Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #38: Drugged, Dragged and Driven (7/30/98)
Loth opens the basement door.
Eliza falls over backwards as the door opens under her hand, and tumbles down the stairs.
Eliza lays at the bottom, stunned, looking up at the shape in the doorway.
Eliza: Oh, my head....
Eliza sits up and puts her hand to her head.
Loth stands at the top of the stairs and looks down at the form on the floor.
Loth zlins.
Eliza: [shen what a day]
Eliza: ~ bump on head, unclear vision, ~
Loth goes down the stairs, and stops in front of the Gen.
Eliza remembers where she is, and looks at the Sime's knees, then upward until she reaches his face.
Eliza: Errrr, hello?
Loth: So, I see Strel didn't take my advice.
Eliza: Oh, we had an accident, I was just going to get help.
Eliza blushes.
Loth: From what I felt outside I doubt that I'd call it an accident.
Eliza: I couldn't help it, I panicked. He rushed me, I didn't have time...
Eliza shuts up.
Loth goes hypo to prevent being the victim of any further "accidents"
Eliza doesn't suppose he is going to let her just go home.
Eliza: ~ soothing ~
Eliza slowly gets to her feet.
Loth takes her arm and helps her to stand.
Eliza: It's okay, I'll just leave, I won't be any more ummm....
Loth: I don't think so.
Eliza: ~ fear ~
Eliza: No?
Loth takes her up the stairs, holding onto her arm tightly.
Eliza struggles.
Eliza: Let me go!
Loth: I can't do that.
Eliza: What if I promise not to tell anyone?
Eliza: Zlin me, see if I'm lying!
Loth heads out of the building, with the Gen in tow.
Loth: I think I'd rather not, at the moment.
Eliza tries digging her heels in.
Loth: Being stubborn isn't going to help you.
Eliza: Where are we going?
Eliza is fairly sure she doesn't want to go there
Loth: Let's just say I'm putting you somewhere a little more comfortable.
Eliza digs her heels in more.
Loth wants to get there sometime soon, so he picks the Gen up and carries her to the building across the way.
Eliza: Put me down!
Loth: I will.
Eliza performs a classic kicking-and-beating-while-being-carried act.
Loth struggles up a flight of rickety stairs trying not to drop the wriggling Gen.
Loth: Just hold on and I'll put you down in a minute.
Eliza holds still; she doesn't want to be dropped down the stairs.
Eliza wonders if he is zlinning yet.
Eliza: ~ soothing ~
Eliza: ~ soothing - eeek! - soothing ~
Loth goes into a small room that contains a mattress and chair, and puts the Gen down.
Loth: Now, why don't you just go sit down for a minute?
Eliza sits down and looks up at him.
Eliza: Please don't hurt me.
Loth: What makes you think I'm going to hurt you?
Eliza is fairly certain that is the way it goes.
Eliza swallows, discovering that her throat is very dry.
Eliza: Could I have a drink please?
Loth: Certainly, I was about to ask if you would like something.
Eliza: ~ relief ~
Eliza: Just water, thanks.
Cranky Bugger barges past Loth. "Out of me way."
Loth jumps. As he isn't zlinning, he is startled.
Cranky Bugger grabs Eliza's cheeks, shakes them and lets go.
Loth: Hey! Where are you going?
Loth follows Cranky Bugger back in.
Eliza screams and jumps back
Eliza: ~ fear ~
Cranky Bugger: Why wasn't I told we had some new talent here ?
Cranky Bugger stares at Loth. ~~ contempt ~~
Loth grabs Cranky Bugger by the shoulder and jerks him away from the Gen.
Eliza gets as far back as she can.
Loth: Since when do I have to tell you everything?
Cranky Bugger: Let me go, fool!
Cranky Bugger snarls.
Cranky Bugger: Whose is she?
Loth goes hyper and zlins Cranky Bugger.
Loth: Let's just say she's a visitor, okay?
Cranky Bugger: ~~ anger and hard need ~~
Eliza perks up. 'A visitor' implies she will be leaving.
Cranky Bugger is an old junct, not all that bright, but thinks he is.
Cranky Bugger smirks as he knows the term "visitor" means that nobody will miss them.
Loth: You can't have her, now just get out!
Cranky Bugger ignores Loth and zlins Eliza.
Loth: I will serve your need, but not here.
Eliza blinks - she hadn't been aware that Loth was a channel.
Loth tugs at Cranky Bugger's shoulder again, this time harder.
Loth: You can't kill her.
Eliza: [thinks, "oh shen, that's all I need"]
Cranky Bugger shudders and shows a look of utter disdain at Loth.
Eliza tries to keep the ~ fear ~ to a minimum, not wanting to entice this Sime.
Cranky Bugger: What! Use a lowlife channel? Never. I have pride, you know.
Loth: Believe me, you will not survive it if you attack her.
Eliza breathes evenly, centering herself and trying for inner peace and calm.
Cranky Bugger can't control his urges any longer as the ~~fear~~ excites him.
Cranky Bugger reaches over and picks up Eliza.
Loth: Just go ask Strel, but I doubt he'll tell much.
Eliza is jerked out of her concentration.
Loth: ~~ projects a strong Gen field ~~
Eliza: Argh!
Eliza: ~ strong rejection ~
Loth augments to pull them apart.
Cranky Bugger flicks at Loth with a tentacle. "Go away, oh scummy one."
Cranky Bugger begins to leave with Eliza tucked under an arm.
Eliza: Put me down!
Eliza: I don't want to have to hurt you!
Loth feels another accident coming on and slips hypo.
Eliza grabs hold of his arm, right above the laterals.
Loth: Put her down this minute.
Eliza starts to apply pressure.
Cranky Bugger reels at the field and drops Eliza.
Cranky Bugger: What tricks are you playing at, Gen?
Loth is getting really tired of being ignored.
Eliza crawls backward real quickly.
Cranky Bugger reefs his arm away and augments behind Loth, picking him up.
Cranky Bugger hurls Loth at Eliza as hard as he can.
Eliza rolls out of the way.
Loth twists in mid air and lands on his feet.
Loth: What the shen do you think you're doing?
Eliza really wants to be somewhere else.
Cranky Bugger towers over the defiant Loth and yells, "Now pick it up!" pointing at Eliza.
Cranky Bugger is a very big Sime.
Loth leaps to his feet and stands between the renSime and the Gen.
Cranky Bugger falls to the ground weeping. "Oh dear, what have I done?"
Eliza doesn't particularly feel like patting him on the back and saying "there there".
Loth goes and sits in front of Cranky Bugger.
Loth: It's okay, come on. Let me help you.
Eliza presents a neutral field, like she would while working.
Cranky Bugger: I am sorry Loth, I don't know what happened, its just that I am really desperately in need.
Loth holds out his hands.
Loth: ~~ support, Gen field ~~
Cranky Bugger: Can you please help me Loth?
Cranky Bugger: Any chance of a drink?
Cranky Bugger: Some water? My mouth is so dry.
Loth bodily lifts Cranky Bugger to his full height and backs him out the door.
Cranky Bugger: Awww I feel so weak please just let me lay here foe a moment and regain some strength.
Cranky Bugger: Please get me a cup of water.
Eliza can't work out if this Sime is in need or not.
Loth: You know I won't let you alone. Just come and have transfer and you'll feel better.
Eliza wonders just what order channel Loth is....
Cranky Bugger ~~ hard need, sincerity ~~
Eliza realises that this is a very important question.
Cranky Bugger goes with Loth.
Eliza looks around the room. A cot bed, a small window, that seems to be about it.
Eliza looks under the bed.
Loth grabs Cranky Bugger's arms.
Eliza looks for something, anything to use as a weapon.
Eliza picks up the pillow.
Eliza feels a bit silly and puts the pillow down again.
Eliza wonders if she could take the bed apart... probably not.
Loth: ~~ imitates the Gen's field ~~
Loth: ~~ here for you ~~
Eliza goes and presses her ear against the door. Silence on the other side.
Loth entwines tentacles and goes for lip contact.
Loth: ~~ Gen need to give ~~
Cranky Bugger moves closer
Loth: ~~ life, safety ~~
Cranky Bugger joins lips and draws.
Cranky Bugger clenches his eyes.
Loth: ~~ gives freely ~~
Cranky Bugger revels in the selyn.
Eliza sighs and wishes there were a tap in the room.
Loth lets the draw finish.
Cranky Bugger breaks contact and opens his eyes.
Loth: There. Was it so bad to have channel's transfer?
Cranky Bugger looks at Loth and smiles, then notices Loth is a man and forces himself to think of other things.
Loth releases his grip and takes a step back.
Loth: Now I think you better get going.
Eliza picks up the pillow again.
Loth goes down the hall to get something for the Gen to drink.
Eliza sits on the bed, holds the pillow, and bursts into tears.
Eliza thinks that she has finally done it, Snake is never going to forgive her for this.
Loth pours a glass of water and adds a little something to the drink.
Loth returns and unlocks the door, going hypo before entering.
Eliza thinks back to the "Lives of Great Companions". Sergi wouldn't be this careless. Hugh would never let himself be caught by juncts.... Oh, hang on, yes he was.
Eliza wipes her nose on the pillow.
Eliza tries to remember how Hugh got away.
Loth enters the room and closes the door behind him.
Loth: Are you all right?
Eliza looks up as the channel enters.
Eliza nods.
Loth: I got you that water you wanted.
Eliza: Thank you.
Loth hands the glass to the Gen.
Eliza takes the glass and sips at the water.
Eliza pokes a face and looks at it suspiciously.
Eliza: It tastes strange.
Loth sits on the floor in front of her and watches as she drinks.
Loth: That's just the well water, it's been a while since it's been used.
Eliza holds the glass out to him.
Eliza: Thank you, I've had enough.
Loth pushes the glass gently back to her.
Loth: Try to drink some more, you have had a hard time.
Eliza looks uncertain, but drinks some more.
Eliza hands back the 1/2 empty glass.
Loth wishes she would just drink the water so he can safely zlin without risk.
Loth takes glass and places it on the floor.
Eliza blinks at Loth, certain there was only one of him before.
Eliza: What have you done to me?
Loth: Nothing. I have just given you something to help you relax.
Eliza: Oh shen, you drugged me.
Eliza drops down to a prone position on the bed.
Eliza: You bassstarrrrd.
Loth: Sorry, I had no choice.
Eliza struggles to stay conscious.
Loth: ~~ need a Companion ~~
Eliza: Why?
Eliza: Please, just let me go.
Eliza slurs around a tongue that just got too big for her mouth.
Eliza wishes the room would just stop spinning!
Loth: I can't. I need you.
Eliza finds it interesting that this statement doesn't alarm her, she is certain that it should.
Loth: Besides, I can't risk the Tecton finding this place.
Eliza: I'm not - Tecton.
Loth moves to sit closer.
Eliza's stomach does a flip as the room starts spinning the other way.
Loth: So, what is your name?
Eliza clutches at the bed so that she doesn't fall off.
Eliza: Eliza Furness.
Loth reaches out and rests his hand on Eliza's arm.
Eliza: I'm a Donut.
Eliza laughs.
Eliza: I'm not really a Donut.
Loth: I take it that you mean Donor?
Eliza: Not any more.
Loth: Why?
Eliza: I left, gone, run away, vamoose.
Eliza: Whoosh.
Eliza blinks as the air turns a paisley pattern.
Eliza: That pink smells funny.
Loth: So where were you going when Strell picked you up?
Eliza: Straight to hell I think, yes, that's right.
Loth wonders what she means by that.
Eliza: My dad always said I'd go to hell.
Eliza: Are you a camel?
Eliza: Errr Channel?
Loth: Yes I am. That's why I need you.
Eliza: Oh.
Eliza: I can't. I have to wait until Snake says it's okay.
Loth: I am without a Companion.
Eliza looks sad.
Loth: Okay for what?
Eliza: OK to have transfer with Zarra.
Eliza: Oh dear!
Eliza starts to try to sit up.
Eliza: I have to get back!
Eliza: Zarra will be worried. I think she will be worried....
Keph walks up the steps of the Town Hall looking worried.
Tanzarra has just finished a shift and is wandering around feeling anxious.
Keph follows the signs saying "Chanle in heer".
Torrance looks up as the Gen walks in.
Torrance: Can I help you?
Keph: Well, this horse came back see, and it didn't have anyone on it see, and it belongs to you people see, and I didn't know what to do.
Tanzarra is beginning to feel the strain of being without a Donor, and of being without Soli.
Keph: So I unsaddled it and fed it and I thought that maybe you should know, see?
Torrance: I see.
Torrance wonders what to do too.
Tanzarra: Oh this is too much! [to self]
Torrance: You think maybe she fell off?
Keph: I don't know. One of the reins is broke, could have broken away when she was tied up.
Keph: But she is a nice quiet horse. I don't know, see?
Tanzarra heads back to the office to find some more work and hopefully take her mind off things.
Keph: Well, I told you. I best be getting back.
Torrance: Thank you for telling me. I'll take care of it.
Torrance: ~ worry ~
Keph nods and tugs at his cap and leaves.
Torrance gets out the missing Donor form.
Tanzarra sees that someone leaving the office and signals and waits.
Torrance: Come!
Torrance looks for a pen.
Torrance wonders where all the pens go.
Tanzarra: So, any word yet on Eliza?
Tanzarra: ~~ anxious ~~
Torrance: Funny you should ask. ~ nervous ~
Torrance: There was a Gen just here from the stable, seems her horse has turned up without her.
Tanzarra: ~~ panic ~~
Tanzarra: Where?
Torrance: I'm sure everything is fine, probably just fell off and is walking back.
Tanzarra: ~~ fear ~~
Torrance is actually sure she is probably dead. He is a pessimist.
Torrance: Umm, at the stables it seems.
Tanzarra: But she should have been back hours ago.
Torrance thinks or maybe lying broken somewhere.
Tanzarra: ~~ agitation ~~
Torrance: Well yes, but that is when she was riding isn't it?
Torrance: I mean, if she is walking it's going to take longer.
Tanzarra begins pacing.
Tanzarra: No! I don't like it. Something's wrong.
Torrance: Possibly, possibly.
Torrance: But it won't do to worry about it.
Torrance: What was her last name?
Torrance starts to fill out the form.
Tanzarra: I don't know. And what do you mean was? Something has happened, hasn't it?
Torrance: Only what I told you. How old was she? Can you give me a physical and nageric description?
Tanzarra is fearful of the worst and begins fidgeting with her tentacles.
Tanzarra: What do you want to know that for anyway, we should be out looking for her.
Tanzarra: ~~ intolerance ~~
Torrance ponders.
Torrance: Do you really think that is wise?
Torrance: I mean, isn't it better to wait? She knows where we are, after all.
Tanzarra: Well, what do you suggest?
Torrance: Proper procedure dictates that we are too understaffed to do anything.
Torrance: Therefore we should fill out the required forms and wait.
Tanzarra: Forms? You want to waste time filling out forms?
Torrance puts pen to paper again.
Torrance: Now, what would you say her shoe size was?
Tanzarra remembers the things she hated about the Tecton.
Tanzarra: ~~ fed up with this ~~
Torrance looks up at her, eyes wide.
Torrance: Really, there is no need to carry on so!
Tanzarra: I haven't began to carry on yet.
Torrance sighs.
Torrance: I can see that there is no reasoning with you.
Tanzarra feels like ranting and raving but that won't help the situation any.
Torrance picks up the forms.
Torrance: I'll fill these out by myself, outside, where the ambient is more controlled.
Torrance looks at her in disdain and walks out of the office to the outer room.
Tanzarra: ~~ tries to regain control ~~
Tanzarra remembers that Torrance is a renSime, after all.
Tanzarra takes a few deep breaths and follows Torrance to the outer room.
Tanzarra: ~~ calmer ~~
Tanzarra: I am sorry I lost control in there.
Torrance is filling out the form to the best of his ability, based on the short and casual meeting with Eliza that he had.
Torrance: Perfectly understandable I'm sure.
Tanzarra: I can't sit around here wondering if she's hurt or....
Torrance tears off the bottom form, signs, stamps and perforates the top form, files the middle form, and reaches for an envelope.
Torrance: Perhaps some tea?
Tanzarra grits her teeth.
Tanzarra: Look! I've finished here for today, I'm going to ride out and look around a bit.
Torrance: As you wish.
Torrance licks the envelope shut and considers the wisdom of asking Tanzarra to post it.
Tanzarra: You can look after things here. I'm sure you'll find enough to do.
Torrance decides, on the whole, that it isn't that urgent.
Torrance looks at the 2 foot high stack of paperwork that Snake left him to do.
Torrance: Ah, yes, I have more then enough to occupy my time.
see note 1
Eliza falls back onto the bed.
Eliza: I'm so tired.
Loth: Just rest.
Eliza shuts her eyes.
Loth wraps the blanket around Eliza and gently picks her up.
Eliza: Whaaa...?
Loth: Shhh... we're leaving.
Eliza: Where...?
Loth goes to door and zlins to make sure there is no one around.
Loth: Away.
Eliza: Why?
Eliza floats in Rapol's "sea that is not".
Loth goes to the back door, then heads for the barn.
Eliza feels warm, and wanted, and comfortable.
Loth: Because I need a Companion and you are that Companion.
Eliza: Oh, OK.
Loth: I don't want to live like this, I don't want to look after every body else.
Eliza: Uhhuh.
Loth: I want to look after me for a change.
Eliza snuggles into his chest.
Eliza: Mmmmm, I see. [yawns]
Loth enters the barn and places Eliza in the cart and harnesses the nearest horse.
Eliza skims across consciousness like a well flung stone across a lake.
Loth: Come on you. [to horse]
Loth walks the horse to the barn gate and zlins the area, hoping that everyone is in their basements.
Loth leads the horse, with cart, quietly down the dirt road.
Eliza snoozes in the back
Loth gets to the end of the road before mounting the cart and urging the horse into a trot.
Loth: With you, I should be able to live longer. [not that Eliza is hearing this]
Eliza slips up into slightly more awakedness as the cart starts bouncing.
Eliza struggles to sit up in the back of the cart.
Loth urges the horse to go faster, the further away they get from town.
Eliza: Where are you taking me?
Eliza: [Vortez Lake would be good]
Eliza blinks at his back, looks at the ground going by at a swift trot, and jumps off.
Eliza hits the ground, rolls, gets up and runs off - well, weaves off.
Eliza wishes that the ground would stop going up and down long enough for her to get off.
Loth: What the....
Eliza falls over a clump of grass.
Eliza attempts to get back to her feet and is hampered by the fact that there are two of them.
Loth pulls the horse up and jumps off before it stops and runs after the Gen.
Eliza finally works out which way is down, points her feet in that direction, and takes off again.
Loth: Stop!
Eliza runs to the right.
Eliza staggers to the left.
Loth zlins the Gen going hither and thither.
Eliza heads yon.
Loth: Shen, all you're going to do is get us both murdered.
Eliza swerves dat away.
Loth catches up to the Gen and grabs her flailing arm.
Loth: Now just settle down.
Eliza feels tentacles grab her arm and falls head over heels, her momentum throwing the Sime over her head in a wonderful example of inertia.
Loth isn't to pleased at getting a mouthful of grass and augments to stop himself from hitting the ground.
Eliza gets up onto all fours in preparation of getting up onto all twos.
Loth: Are you going to stop or would you like to go back to the juncts?
Eliza: What's the other option?
Loth: Coming with me.
Eliza: I don't think Snake would like that. I hate making Snake mad.
Loth: What do I care what Snake thinks as long as you're with me?
Eliza works out which are her feet and stands up.
Loth: She can get another Donor.
Eliza sways in the breeze, which also helps to clear her head.
Eliza watches Loth warily.
Loth takes hold of Eliza's arm yet again and starts to drag her to toward the cart.
Loth: ~~ patience is running low ~~
Eliza knows the futility of struggling against a Sime, but can't help herself.
Eliza: Let me go!
Loth: No!
Eliza manages to whack him one [accidentally of course] in the eye.
Loth: ~~ pain ~~
Loth: You little....
Loth slaps Eliza across the face.
Eliza falls down.
Eliza: ~ ouch ~
Loth reaches for Eliza's arms to pull her up.
Eliza grabs his arms firmly.
Eliza: That, was stupid.
Eliza: Now....
Loth: ~~ oh shen ~~
Eliza hesitates; she isn't feral enough to kill in cold blood, and wouldn't dream of leaving any Sime damaged without finishing him off humanely, so isn't sure what to do.
Eliza: Don't move.
Loth freezes.
Loth: ~~ fear ~~
Eliza thinks hard.
Eliza: I'm going to let you go in a minute. When I do, I want you to go away.
Eliza: OK?
Loth is realising that his need for a Companion has really gotten him into trouble.
Eliza is nervous about letting him go.
Loth is nervous about her not letting him go.
Loth: Okay, just take it easy.
Eliza releases his arms and steps back quickly.
Loth stands staring at her while fighting the urge to throw up.
Eliza: I'm going to take the cart. Don't you follow.
Loth: And if I do?
Eliza looks at him blankly and tries to think of an original threat.
Eliza: Just you try it and see.
Eliza backs slowly up to where the horse is standing patiently eating the grass at the roadside.
Eliza is shaking and her insides have turned to strawberry jelly.
Loth stands perfectly still.
Loth: I won't follow.
Eliza jumps into the cart and turns the horse around.
Eliza: ~ warning ~
Eliza: No, you won't.
Eliza clicks to the horse and trots off.
Loth watches as his hopes and dreams of having a Companion rides off.
Eliza shakes with reaction.
Tanzarra is riding out from Vortez Lake in the hope of finding Eliza.
Eliza is scared to look over her shoulder.
Eliza: [the trot trot trot of the horse marks off the distance between her and Loth]
Tanzarra wishes that horses had the ability to augment as even at full gallop they are not going fast enough.
Eliza can't stand it any longer and turns around to look. Seeing that Loth is gone doesn't settle her nerves.
Eliza shivers.
Eliza clicks at the horse to go faster.
Tanzarra zlins as far as she can in every direction hoping for some sign of Eliza.
Eliza crests a rise in the road stops to look around.
Eliza: Where did he go?
Eliza: ~ nervous ~
Eliza can't believe that he would just let her go like that.
Eliza runs through her mind all the different ways you can die from a distance and feels really exposed.
Tanzarra: ~~ Eliza! ~~
Eliza clicks at the horse again to continue down the road.
Tanzarra stops the horse and faces the direction from which she zlinned the faintest shimmer of Eliza's field.
Eliza wishes she were just there without having to travel the remaining distance.
Tanzarra: ~~ straining to focus ~~
Tanzarra: ~~ gone ~~
Tanzarra knows she zlinned it, she's sure she zlinned it.
Eliza risks a canter.
Tanzarra turns the horses and heads in the direction she thinks Eliza is.
Eliza: [the horse puts back his ears. He isn't used to moving faster then a slow trot.]
Eliza canters him up another hill before letting him slow to a trot once again.
Tanzarra: ~~ frustration ~~
Eliza: [the horse continues on, sides heaving]
Tanzarra: ~~ There it is again ~~
Tanzarra kicks Trigger to go faster.
Tanzarra: ~~ focuses on Eliza's field ~~
Eliza lets the horse drop to a walk. [Poor horse]
Tanzarra has roughly pinpointed the direction and heads off at a fast gallop.
Tanzarra loses Eliza's field yet again as she descends another hill.
Eliza: ~ shock reaction ~
Eliza starts to cry silently.
Tanzarra: Shen!
Eliza: Oh Mos, I shouldn't have left!
Tanzarra is getting really annoyed with these hills.
Eliza lets the horse continue at his own pace.
Tanzarra rides to the top of the next hill and stops.
Eliza drops the reins and wipes angrily at the tears.
Eliza screams nagerically in frustration, anger and fear ~ !ARGH! ~
Tanzarra laterals strain as she zlins as intently as she can.
Tanzarra: ~~ ARGH ~~
Tanzarra whips her head in the direction of Eliza's sudden flare of frustration and takes off down the hill.
Eliza: I shouldn't have left Bender Cove, I should have been more careful, I shouldn't get into so much trouble, Snake'll kill me!
Tanzarra: ~~ hope ~~
Eliza wants so much for Snake to just like her and trust her.
Eliza: She will never trust me at this rate!
Tanzarra: Come on Eliza don't go control on me now. [to self]
Eliza sobs afresh.
Tanzarra knows she's close, but where is she?
Tanzarra: ~~ frustration, anguish ~~
Eliza picks up the reins again and slaps them on the horse's rump.
Eliza: [horse breaks into a trot again, ears back and snorting]
Eliza sees a rider crest the next rise and pulls up. ~ fear ~
Eliza's heart pounds.
Eliza tries to swallow with a suddenly very dry throat.
Tanzarra ~ Feels strong fear from Eliza ~
Eliza wonders wether to run again or what.
Tanzarra aims the horses straight toward Eliza.
Tanzarra: ELIZA! ELIZA!
Eliza: ~ shock ~
Eliza: Zarra?
Eliza breaks into a fresh batch of tears.
Tanzarra: ~~ excitement, relief ~~
Tanzarra gallops pulls up beside the cart and jumps onto the cart, taking Eliza by the shoulders.
Tanzarra: Where have you been? What happened? Why did you go on your own?
Eliza: ~ relief ~
Tanzarra hugs Eliza tightly.
Eliza: Zarra, I know where the juncts are.
Eliza is bruised and dirty and looks like she has been dragged in and out of cellars and around the countryside.
Tanzarra is too distracted to hear properly.
Tanzarra starts zlinning Eliza for injuries.
Eliza: There was this channel named Loth and this other one, the biggest Sime I've ever seen! And I think I killed someone, I didn't mean to hit him so hard, and I'm not sure that the channel isn't following us. Can you zlin him?
Eliza: ~ nothing serious, multiple bruises on arm from tentacles and on head from fall and remains of the drug in her system ~
Tanzarra: There isn't anyone as far as I can zlin, but they may be beyond my range.
Eliza: I was so scared Zarra! I suddenly realised that there was more ways then one to die, and then he made me drink this stuff and it was drugged and I couldn't do anything.
Eliza: But I know where they are now! They are over that way; there is a group of buildings.
Eliza: They are there. We have to tell Snake!
Eliza: We have to get the other Gens out!
Tanzarra: Calm down, there's nothing we can do now.
Eliza trembles.
Tanzarra: The first thing we're doing is getting you back to town right now.
Tanzarra ties the reins of Flossie and Trigger to the back of the cart.
Eliza keeps a watch out nervously, though she feels much better with Zarra there.
Eliza: Oh, hurry please!
Tanzarra takes the reins from Eliza and urges the horse onward.
Tanzarra: It's all right, there is no one in zlinning distance in any direction.
Eliza: ~ relieved ~
Tanzarra holds the reins in one hand while holding Eliza with the other.
Tanzarra: Just relax now, we aren't that far from town.
Tanzarra heads the horse toward town.
Eliza doesn't think she will ever relax again.
Eliza: Why am I so stupid?
Tanzarra: What makes you think you were stupid?
Eliza: I just trusted him. It never occurred to me that he might be bad.
Tanzarra is constantly zlinning to make sure that there is no one following.
Tanzarra: Trusted who?
Eliza: This Sime, Strel or something.
Eliza: He was on the road, I was glad of the company.
Tanzarra: ~~ concern ~~
Eliza: Oh gip, I think I killed him.
Tanzarra: ~~ worry ~~
Eliza bursts into tears on Zarra's shoulder.
Tanzarra: Ummm, How... did you kill him?
Eliza: I slammed him! [bawls]
Eliza: ~ guilt ~
Eliza: He was in need, I'm sure he couldn't help it!
Tanzarra: But you had to defend yourself.
Eliza: He couldn't have hurt me though.
Eliza: I knew that! I didn't really mean to kill him, I just wanted him to, to, just to go away.
Tanzarra hopes she doesn't ever scare Eliza enough to trigger such a reaction.
Eliza shuts her eyes.
Eliza: I'm so sorry, Zarra.
Eliza: ~ ragged attempt at control ~
Tanzarra: ~~ Caring ~~
Tanzarra squeezes her shoulder gently.
Tanzarra goes hypo.
Tanzarra: You know you don't have to keep control right now, let yourself react.
Eliza: I've been reacting too much. Snake is right, I have to learn to keep control.
Eliza yawns.
Eliza: I guess I'm still a little bit doped up.
Tanzarra: Well at least you can sleep it off in safety.
Eliza: [sleepily] Yes.
Tanzarra: When we get back I'd like to check you a little more thoroughly to make sure you are all right.
Eliza: Mmmmm.
Eliza dozes with the sway of the cart.
Tanzarra rides into town, directly to the guest house.
Tanzarra: Eliza! [whispered]
Eliza: Hmmmm?
Tanzarra: I'm taking you up to our room, then I'm taking the horses to the stable.
Tanzarra: I'll be back straight away, Okay?
Eliza: Okay.
Eliza: I can walk.
Eliza climbs out of the cart.
Tanzarra jumps down and holds out a hand for Eliza.
Tanzarra: Do you want some help?
Eliza: No, I'm right.
Eliza weaves her way to the stairs and climbs up them.
Tanzarra steps back, but stays close just in case.
Eliza: [Bed sounds terribly good]
Tanzarra: How long since you've eaten?
Eliza: I don't remember.
Eliza: I'm not hungry.
Eliza doesn't think she will ever eat again.
Tanzarra: Come on then, let's get you to bed.
Notes:
1) There may be some lines missing here. [return]