Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #44: Nuisances (7/23/98)
Theffie puffs and pants up to Carmikel's hosts' doorstep.
Theffie signals at the door breathlessly.
Carmikel leaves Farris in a restless sleep and heads out to see what success Warron has had.
Theffie: Hey! Carmikel! Warron?
Theffie signals again.
Nick trudges down the street, chasing the latest rumor.
Nick clutches the medicine satchel, more from habit than intent.
Carmikel opens the door.
Carmikel: Theffie, come in. Any news?
Theffie: Jolly! I came as soon as I could.
Nick's nager is a cloud of worry, powerful enough to start a mass suicide.
Theffie steps in.
Theffie: ~~puff puff pant pant~~
Carmikel: Shen, let me get you some water!
Carmikel takes Theffie by the arm and leads him to the kitchen and gets him a drink.
Nick: I will never, no, NEVER let that dratted channel take as much as an aspirin without my prescription again... [mutters]
Theffie: Sorry, I thought you'd want the news.
Carmikel: Yes yes - the news!?
Theffie: I heard on the grape vine that a Companion with a guilt complex the size of Nivet Territory is wallowing through Pepto Ranch looking like he hasn't slept in five days.
Nick then remembers that Snake is allergic to aspirin, and modifies his grumbles appropriately.
Theffie gulps the water, spilling half of it on his face.
Carmikel: Sounds like it could be our man. I don't want to tell her yet though in case it turns out to be a false lead.
Theffie adds, "And smelling like he hasn't washed in five days as well."
Theffie holds out the glass for more.
Carmikel: Have you sent anyone out to question him?
Nick is exhausted enough to feel like, well, pulped grapes...
Theffie: Not yet, I'll go myself as soon as I catch my breath. You want to come too?
Carmikel refills it.
Carmikel: [and hands it back]
Carmikel considers.
Theffie gulps the water, spilling 3/4 of it on his face.
Carmikel: Yes, I will, Warron can stay here and watch her. He is probably more able to handle her then I am anyway.
Theffie: Where's Queen Super-Suction?
Carmikel: Asleep.
Carmikel wonders if there is something wrong with Theffie's reflexes.
Theffie: Oh.
Theffie sets the glass aside and wipes his face on his (soggy) sleeve.
Theffie: Shall we, then?
Carmikel: Do you want to take my trap?
Theffie: Shendoni, Carmikel, do you think we'll need it?
Theffie: I heard this guy was slippery, but a trap??? I mean...
Nick staggers, feeling vaguely nauseous, but isn't about to quit his search.
Theffie: We don't want to injure him or anything.
Theffie's brain matches his reflexes.
Carmikel: Depends, you look all in, I wonder what condition the Donor is?
Carmikel: The Pony trap!
Carmikel slaps his head with a tentacle.
Theffie's eyes widen until he realizes Carmikel isn't talking about a trap for capturing ponies.
Theffie: Ahhhhh... I see.
Theffie: Whatever you think, Carmikel.
Nick doesn't have the energy to wonder why he's unable to think about anything but finding Snake and having transfer.
Carmikel sighs, shakes his head and calls one of the kids to harness the pony.
Theffie gets up and bounds out the door, revived by his clean face.
Theffie: What a beautiful day.
Nick leans against a convenient tree until the world stops spinning, then staggers on, trying to find the building that was described to him.
Carmikel: I'll get my bag.
Theffie: Did you hear that Bongyra's cow had a two-headed calf?
Theffie looks around, realizes Carmikel's not outside yet, and shrugs.
Nick is having difficulty with his search, since by now he can hardly tell a green house from an orange one.
Carmikel slides softly into the bedroom to take one last zlin of the sleeping channel before picking up a satchel (not altogether completely like Snake's) and sliding out again.
Theffie squints at the sky and tries to decide whether he's going to win or lose the bet he made with cousin Emkel about the height of Mister Beenuckle's corn on Sunday.
Nick wonders vaguely if he's coming down with the flu, but it doesn't seem half as important as locating Snake.
Theffie licks his finger, holds it up, studies the sun's corona, then toes the dusty earth.
Theffie decides cousin Emkel is going to owe him big time come Sunday night.
Carmikel joins Theffie out the front and waits for the kids to lead the pony cart around.
Theffie: You okay Carmi? You seem kinda peaked.
Theffie: That Warron taking care of you all right?
Carmikel: Peaked doesn't cover it. You try giving transfer to a Farris channel and see how you feel.
Theffie: Me? [flummoxed]
Theffie: Right now?
Theffie looks at the house with some trepidation.
Theffie: I dunno... that sounds kinda --
Carmikel: What? Oh yes, Warron's fine. Why, you looking for a job?
Carmikel: No not right n... here's the cart - get in.
Theffie: Wh.. huh? Oh.
Theffie gets in.
Nick: ~~ sickening, queasy exhaustion carried on a VERY high field ~~
Carmikel grabs Theffie and dumps him in the cart.
Theffie grunts as he is grabbed and thrown across the cart.
Theffie: I'm in! I'm in. Shen Carmikel, you're grouchy today.
Carmikel picks up the reins. 'OK, where is this Pepto Ranch?"
Theffie: Are you sure we shouldn't bring Warron along?
Carmikel: NO! I'm fine!
Carmikel slaps the pony to a brisk trot.
Theffie: Two miles outta town on the East side.
Carmikel: Shen shen shen!!!
Carmikel stops the pony, turns everything around, and sets off in the other direction.
Nick weaves back and forth across the road in an extravagant fashion that would put an experienced drunk to shame.
Theffie watches Carmikel slapping the pony and wonders what else Carmikel gets into that the local gossip mill would find interesting.
Carmikel takes a few deep breaths.
Carmikel takes a few more.
Theffie: ~~curiosity mixed with a bit of nausea at the abrupt maneuvers~~
Carmikel: I don't understand how anyone could get separated from their Donor in that condition.
Theffie looks at Carmikel, then behind them to the house where Carmikel is leaving his own Donor behind.
Theffie: Er....
Carmikel: I sure hope this is the guy.
Theffie: Yah.
Nick: ~~ guilt ~~ ~~ exhaustion ~~ ~~ nausea ~~
Theffie: It's the one with the cow skulls over the gate.
Theffie: And the collapsed barns in a row.
Theffie: And the rusted out wagon wheels lining the road.
Carmikel: Sounds delightful.
Theffie: And the statue of a lady bending over in the garden... little wooden thing, bright colors... can't miss it.
Nick: ~~~~~~ waaaay too much selyn ~~~~~~
Carmikel sits up straighter and goes hyper.
Carmikel comes down duo again.
Carmikel: We aren't going to have to go that far, I don't think.
Nick pauses again to lean against the fence.
Theffie: Oh?
Theffie looks ahead and sees a Gen slumped against a fence.
Carmikel points up ahead. "See anyone yet?"
Carmikel: There he is.
Theffie: Yeah... looks like a drunk.
Nick vaguely notes the sound of hoofbeats.
Theffie should know; some of his best friends are drunks.
Carmikel slows the cart down and pulls up just in front of the Gen.
Carmikel: Nick Redgrave? Redmond? Redfield?
Carmikel: Nick whatever?
Nick looks up at the trap with bloodshot eyes, and loses interest when the occupants don't seem to be Snake.
Nick blinks at Carmikel.
Nick: Who?
Carmikel: You. Has to be you. Have you lost a Snake?
Nick: Snake?
Carmikel hops out and goes to help Nick down the embankment to the road.
Nick: ~~ moderate increase of alertness due to adrenaline rush ~~
Nick: Where is she?
Theffie moves to assist Carmikel, taking Nick's other side.
Nick staggers towards Carmikel.
Nick trips over his feet and falls.
Theffie: Who, you mean Princess Bed-Perfect?
Theffie has heard the story of how in order to make Snake sleep Carmikel and Warron had to hunt high and low for "acceptable" bed coverings.
Nick: ~~ banged elbow ~~
Carmikel jumps up and picks Nick up.
Nick performs a close inspection of the road dust.
Theffie is appalled that he let Nick fall.
Theffie: Sorry, Carmikel.
Theffie: I guess my hands were sweaty.
Carmikel grits his teeth against the banged elbow and tries not to rub his own in sympathy.
Theffie thinks, also the Donor was greasy.
Carmikel: Just hold the pony will you? [pony starts to walk away down the road to a more interesting piece of grass]
Nick looks at Carmikel.
Theffie goes over to stop the pony from wandering off.
Nick: Where's Snake?
Nick: ~~ worry ~~
Nick: ~~ guilt ~~
Theffie amuses the pony by feeding it bits of peppermints that were in his pocket.
Theffie has no idea he has just created a monster.
Carmikel: She is safe. Although what she was doing so far from you in her condition is beyond me.
Nick: I've got to get to her. She needs transfer.
Carmikel jumps down the embankment and walks over to the cart with Nick in his arms.
Carmikel: Yeah Yeah, she had transfer. Don't worry.
Carmikel: But yes, we have to get you to her.
Nick needs transfer also, not to mention food, drink, a bath, and about 24 hours of sleep.
Nick takes a moment to absorb this news.
Nick: Had transfer?
Carmikel puts Nick carefully into the cart and leads the pony to turn it around.
Carmikel: Get in Theffie.
Nick: ~~ devastation ~~
Theffie gets in.
Theffie looks at Nick.
Nick hasn't felt this bad since he failed to get Snake post.
Carmikel hops in the other side and clicks at the pony.
Theffie: Why so blue? At least you're hooked up again.
The pony turns his head to look at the overcrowded trap.
Carmikel slaps the reins against its rump.
Nick: I wasn't there.
Carmikel: Come on there! Move!
Nick: I only went to the men's room, and she was gone...
The pony puts his head down and looks pathetic.
Nick: I've been chasing rumors ever since.
Theffie: Yeah, well, that's what happens when you let a woman get ahold of your heart.
Theffie: They love ya... and then leave ya.
Nick thought the connection was somewhat higher--and lower.
Carmikel: Oh shen. [Gets out of the cart, walks up to the pony, slaps it hard on the nose and gets back in]
Theffie: One minute it's "my hero!" and the next it's "now, where did I see him last?"
Theffie: Take my advice, guy, and buy yourself a dog. They're extremely loyal.
The pony snorts and throws up his head.
Nick: Loyalty. Snake likes loyalty.
Carmikel slaps the reins against the pony's rump again and off they go.
Carmikel tries to ignore Theffie.
Theffie is pretty good at being ignored, or at least ignorant.
Carmikel finds it somewhat easier to ignore Theffie's chatter then it is to ignore Nick's nager.
Nick: ~~ guilt ~~
Nick: I should have held it in longer.
Nick: If I'd had water instead of that porstan, I wouldn't have been in the men's room...
Nick is becoming a bit maudlin, with no transfer apparently in sight.
Carmikel slaps the reins to make the pony go faster. The sooner he can unload the both of them the happier he will be.
Theffie: Oh! Hey, let me off here. I have to go tell the guys the search is off.
Carmikel leans back hard, more then happy to let off one of the two annoyances.
Theffie jumps off the trap, stumbles, then continues into a saloon.
Carmikel: Right, not much further now.
Nick: Now Snake's never going to forgive me for not being there.
Carmikel guides the pony back to the house where Snake sleeps.
Nick: ~~ guilt driven by total exhaustion ~~
Carmikel: I'm sure you can work it so she will.
Carmikel stops the cart and climbs out and helps Nick down.
Carmikel: Watch your step....
Wise Snake is not exactly sleeping.
Nick sort of half-falls out of the cart.
Wise Snake is lying there wracking her brains trying to think of where she'd left Nick, Linn, Eliza and the others.
Wise Snake zlins a familiar nager and bounds off the bed, sending the famous non-allergenic blankets flying.
Wise Snake pities the channel who has to stay in this non-insulated house.
Wise Snake: Nick!
Nick staggers to a halt outside the door, trying with all her might to stay on his feet, sort of.
Wise Snake: Nick what have you done to yourself!!!
Wise Snake flies out of the house and grabs Nick.
Carmikel is very careful not to get between the two.
Nick: ~~ strong nageric response to Snake's presence ~~
Nick: Oooofff!
Nick: Snake!
Wise Snake zlins Nick all over.
Wise Snake: Where have you been!!
Nick: ~~ exhausted, throbbing elbow, dirty, starved, thirsty, and waaay too high field for comfort ~~
Nick: Looking for you.
Carmikel: I'll just get some water heated for washing up then shall I?
Wise Snake: Wait... let me... I have to work off this selyn.
Wise Snake: I didn't have a real transfer, Nick, I can be ready for you. Really.
Carmikel didn't expect an answer and goes to get the water heated.
Wise Snake is squeezing Nick's arms hard enough to leave little doubt in her mind (or his for that matter) that he is, in fact, real.
Nick blinks, too tired to really take this in.
Wise Snake runs off down the road.
Wise Snake: [under augmentation]
Nick thinks she's running off again and staggers after her.
Nick isn't really thinking very clearly just now.
Nick: No, wait for me...
Wise Snake runs across town like a blur, trying to burn off as much selyn as possible.
Nick gets to the end of the block before tripping again.
Nick sprawls on the road, unable to find the energy to get up.
Mustachio glides into Carmikel's house like a bad odor.
Nick: No, Snake, wait for me.
Nick starts snoring.
Mustachio is a mean looking, ugly looking, slinky renSime with a funky looking mask over his eyes.
Mustachio: Psssst.
Mustachio: How much for the both of em?
Carmikel: I'm a bit busy at the moment.... errr, who are you?
Mustachio: I can pay you good bucks. Very good. What do you say?
Wise Snake runs back in the other direction.
Wise Snake: "I'm not quite done yet!" [pants as she rushes past Nick's prone form]
Carmikel: Good bucks for who?
Carmikel: ~ confusion ~
Nick: Snnooooorrrre.
Mustachio: For the girl, and the kid. And any of the rest of 'em you manage to round up.
Mustachio: I can give ya 2,000 per head.
Mustachio: What do you say?
Mustachio fairly exudes slime.
Mustachio: ~~~slimy~~~
Carmikel: What girl! What kid! Who are you! What are you doing in here!
Carmikel: ~ growing anger ~
Nick: ~~~ sleep ~~~
Nick rolls over, coating the other side of himself in road dust.
Carmikel looks curiously at this interloper.
Mustachio: That isn't important.
Mustachio: What is important is that you have what my employers want, and I am prepared to pay well for it.
Mustachio: The girl... the channel. And her Companion. How much?
Mustachio: How much for them, and your silence?
Carmikel: They aren't mine to sell! Get the shen out of this house you lorsh!
Carmikel takes a threatening step forward.
Carmikel wonders just how this greasy slime ball intended to hold either Snake or her Donor against their will anyway.
Mustachio jumps up, then, taking a zlin of Carmikel's projection, decides discretion is the better part of investment and skedaddles.
Wise Snake rushes back the other way, panting like she's about to bust a lung, still augmenting wildly.
Wise Snake: Almost done Nick! [shouts over her shoulder to his unconscious form]
Carmikel heads out to make sure no harm comes to the Donor and is surprised to see his unconscious form on the road with no channel in sight.
Carmikel runs over, zlins him for damage, picks him up and carries him inside.
Carmikel: Disgraceful!
Carmikel: The way she treats a Donor of your class!
Wise Snake rushes back to where Nick was, now in hard need again after burning off all of Carmikel's selyn, and lets out an anguished shriek as she finds Nick gone.
Wise Snake: No no no!!!! No this can't be happening!
Carmikel carries him inside and puts him on Snake's deserted bed, regardless of the condition the sheets will be in.
Carmikel hears a scream outside and runs back out.
Carmikel is about at the end of his tether, and seeing Snake once again in hard need doesn't help.
Wise Snake is beating her forehead on the dusty earth.
Wise Snake: ~~need~~
Wise Snake: No no no! Where have I gone wrong?
Carmikel: Stop that! He is in here IN HERE I SAY!
Carmikel runs over to her and picks her up by the shoulders.
Wise Snake: Wha... Carmikel?
Carmikel: He is INSIDE! INSIDE I tell you!
Wise Snake: [dustily]
Wise Snake: Oh.
Carmikel shakes her.
Wise Snake's eyes rattle around like ping pong balls inside her head.
Carmikel shakes her again 'cause it help relieve his frustration.
Wise Snake's hair whips back and forth with the shaking.
Carmikel can't wait to see the end of this pair.
Wise Snake tries to claw her way toward the house past Carmikel.
Carmikel lets her go.
Wise Snake hurries into the house, zlinning for Nick and homing in on him.
Wise Snake finds him on the bed and pounces.