind the Gen to the Sime.
Eliza: Zarra is a channel, she won’t hurt you.
Repug: You sure your not gonna take me away like they did mum?
Eliza: Take you away where:?
Repug: I don’t know. two Simes rode up and took her, that’s all I know.
Eliza: ~ horror ~
Eliza: You mum was a Gen?
Eliza: How long ago was this Repug?
Tanzarra: ~~ shivers ~~
Repug: Yeah.
Repug: I don’t know, a while back.
Eliza puts an arm around his shoulder.
Repug hardens his face in concentration.
Repug: Maybe a cuppla weeks.
Eliza: Well, lets go see if Liz, that’s the lady's name, has any cake for you.
Tanzarra: I think we should take you to see Liz.
Tanzarra takes a tentative step closer.
Tanzarra whispers in Eliza’s ear.
Tanzarra: I understand your horror, but could you calm down a little?
Eliza: ~ control ~
Tanzarra: That’s better, thank you.
Tanzarra: Now, how you come with us. We won’t hurt you.
Repug: I guess I have no choice. Okay then, I’ll go.
Tanzarra leads the way out of the house.
Eliza takes Repug's hand and follows Zarra out.