Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #45: Relatively Annoying (7/24/98)
Nick oooffs as Snake lands on him.
Nick feels Snake-deep need, and pries his eyes open, sort of.
Nick: Snake, issat you?
Nick is never at his best when sleep-deprived.
Nick tries to sit up.
Wise Snake gropes for Nick's arms, which have somehow found their way underneath him.
Wise Snake: Yes, who else?
Wise Snake: Are you ready now?
Nick finds that he needs transfer almost as much as he needs sleep.
Wise Snake's lips find Nick's ear.
Nick blinks, then looks at his arms.
Wise Snake: You have no idea what I went through with that other transfer.
Nick: Let me rinse off a moment, first. You don't want road dust on your laterals.
Wise Snake continues to grip Nick's arms.
Nick: ~~ reassurance ~~
Nick: There's a basin of water just over there, see?
Nick: You can come with me.
Wise Snake continues to cling to Nick's arms, but doesn't actually hold him down.
Nick carefully stands.
Nick: ~~ not running away ~~
Wise Snake moves with Nick.
Wise Snake: You know, I'm concerned that taking transfer with each other too many times in a row is creating a dependency.
Nick makes his way over to the basin.
Nick: We have a choice?
Wise Snake: Probably not. [admits]
Nick stops by the basin.
Wise Snake's laterals are already all over Nick's arms.
Nick: You'll have to let me go so I can wash.
Nick looks at the mud on Snake's laterals.
Wise Snake lets go of Nick reluctantly.
Wise Snake keeps a close eye on him to make sure he doesn't disappear again.
Wise Snake: [from about an inch away]
Nick rinses his arms carefully.
Nick holds up the pitcher.
Nick: Here. Let's rinse off your laterals so you don't have trouble.
Nick: ~~ firm ~~
Nick knows Snake's attitude towards water, but he doesn't want to treat dust-up-the-laterals, either.
Wise Snake sighs and holds out her hands.
Nick pours a stream of water to wash the laterals clean.
Wise Snake grimaces and moves the tentacles about for full coverage.
Nick sets the pitcher down and backs up a step, holding out his dripping arms.
Nick: Come on, then.
Wise Snake flicks water off her paws like an offended cat.
Nick grins a feral grin.
Nick: ~~ Gen enticement ~~
Wise Snake reaches for Nick.
Nick meets Snake halfway.
Wise Snake: ~~neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed~~~
Nick staggers as the neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed hits him.
Nick feels super-saturated with selyn.
Wise Snake snatches Nick's arms and mouth.
Nick 's nager rings with delight as the neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed grabs him.
Nick: ~~ come and get it ~~
Wise Snake's laterals seat themselves on Nick's slippery arms and she gives in to her neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed, drawing voraciously.
Wise Snake: ~~hunger~~
Nick provides selyn as fast as Snake can take it, delighting in the hunger that only he can fill (at least since Rapol failed to meet up with them).
Wise Snake takes the provided selyn greedily, at her fastest pace.
Nick: ~~ soaring ecstasy ~~
Wise Snake knows a shuddering fulfillment, a shadowy peaking in the glory of Nick's ecstasy.
Nick broadcasts ~~ complete satisfaction ~~ at the top of his nager.
Wise Snake finishes, and collapses against Nick still clinging to his arms.
Nick waits patiently for Snake to recover.
Nick: Oh, Snake, that was the best yet.
Wise Snake finally pushes slightly away from Nick and looks up at him.
Wise Snake: I thought I'd lost you, Nick.
Nick would have told Snake that she could never lose him, if she hadn't just proved that she could.
Wise Snake pauses.
Wise Snake: Er... where are the others?
Wise Snake hadn't thought of them even momentarily in days.
Nick: Looking for you.
Nick: They'll check in at that bar every few days, for messages.
Wise Snake: What bar?
Nick: The one where you disappeared.
Wise Snake: Did I?
Nick: While I was in the men's room.
Wise Snake: The bar in Tanadu Junction?
Nick: Yes. When I got back, you were gone.
Nick: And nobody would admit to seeing you leave.
Wise Snake: huh.
Wise Snake doesn't like the sound of that.
Nick wraps his arms around Snake tightly.
Nick: I thought I'd lost you for good.
Wise Snake: Well, you'll just have to avoid going to the bathroom from now onnOOOF.
Wise Snake returns the embrace.
Nick thinks, so much for an occasional glass of porstan.
Wise Snake: Maybe I should ride back for them while you get some sleep.
Wise Snake would actually like to do something else with Nick, but realizes there are practical considerations.
Nick: Do you have to go right away?
Wise Snake: Er... no.
Nick bends over and kisses Snake.
Wise Snake: Ummmmmmmmmmmmmm
Nick is quite aromatic, and has five day's growth of beard.
Wise Snake kisses him back, moving against him in a demonstration of adequate passion in a post-transfer Sime.
Wise Snake: [maybe that should be... more than adequate]
Wise Snake of course is utterly oblivious to beard and aroma.
Nick decides, what the hell, if she doesn't mind, why should I?
Wise Snake pushes Nick over in the direction of the bed, dragging him down.
Nick is quite willing to be dragged.
Wise Snake's mouth seeks Nick's again... well heck, their mouths haven't parted since that first kiss.
see note 1
Linn opens the door to the bar and wrinkles her nose as the smells of stale porstan and unwashed bodies float out.
Linn sighs and steps through.
Griff bounces behind, rubbernecking.
Griff thinks that the bum sleeping on the floor in a pool of spilled beer is ooky enough for his tastes, barely.
Nodrilis is greasing glasses behind the bar.
Nodrilis puts a freshly smeared glass on the rack and picks up another to rub with the filthy black rag in his hand.
Nodrilis looks up as he sees Linn and Griff enter.
Linn resists the temptation to hold her nose and weaves her way through the crowd towards the bar.
Nodrilis had never figured Linn as the type to frequent his place, but she sure is becoming a regular.
Linn: ~~ businesslike determination ~~
Nodrilis: Yes ma'am, what'll it be?
Linn finds a vacant spot on the bar.
Linn: Porstan, and two glasses of water.
Linn knows that the porstan is the price of getting the water.
Griff: I'll have water, and two glasses of porstan!
Linn shoots Griff The Look.
Nodrilis sets three glasses on the counter and carefully pours foaming water into two of them and flat porstan into the third.
Griff subsides apologetically.
Nodrilis: There you go, that'll be 23 coppers.
Linn reaches into her purse.
Linn: Have there been any messages left for me?
Linn takes a 50 copper piece out her purse and holds it just above the bar, where Nodrilis can see but not take.
Nodrilis grunts to himself and goes over to the pigeon-holes where various grubby papers are poking out.
Nodrilis carefully extracts a slim note from one cubbyhole, re-reads it, nods, then returns to the bar.
Nodrilis: Here you go lady.
Linn: Thank you.
Nodrilis holds out the note with one hand and his empty other hand.
Linn takes the note, and puts the coin on the bar.
Nodrilis snatches the coin and bites it, then performs the more usual zlinning test.
Griff nudges closer to Linn, trying to read over her shoulder.
Linn reads the note.
Note: Linn, please meet us in Gouge River Crossroads, at the Sign of the Blottoed Ox. Everything OK. --Snake
Linn nods.
Linn: Good news, Griff. Snake's been found.
Nodrilis beams, as he finds the coin to be genuine.
Linn pulls a notepad and pen from her purse and scribbles a note telling Eliza that she and Griff are going to Gouge River Crossroads to meet Snake and Nick--at least she assumes that "us" means Nick, since that was the direction he was searching.
Linn puts her note with Snake's, and reaches into her purse for another 50 copper coin.
Linn focuses on Nodrilis, having learned that this is an effective way to get a Sime's attention.
Nodrilis turns to Linn.
Nodrilis: ~~?~~
Griff, seeing Linn preoccupied, sneaks a hand towards the porstan glass.
Linn holds up the notes and coin.
Linn: Don't try it, Griff.
Nodrilis is disappointed that Griff got caught, since he is all for young people developing drinking habits. [he's the long-term thinking type businessman]
Griff makes a face, but stops grabbing for the beer.
Linn: Could you give these two notes to our compatriots, Eliza and Hajene Tanzarra?
Nodrilis: You paying for them? [grunts]
Linn tilts the notes so that Nodrilis can see the coin.
Nodrilis nods.
Nodrilis: Yeah, I'll keep it for them.
Linn smiles, and passes him the notes and coin.
Nodrilis takes them and slips the notes into a cubbyhole, pocketing the coin.
Linn: Thank you.
Linn: Come on, Griff. We'd better get going if we're going to reach Gouge River Crossroads before dark.
Linn begins to work her way towards the door.
Griff casts one more longing look at the porstan glass, then reluctantly follows.
Griff thinks that when Linn's around, he never gets to stay long in ooky places.
Thetch: Pssst!
Thetch gestures to Griff as the kid passes.
Griff pauses and looks at Thetch.
Thetch beckons him closer.
Thetch is a stinky old grimy drunk with a mashed cap and a tattered cloak.
Thetch has a full glass of porstan with a beautiful head of foam on it.
Griff goes a step closer.
Griff: ~~ curiosity ~~
Thetch: Hey kid, you want a sip of my drink?
Griff thinks Thetch is suitably ooky.
Griff: ~~ interest ~~
Griff: Can I really?
Griff shoots a look towards Linn.
Thetch: Sure, kid. Go right ahead.
Thetch bathes in Griff's very interesting field.
Griff snatches up the glass and takes a big gulp.
Griff 's eyes cross at the bitter flavor, but he bravely manages to swallow.
Griff: ~~ ugh!! ~~
Griff coughs, trying to figure out why grown-ups like this stuff.
Griff sets the glass down.
Griff: Thanks, Mister.
Thetch recoils.
Thetch: Ugh... er... no problem kid.
Thetch's tentacles shrink inside his grubby cloak as he tries vainly to erase the effects of Griff's revulsion from his own nager.
Linn sees that Griff has fallen behind.
Linn: Griff, come on!
Griff jumps guiltily at The Voice.
Thetch: Run along, now, your mother is calling you.
Griff: Gotta go!
Griff starts after Linn.
see note 2
Wise Snake is going through the contents of the medical bag, making mental notes of what they are short of.
Wise Snake: [and occasionally sampling the merchandise]
Nick wanders back from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, clean shaven, and much less aromatic.
Nick catches Snake sampling.
Nick: Hey, what are you taking?
Nick is a bit nervous about Snake and drugs since the incident of the 3 horse tranquilizers.
Wise Snake looks up, startled.
Nick: ~ alarm ~
Wise Snake: Oh, er,
Nick forgets and lets his towel drop.
Wise Snake holds up a bottle of mildly hallucinogenic downers.
Wise Snake becomes distracted by Nick's display.
Nick loses his grip on the towel entirely as he goes over to take the pills from Snake.
Nick: You shouldn't be taking drugs without telling me.
Wise Snake: And, uh, these... [fishes out some drop-dead painkillers she picked up on Tecton requisition in Vortez Lake]
Wise Snake: I shouldn't?
Wise Snake: ~surprised~
Wise Snake does actually remember something about that, now that he mentions it.
Wise Snake thinks that policy seems awfully restrictive.
Nick: Have you ever considered what reactions you could have if I had to treat you, and picked a drug that didn't get along with something you'd already taken?
Wise Snake: Well, yes,
Wise Snake: But having to tell you everything... it interferes with spontaneity.
Nick puts two (painkillers) and two (hallucinogenic downers) together and makes a tentative diagnosis.
Nick: Are you being bothered by entran again?
Wise Snake: Well, yes, and,
Wise Snake: ~embarrassed~ well, that splice wasn't pleasant, much as I enjoyed your half of it.
Nick holds out his hands.
Nick: Here. Try working it off like this.
Nick: ~~ rock-steady support ~~
Wise Snake reaches for Nick's hands.
Nick arranges his nager to give Snake the optimal internal traction.
Wise Snake uses Nick's field to balance her systems.
Nick can't help but notice how nice Snake feels.
Nick's appreciation, unfortunately, is rather difficult to hide in his current state of undress.
Wise Snake feels much nicer with the entran temporarily at bay, although the pounding head ache she could do without.
Wise Snake becomes aware of the, er, appreciative nature of Nick's condition.
Nick waits until Snake retracts her laterals, then reclaims his hands.
Wise Snake looks down as Nick withdraws his touch.
Wise Snake: Do you require, er....
Nick reaches up to put his fingers on Snake's throbbing temples.
Wise Snake: Ahhhhh
Nick: ~~ cool dark comfort ~~
Wise Snake relaxes as her head ache is temporarily distanced by Nick's nearness.
Nick finds Snake's exclamation of relief....stimulating.
Nick works on Snake's headache, trying to ignore his own predicament.
Nick unfortunately discovers that his predicament is showing an alarming tendency to want to (ahem) come between them.
Wise Snake discovers that the effect of Nick's nager is strengthened if she moves closer to him.
Nick works on Snake's headache, trying to ignore his own predicament.
Nick gasps, and his field wavers for a moment.
Nick: ~~ cool dark comfort ~~ lust ~~ cool dark comfort ~~
Wise Snake finds Nick's nageric oscillations very... interesting.
Wise Snake: Ummmwh.
Wise Snake leans on Nick.
Nick reaches down to absently stroke along one arm, elbow to wrist.
Nick wonders if Snake's headache is under enough control to let her be interested in other activities.
Wise Snake shudders as Nick's touch excites an ecstatic charge along her selyn pathways (and other locations)
Wise Snake 's head ache appears to be in remission, leaving room for other pursuits.
Nick decides that you never score if you don't try, and leans down to kiss Snake thoroughly.
Seegis: Hey!!
Nick: ~~ lust ~~ cool dark comfort ~~ lust ~~
Seegis: [yells from outside the window, only feet away from them]
Seegis: I'd recognize that nager anywhere!
Seegis: Nick Reckage!!
Seegis: Hey, Nick!
Wise Snake melts into Nick's kiss, then stiffens at the sound of the shout and the feel of somebody's attention.
Nick breaks the kiss and casts a disgusted towards the window.
Seegis becomes doubly excited as he zlins he's got Nick's attention.
Nick: Trust you to turn up at a bad moment, Seegis.
Seegis: Hey!! Remember me? It's Uncle Seeg!
Nick is excited, too, but not by Seegis.
Seegis: Wait, don't go anywhere, I'll be right in.
Seegis disappears briefly from view.
Wise Snake clutches Nick's arms, somewhat disoriented by the sudden shift from total abandonment to paranoia.
Nick checks the door for usable locks.
Wise Snake: Wh-- who in shen is that!
Seegis soon comes waltzing in through the front door.
Nick: My Uncle Seegis.
Seegis: Heya Nick!
Nick: What are you doing here?
Nick is not exactly overjoyed to see Seegis.
Seegis is a big, solidly built Sime who looks like he may have been in the Army once, and has an atrocious Out Territory accent.
Seegis: I stopped by to see your folks and was just headed back to Farnaby Falls to catch the train back home.
Seegis: Shendoni Nick, you're looking good!
Nick would be happier with his towel, but it's a bit far to grab, so he decides that bluffing is the best he can do.
Seegis: And still bonking the babes like a dog in heat, very good, very good. I approve.
Nick thinks it's just as well that Seegis didn't see him 12 hours ago.
Seegis beams and claps Nick on the shoulder, apparently utterly unconcerned with the nudity.
Wise Snake gasps like a fish.
Nick: If it's all the same to you, Seegis, I'm busy right now.
Seegis: No no no! Go right ahead. I'll wait over here.
Nick: ~~ annoyance ~~
Seegis plops down on a chair at a desk next to the bed.
Seegis: Are you going to see your folks? They didn't say you were coming.
Seegis is full of verbal energy.
Wise Snake: Whh!!! [enraged stoat]
Wise Snake lets go of Nick and buttons up her shirt, which had somehow come half undone.
Nick decides he'd better do something about Seegis before Snake gets around to it--stoat bites are no joke.
Seegis: You know, they really miss you, Nick.
Nick: Look, Seegis, if you want to talk, I'll meet you outside. Later.
Seegis: What have you been doing with yourself?
Nick: Like I said, I'm busy now.
Seegis: Aside from.. [pauses in mid-gesture at Snake]... oh? Sure, when?
Seegis: Ten minutes enough?
Nick decides that there's something to be said for relatives; it has to be said because it's unprintable.
Nick: No.
Wise Snake grits her teeth and starts putting things back in the medical satchel with more force than is really necessary.
Seegis: Fifteen?
Nick is finding that his mood is spoiled.
Nick: No, twenty.
Nick figures that that should give them a head start.
Seegis: Whoa... going strong, eh boy? Ok, I'll see you then. How about the Sign of the Ox up the street? Can't miss it.
Nick starts looking around for his clothes, which no longer seem to be on the floor next to the bed, where he left them last night.
Seegis glances at Snake, winks at Nick, gives him the two-thumbs-up, and leaves the room.
Wise Snake is wearing a savage expression and is definitely no longer in the mood.
Nick: ~~ furiously embarrassed by his problem relative ~~
Wise Snake: Ok... who in the shen was that? Is he really related to you?
Nick: Did you see where my clothes ended up?
Wise Snake pauses.
Wise Snake looks around, then points out a sock draped over the overhead light.
Nick retrieves the sock and puts it on.
Wise Snake looks at Nick, who is wearing nothing but a sock.]
Wise Snake: [on his foot]
Wise Snake finds a shred of cloth the same color as Nick's shirt.
Nick debates adding a towel to the outfit, but holds off on this novel fashion statement in hopes of finding something more traditional.
Nick: He's a friend of my parents.
Wise Snake looks around and manages to locate several more tatters.
Wise Snake: What? [turns back to Nick, still holding the various bits and shreds of his shirt.]
Nick: Lived next door, and all that.
Wise Snake: So he's not really your uncle?
Wise Snake: ~~relief~~
Nick: No, but he might as well be, the way he tries to run my life.
Wise Snake looks surprised.
Wise Snake: I thought your parents travelled when you were young... was this fellow along as well?
Wise Snake feels considerable compassion for Nick if that was the case.
Wise Snake offers him the shredded shirt fragments.
Nick: We lived in Yarbruth Springs for four years.
Nick: That was long enough to let him attach himself to the family.
Nick: After that, he showed up on the holidays, and spent his vacations with us.
Nick: That sort of thing.
Wise Snake: I see.
Nick: Is that all that's left of my shirt?
Wise Snake: He nearly gave me a heart attack.
Wise Snake rubs her chest.
Wise Snake: I think so... I don't zlin any... wait.
Wise Snake goes over to the desk, pulls it slightly away from the wall, and reaches behind it to retrieve Nick's other sock.
Nick had planned to do some chest-rubbing himself.
Nick accepts the sock, then looks around anxiously.
Nick: What happened to my pants?
Wise Snake: I don't think I've been that angry since... since....
Wise Snake looks around, and zlins, attempting to locate Nick's pants.
Wise Snake: I don't zlin them around here... do you have spares with Linn and the others?
Nick has learned to his distress that Companioning Snake is definitely hazardous to one's wardrobe.
Nick wonders why this is never mentioned in the Tecton manuals, and then decides that that must be why the Tecton insists on providing uniforms for their Donors.
Nick: Yes. But I can hardly go fetch them like this.
Wise Snake: Well, they'll be coming to us, of course.
Nick indicates his total lack of garments above the ankle.
Wise Snake: Assuming they got my message.
Wise Snake: Well, not directly to us, but close enough. Just up the street.
Nick: Fine, but I doubt they'll be here before Uncle Seegis finishes his beer and comes looking for me.
Wise Snake scratches her head, which resembles a Black Angus run afoul of a Tesla coil.
Wise Snake: [she hasn't seen Linn in a few days]
Wise Snake: Should I go to the bar alone to meet Linn and the others? Can you stay here?
Wise Snake: Or do you want to find something temporary to throw on?
Nick: Well, if you could locate something better than a towel...
Nick thinks, and not a particularly large one, either.
Wise Snake glances at the bed, which sports a sadly wrinkled blue bedspread.
Seegis nips into the Sign of the Blottoed Ox for a bit of Porstan.
Nick remembers seeing pictures of Ancient statues wearing sheets, and gets a bad feeling about this.
Linn rides her horse through town, looking for the Blottoed Ox.
Wise Snake goes to the bed and pulls off the blanket, sees that the sheets underneath (which for some reason she hadn't noticed the night before] are white and pink stripes.
Wise Snake: Well? [holds up the bedspread]
Wise Snake: Unless you want to raid Carmikel and Warron's belongings?
Linn sees a sign which vaguely resembles a cow with a hangover.
Seegis buys the house a round and puts it on the tab of "That there Farris channel... my nephew's her Companion!"
Seegis: ~~pride/intoxication~~
Nick toys with the temptation.
Wise Snake tries to avoid screwing over people who have saved her life, at least within the next 24 hours after the saving.
Linn gets off her horse and checks the place out.
Nick sighs with resignation and reaches for a sheet.
Wise Snake hands it to him and then goes to the mirror, checking her look.
Nick mutters something about friends, Romans and countrymen as he wraps the thing around himself.
Wise Snake sees the black lightning effect and frowns, thinking Linn will have her guts for garters.
Wise Snake tries ineffectually to paw it into place with her tentacles.
Wise Snake: [her hair]
Seegis: Another round for the house!
Seegis: [loud cheers and bellows erupt from the building]
Nick views Snake's efforts critically.
Linn works her way towards the bar.
Seegis enjoys feeling popular.
Nick: Why don't you try the brush?
Seegis hoists a porstan. "To channels!"
Seegis: ["To channels!" roar his all-too-willing audience]
Wise Snake: Brush?
Wise Snake looks around and spots it on the vanity.
Wise Snake: Oh.
Wise Snake picks it up and rakes her head tentatively.
Linn hears the toast and changes course towards Seegis.
Nick: ~~ amusement ~~
Seegis spots Linn and grins broadly and appreciatively at the broad.
Nick: Not like that. Here, let me.
Wise Snake gratefully surrenders the brush.
Wise Snake is unaware that she is grooming-challenged.
Linn doesn't particularly care for the grin.
Wise Snake however does enjoy avoiding the responsibility whenever and however possible.
Seegis: Well hello there!
Seegis winks at Linn.
Seegis: A porstan for the lady!!! [roars at the bar]
Nick takes it and starts to work through the tangles with the awkwardness of someone who has has short hair all his life.
Linn: No thank you.
Seegis: Or no... you are from Out-Territory are you not? BEER! Make that a BEER!!!
Linn: You mentioned a channel.
Seegis leers in agreement.
Seegis: My nephew's new girlfriend.
Nick: How does Linn manage to make it look so easy?
Seegis: Pretty little thing, although a bit long in the nose.
Linn: Your nephew?
Linn looks at Seegis for signs of a family resemblance.
Linn: And where might your nephew and his channel be right now?
Seegis resembles Nick to the extent that an overweight male musk-ox farmer from outer Maple Leaf Territory resembles Risa Tigue.
Nick manages to get the worst of the rat's nests out of Snake's hair.
Nick: There. That should do it.
Nick looks hopefully at the effect.
Wise Snake looks up to thank him, then stares in amazement at the brush which resembles black cotton-candy on a handle.
Nick follows Snake's gaze.
Nick: Umm...
Nick: I think you're shedding.
Wise Snake looks back at the mirror, which displays long unruly hair laying down but starting to poing back up a lock at a time.
Wise Snake: I still look like I have plenty of hair.
Wise Snake fingers her head nervously.
Nick: Amazing, isn't it?
Seegis: Oh, they'll be along in a few minutes. They're just taking care of some business... servicing the old stallion if you get my drift.
Nick: I once knew a cat which covered the carpet with hair daily, but never seemed to have any less for hairball manufacture.
Seegis: Boy I tell ya, my boy Nick is a powerhouse.
Seegis: ~~proprietary pride~~
Wise Snake studies Nick's attire.
Wise Snake: Well, you can't tell it was a blanket anyway.
Wise Snake: But you're going to get way too hot.
Linn deduces from this that Nick and Snake have probably had transfer.
Nick looks like a cross between Julius Cesar and a peppermint candy.
Nick: Not if we find Linn quickly.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: Let's go then.
Wise Snake picks up the medical satchel before Nick can.
Nick follows Snake out the door, trying to look dignified in his improvised toga.
Seegis: Tell me, young lady, you wouldn't be interested in a little... you know... yourself, would you?
Seegis zlins Linn, though it is difficult in the crowded bar.
Linn: That's right, I wouldn't be interested.
Seegis decides the poor condition of the ambient offers some hope that he zlinned wrong... and anyway he never listens to words.
Seegis: I'm sure Nick would let us use his pad for a few minutes, us being family and all. What do you say?
Seegis bounces his eyebrows hopefully.
Linn: I say no.
Linn says "No" very firmly.
Seegis blinks.
Seegis: Okay, okay. Let me buy you a drink just for no-hard-feelings?
Linn inspects Seegis closely, and decides that there have already been far too many drinks at his table.
Linn: No thank you. I'm not thirsty.
Linn: At least, not for porstan or beer.
Wise Snake leads the way to the bar in question.
Seegis: How about a Tropical Heat Rush? It's made with bananas and very good.
Seegis doesn't mention several other ingredients including rum and kahlua.
Nick follows, clutching the change of clothes he rescued from Linn's pack horse outside.
Linn looks anxiously towards the door, and spots Snake.
Linn: Snake!
Linn waves.
Wise Snake squints, trying to zlin, then homes in on Linn as a small beacon of propriety in the otherwise raucous bar.
Wise Snake: Ah.
Nick is hoping that he can retire gracefully to the men's room to change, but doesn't want to do that until Linn is on duty to make sure Snake doesn't wander off again.
Wise Snake advances toward Linn.
Wise Snake moves through the crowded room with an accomplished ease.
Linn looks at Nick's outfit and blinks.
Wise Snake looks remarkably well groomed, and is wearing normal clothes (alas... typically grungy)
Linn: What is that....thing....Nick's wearing.
Wise Snake: What?
Wise Snake looks at Nick, then back to Linn.
Wise Snake: It's a bedsheet.
Wise Snake: Haven't you ever seen anybody wear a bedsheet before?
Linn: Not in public.
Wise Snake makes it sound like Linn is making a big deal out of something everybody else has seen a thousand times.
Wise Snake shrugs.
Nick: ~~ embarrassment ~~
Wise Snake: You would prefer he went out in the nude? His other clothes got ripped up. Nick, go change.
Linn: Ripped up?
Wise Snake: Or something. It doesn't matter.
Nick gratefully flees for the men's room.
Wise Snake tries to bend Linn's attention away from the subject of Nick's undress.
Seegis sees Linn has company and leers when he sees who it is.
Linn: Snake, what happened to you?
Linn: Why did you disappear like that? Nick was frantic.
Seegis: I'll tell you what happened to her. [interrupts, sloshing]
Seegis: She had the best bang of her life... from my own nephew.
Seegis: Remember, you heard it from me.
Wise Snake does her best to ignore Seegis.
Linn thinks Snake is definitely no longer in need.
Wise Snake wears an expression of pain as she tries to both ignore Seegis and field the pointed question from Linn.
Wise Snake: Look, there isn't a very good answer to that question, and...
Wise Snake: WHERE did he go!??!!?
Linn waits patiently for Snake's story--her expression making it clear that it had better be a good one.
Wise Snake jumps up wildly.
Wise Snake zlins desperately for Nick and then starts fighting her way gracelessly through the crowd in the direction of the mens' toilet.
Linn shakes her head and follows.
Wise Snake: I can't let him go in there.... he'll disappear forever.
Wise Snake realizes it's too late and advances on the door with clear intention of wresting it open and going in after Nick.
Linn catches up (thanks to the crowd) and grabs Snake by the shoulder.
Linn: You can't go in there.
Wise Snake: What....?
Wise Snake: I have to!
Linn: Nick's not going anywhere.
Linn: He'll be out as soon as he's dressed.
Wise Snake: Shen it, the last time he went to the bathroom he got lost for four days!!
Linn: No, you got lost.
Wise Snake: Whatever... don't mince details.
Wise Snake: This going to the bathroom thing has gone too far!
Wise Snake: He should be at my side. He's my Companion!
Nick quickly exchanges his sheet for more suitable dress.
Linn decides to apply one of Tanzarra's lessons.
Linn: ~~ amateur support ~~
Wise Snake is looking kind of crazy and flustered.
Linn: Calm down, Snake.
Wise Snake stares at Linn incredulously.
Linn: There's only one door, and you can see it from here.
Wise Snake: But... but..
Linn: Nick's not going anywhere. All you have to do is wait a few minutes, and he'll be back.
Wise Snake wonders how Linn knows there's only one door.
Wise Snake: But... [glances in painful longing at the door; last time she waited for Nick he disappeared]
Wise Snake sighs, nettled, and waits impatiently.
Wise Snake thinks at least Linn has forgotten to lecture her about the other disappearance.
Nick emerges from the men's room, once more dressed to his exacting standards: tight pants and silk shirt, making him look like a storybook gigolo.
Wise Snake rushes to Nick and grabs him.
Wise Snake: I thought you would never come back!
Nick carries the pink striped sheet in a bundle under one arm, figuring someone might have a use for it.
Wise Snake basks, gloating, in his field.
Nick: ~~ bewildered ~~
Nick: Where could I go? There's only one door.
Wise Snake: You could have climbed out a window.
Wise Snake keeps a firm grip on him and turns to Linn.
Wise Snake: Where are the others?
Linn: Griff's outside with the horses, and Eliza and Tanzarra should be showing up in a day or two.
Wise Snake: A day or two? [dismayed]
Linn: They went the other direction to search.
Seegis strides over from the bar, reeking of porstan.
Seegis: Nick! My boy.
Seegis punches him good naturedly on the arm.
Seegis: Got them running after you just like the good old days, eh?
Nick: Uncle Seegis, you're drunk.
Wise Snake stiffens and she glares at Seegis, who doesn't notice.
Seegis: Come back home with me and stay the night, what do you say?
Nick: I'm busy.
Seegis: Want me to come with you when you visit your parents tomorrow?
Seegis: Too busy to visit your own folks? For shame. Isn't that why you're in town?
Nick: No.
Nick nods towards Snake.
Nick: I've got a channel to look after.
Wise Snake continues to glare at Seegis in what she would surely deny was a jealous and suspicious manner.
Wise Snake's expression lightens at Nick's words.
Seegis barely glances at Snake.
Seegis: Bring her along! Bring her along! Bring 'em both along. We've plenty of room.
Seegis waves his arm expansively.
Seegis: [and unevenly]
Seegis: I can show you my new horse rig. Pair of chestnuts, run like blazes... and the gig's light as a feather. Takes corners like nobody's business.
Nick feels the humiliation that only a person being embarrassed by an older relative (or family friend) can know.
Nick decides that desperate times call for desperate measures.
Seegis: You can tell me what you've been doing with yourself besides knocking up channels, and I can fill you in on what's been going on in the family since you dropped off the face of the earth and never wrote to anybody again.
Seegis beams.
Nick: But, Uncle, you look tired. Don't you think we should wait until tomorrow?
Nick: ~~~ exhaustion aimed directly at Seegis ~~~
Seegis: Tomorrow? [surprised] Tired? But it's only 9am.
Seegis yawns despite himself.
Nick: Still, I can tell that you haven't been getting enough sleep lately.
Nick: ~~ tired ~~
Nick: Simes have trouble remembering to sleep enough.
Nick: ~~ SLEEP ~~
Seegis's copious porstan consumption and Nick's projection combine and he slides under a nearby table.
Wise Snake sits down on the nearest chair, rubbing her head.
Nick sighs in relief and carefully lets up on his nageric projection.
Nick inspects Seegis to make sure he'll stay asleep for a while.
Seegis snores almost loudly enough to be heard over the boisterous bar.
Nick sees Snake rubbing her head.
Nick: Headache back?
Wise Snake: And how. [weakly]
Wise Snake: Look, we've found Linn, let's get out of here.
Nick: Yes. Find someplace quiet.
Wise Snake gets up and starts wending her way towards the door.
Nick leads the way towards the door, using his Gen bulk to clear a path.
Linn follows in their wake.
Notes:
1) Several hours pass. [return]
2) Several more hours pass... Nick has had sleep and a wash. [return]