Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #50: Discord (7/29/98)
Fremus holds out his hand meaningfully.
Tanzarra fumbles through her pockets for what little money she can find.
Tanzarra: So, where can I find this saviour of yours?
Fremus looks at the coins and sighs.
Fremus: Has an apartment on Snobly Lane.
Tanzarra shrugs.
Fremus: Tall house, needs painting, 2nd floor.
Tanzarra gives Fremus the last of her money.
Fremus works out how much porstan he can get for the coins and decides he has told her enough.
Tanzarra: Thank you for you time.
Heewicky overhears the exchange and edges closer.
Heewicky is an older, grimier, and much quieter version of Fremus, and his porstan-breath was refreshed much more recently.
Fremus pockets the coins and heads off to the nearest parlor.
Heewicky: Hhhhheyy, yawana guide ta showooo aroun' lady?
Heewicky: [hic]
Sapis is wandering the street, having heard a third-hand account of Fremus's speech.
Tanzarra: I have no more money left.
Heewicky: Oh.... [disappointed]
Sapis is looking for the Savior Channel.
Heewicky slides into a heap on a nearby railing.
Heewicky: [snorrrrre]
Sapis hasn't cared much for the treatment she's been getting at the Tecton Center.
Bum Bum: You know Eliza, I've been thinking.
Sapis pauses in an alley, by a sleazy restaurant's back door.
Eliza has too, mainly about food.
Eliza: What about?
Tanzarra: Oh, great help you are.
Tanzarra turns and heads to the end of the street.
Sapis zlins, trying to perceive anyone who might have miraculous powers.
Eliza sniffs appeciatively at the smell of the cooking food which she hasn't been allowed to touch.
Bum Bum: I'm supposed to be saving all my money for taxes, but since you've agreed to spend all this time helping me find somebody, it's only fair I should take some out of the bank to buy you some groceries and things.
Sapis zlins someone passing by the end of the alley.
Bum Bum zlins, hoping the idea will make her like him more.
Eliza almost drops a dish.
Bum Bum jumps back, briefly juggling the three dishes he had just been soaping.
Eliza: You had money in the bank?
Sapis augments to catch up to the stranger, a channel-zlinning woman who isn't wearing a Tecton uniform.
Sapis: The savior!
Sapis: Stop! You must help me!
Bum Bum: Well yes, I told you I have to save most of my pay for taxes.
Sapis neatly tackles Tanzarra.
Eliza: I hadn't realized. Thank you!
Tanzarra stops and waits.
Tanzarra: Hey!
Sapis lands hard, but not as hard as she would have if Tanzarra hadn't been between her and the road.
Sapis: You must save me!
Eliza watches as another plate of something basically edible drifts by.
Tanzarra: ~~ annoyed ~~
Eliza: ~ hungry ~
Bum Bum: My next break is in... [checks the time] ...three and a half minutes. Do you want to go to the bank with me then?
Sapis: ~~ sincere desperation ~~
Eliza: [hungry Gens in dinners are good for business]
Tanzarra zlins the area to see who this person needs saving from.
Eliza: Sure! ~ grateful ~
Bum Bum is pleased with the effect... too bad he can't give presents this expensive all the time.
Bum Bum: Oh... by the way, I....
Tanzarra: What's wrong? Are you in some kind of trouble?
Bum Bum carefully removes a folded piece of paper from his shirt pocket.
Bum Bum: I wrote this for you.
Sapis: Oh! You are one who helps!
Sapis: I have a poem for you.
Eliza wipes her hands on her shirt.
Eliza takes the paper and unfolds it.
Poem 2: Fireflies
Poem 2: Your heart flashes
Poem 2: I succumb.
Bum Bum watches anxiously to see how she takes it.
Tanzarra: A poem, for me?
Eliza doesn't know what to think.
Tanzarra: Do I know you?
Sapis: Yes! Wrap me in the caring circle of your tentacles!
Eliza: ~ confusion sort of trying to hide behind control ~
Sapis throws her arms around Tanzarra to illustrate.
Bum Bum looks let down.
Eliza: Thank you, it's very sweet.
Bum Bum: Well, uh, oh.
Bum Bum turns back to the sink and tries to finish all the dishes in 1 1/2 minutes.
Eliza picks up another dish to wipe.
Tanzarra tries desperately to back away.
Tanzarra: Please. What is wrong with you?
Eliza puzzles over the two poems in her pocket and wonders why Bumanuel wrote them.
Sapis: You are the Savior! You must be. A channel without a uniform -- could there be another?
Bum Bum: Come on, Eliza, let's go to the bank.
Sapis assumes this question is purely rhetorical.
Tanzarra: Oh no. I'm no saviour.
Bum Bum thinks when she has some money she'll go off and amuse himself and her presence won't be there to torment him as he's trying to think of ways to get her to stay with him.
Bum Bum realizes on one level that this doesn't 100% make sense, but then, what does?
Sapis looks exultant.
Tanzarra: I'm not the one Fremus talks of. I'm looking for him myself.
Sapis: See! She is modest--proof of her calling!
Sapis wraps herself ever tighter around Tanzarra.
Sapis: Let me give you my poem!
Tanzarra: No. I am not.
Sapis closes her eyes and recites dramatically:
Sapis: My cat is fat.
Sapis: Imagine that!
Tanzarra: ~~ confusion and frustration ~~
Sapis thinks it's fortunate that the Savior is rumored to work for poems, not good poems.
Bum Bum walks out the back door of the diner.
Sapis: Now, wrap me in your caring tentacles so I may be saved from the Tecton!
Bum Bum: ~~3rd order channel out of uniform, projecting like a renSime~~
Tanzarra: Look, I am not the one you think I am.
Sapis is a bit confused by Tanzarra's behavior, until she comes up with the answer.
Bum Bum has Eliza with him.
Sapis: I understand!
Sapis: While the Tecton reigns, you must stay hidden.
Sapis: Fear not!
Sapis: I'll not betray you!
Bum Bum: Come on, the bank is up th... ack! [zlins Tanzarra up ahead]
Sapis: ~~ worshipful fanaticism ~~
Bum Bum: Er, back this other way.
Bum Bum grabs Eliza by the arm and steers her toward the other end of the alley.
Bum Bum thinks Tanzarra is a plainclothes Tecton channel.
Sapis: Only share your love with me!
Eliza: What!
Tanzarra looks up suddenly, she's sure she zlinned Eliza.
Bum Bum: There's a channel lurking at the other end of the alley. Let's go this way.
Eliza: What are you doing! Bumanuel! You are hurting my arm!
Bum Bum: I'm sorry. [loosens his grip slightly but keeps walking]
Bum Bum is obviously very nervous and tense.
Tanzarra: Please understand, I am not the saviour you are seeking.
Sapis: You are! Your very denial proves it!
Bum Bum feels Tanzarra zlinning in their direction and hurries even more quickly.
Sapis: Help me, I pray!
Tanzarra: I really have to go, the person I'm looking for is down there. [points to where she zlinned Eliza]
Bum Bum hopes to make it around the corner of the brick buildings before the channel gets free of whatever citizen she was talking to.
Sapis unthinkingly lets go of Tanzarra temporarily in order to clutch her hands beseechingly.
Tanzarra: I think the saviour is with the person I am looking for, he is down there as well.
Tanzarra: You can come with me if you like.
Sapis: I will follow you to the ends of the earth!
Sapis: ~~ utter loyalty ~~
Tanzarra backs off and makes a run after them, hoping it was Eliza she zlinned for that split second.
Sapis speeds after Tanzarra, augmenting to keep up.
Bum Bum does a double take as he zlins the channel rushing toward them, attention on them.
Bum Bum: Holy Shen!!
Eliza slinks after him trying to be invisible.
Bum Bum snatches Eliza up and augments, running down the street.
Bum Bum: Sorry about this.
Tanzarra gets to the corner just in time to zlin Eliza and augments after her.
Bum Bum jumps between two wagons heading toward each other, leaps a fallen fruit pile, and bounds in the open front door of a bar.
Bum Bum: Excuse me... excuse me folks... sorry about this Eliza.
Eliza: Stop! Stop! It's Zarra!
Eliza: Zarra!!!
Bum Bum threads his way through to the back door and out into an alley, starts running again.
Bum Bum's ear rings with Eliza's yelling.
Eliza: Bumanuel, STOP!
Bum Bum gets temporary hearing loss in one ear.
Bum Bum: What!? Why!!
Bum Bum skids to a halt in a protected, brick alcove.
Bum Bum: What's the matter, Eliza?
Tanzarra catches the blur of motion of the Sime carrying Eliza into a bar.
Tanzarra: ~~ panic ~~
Tanzarra races across the street and into the bar, zlinning for Eliza and her kidnapper.
Eliza: That channel isn't chasing us! It's Tanzarra.
Eliza: She isn't from the Tecton.
Sapis is barely three feet behind Tanzarra.
Bum Bum: Who in shen is Tanzarra?
Eliza: Well she was originally, I mean she isn't chasing us because of that.
Eliza: Don't you remember? I told you, she is working for Snake!
Bum Bum: What!?!
Bum Bum shocked
Bum Bum: She's working for Snake?!?!
Tanzarra hesitates inside the bar long enough to zlin they are not still in there and heads out the back door.
Bum Bum: I thought you told me you can't protect me from her... Eliza, this is a disaster!
Sapis chases after.
Bum Bum bolts out of the alcove and goes running madly again, still carrying Eliza.
Bum Bum is too freaked to realize he probably would have been better off staying quietly where it was insulated.
Tanzarra zlins the Sime and Eliza and augments after them.
Bum Bum: Shen!
Tanzarra: HEY! STOP!
Sapis nearly flips over, trying to follow Tanzarra's dodge.
Eliza hangs on.
Tanzarra: ~~ if he's hurt her... ~~
Eliza: Why are you running!
Bum Bum tries to put on a burst of speed, but he is having a hard time trying to figure out where the line lies between augmenting himself into need early and augmenting to save his Companion from another channel's clutches.
Bum Bum then realizes if Snake murders him he won't be in need again ever, and redoubles his efforts.
Eliza: It's just Tanzarra!
Eliza: It's not Snake. Is it?
Eliza: Put me DOWN!
Eliza: ~ put me down ~
Tanzarra: ELIZA!
Bum Bum drops Eliza and runs like a rabbit.
Sapis hasn't been able to afford this much augmentation since she went on the dole.
Tanzarra: ~~ desperation ~~
Sapis is glad the Savior is there to wrap her in the tentacles of comfort.
Eliza hits the ground hard.
Bum Bum darts and dodges between the buildings, trying to put as much brick as possible between himself and Tanzarra, and is soon lost to zlinning.
Sapis screams at Eliza's shock.
Tanzarra shields herself as she see Eliza land hard.
Sapis feels premature need awaken at the pain.
Sapis: Oh!
Sapis goes hyper, zlinning for comforting tentacles and the selyn they promise.
Sapis zlins the most promising source is Eliza, however.
Tanzarra comes to a screeching stop as she zlins the fanatic's situation and turns to her.
Sapis: ~~ NEED ~~
Sapis stalks Eliza, laterals extended.
Eliza: Oh shen.
Eliza: ~ control ~
Tanzarra: ~~ high field Gen need to give ~~
Sapis pauses, confused by the sudden appearance of another Gen.
Tanzarra slowly makes her way between Eliza and the Sime.
Tanzarra: ~~ here for you ~~
Eliza really doesn't feel up to another transfer just now.
Tanzarra holds her arms out to the Sime.
Tanzarra: ~~ this is what you need ~~
Sapis pounces on Tanzarra, drawing fiercely.
Sapis takes what she needs, with utmost speed. (for a renSime).
Tanzarra gives all the Sime needs.
Sapis: ~~ saved by the Savior ~~
Tanzarra: ~~ Joy in giving ~~
Sapis feels wrapped in the tentacles of comfort.
Sapis: ~~ revelation ~~
Tanzarra waits for the Sime to disengage her tentacles so she can tend to Eliza.
Sapis breaks lip contact, but refuses to surrender the tentacles of comfort.
Sapis: I am saved from the Tecton!
Sapis: ~~ exaltation ~~
Tanzarra smiles at the Sime who seems to be in some kind of ecstasy state.
Eliza examines the skin she has lost from her elbow and knee where she fell.
Tanzarra: Could I have my arms? I must see to my Companion.
Tanzarra: ~~ controlled calm ~~
Eliza wonders just how many people are under the impression that she is "their" Companion.
Sapis: Wrapped in the tentacles of comfort!
Sapis might better have described it as "rapt".
Sapis: I knew you were the Savior!
Tanzarra looks over her shoulder at Eliza.
Sapis: I shall follow you to the ends of the earth!
Sapis: I shall not be oppressed!
Tanzarra: No I'm not the saviour, just a Channel.
Sapis: A channel to save me from the Tecton!
Tanzarra: Please, I must tend to Eliza.
Sapis: There shall come a day...
Tanzarra tugs gently trying to release the other's grip.
Eliza: Oh I'm okay, but we have to get back to the apartment before he can pack up and leave..
Sapis warms to her topic, and absentmindedly lets Tanzarra go so that she can wave her arms.
Eliza: Anyway [to Sapis] you got it wrong, she isn't the saviour. The channel who dropped me is.
Sapis: A day when the world shall be free, wrapped in comfort.
Tanzarra: Who? That Sime who was trying to kidnap you?
Sapis: Just as you wrapped me in the tentacles of comfort.
Eliza: I can show you where he lives.
Eliza: Yes, I can't let him leave without me.
Tanzarra: She is right, you have the wrong person.
Tanzarra: ~~ let me go ~~
Sapis: You are the Savior!
Sapis: ~~~ ABSOLUTE CONVICTION ~~~
Tanzarra: Okay, whatever. Just let me go so I can go and do my work.
Tanzarra raises her eyebrows at Eliza.
Sapis: I would never stand between a penitent and the tentacles of comfort.
Sapis stands back about 2 inches to give Tanzarra room.
Tanzarra turns to Eliza.
Tanzarra: Are you all right?
Eliza: I'm fine, just a bit of skin off. But we have to get to Bumanuel. He is frightened of you.
Tanzarra: Who was that "saviour", and why was he trying to kidnap you?
Eliza: [whispers to Tanzarra] He's junct.
Tanzarra: ~~ shen ~~
Eliza: He used to work with Snake but we got separated just before you turned up.
Eliza: Oh! How are you? You doing okay? Do you know where the others are?
Eliza: Snake's going to want to know that he is around.
Eliza: [to Sapis] We are going to go to the place that the real saviour lives now. Do you want to come with us?
Tanzarra: Well I'm better now that I know where you are.
Sapis: I shall follow the savior to the ends of the earth!
Sapis has her own opinion as to who that is, of course.
Tanzarra: You free to join us then. [to Sapis]
Tanzarra: Eliza, do you want me to heal those injuries?
Eliza brushes the gravel out of her knee.
Eliza: No, let's get to him before he shoots through.
Eliza: Shen I hope I can remember where it is!
Tanzarra: Okay, lead the way.
Sapis: No, never free! Bound in service.
Eliza: Can you take us back to where you first found us?
Eliza: I can find it from there.
Tanzarra: Yes, this way.
Sapis: Bound in service to the comforting tentacles of love.
Eliza follows her trying not to favour her knee noticeably.
Sapis thinks it's quite a romantic idea, actually.
Sapis tends to get romantic, when post.
Tanzarra leads Eliza and Sapis back down the alley and back through the bar, to where she first zlinned Eliza.
Eliza heads back to the front of the diner and turns in the direction that she came with Bumanuel that morning.
Sapis follows blindly, with slavish fervor.
Eliza suddenly recalls that she still hasn't eaten.
Tanzarra: Can you find your way from here?
Eliza wants to explain to Tanzarra about Bumanuel, but doesn't want to mention his junct state in front of the other Sime.
Eliza: Yes, it's just down that road there.
Tanzarra stops and holds Eliza's arm for support.
Eliza: ~ support ~
Eliza: What's wrong?
Eliza: ~ concern ~
Sapis: Ah, the road of sorrow, which tests our resolution!
Eliza had forgotten about Tanzarra's "delicate" condition in the circumstances of their remeeting.
Tanzarra: I should at least relieve some of the pain in your knee.
Eliza: I can wait. It's important that we stop him from leaving town.
Sapis: Roads of joining, roads of parting....
Sapis: Find the road, and you will be saved!
Eliza: Look, can you just, you know, be quiet for a while maybe?
Eliza glares at Sapis.
Eliza: At least be helpful.
Eliza: If you see the guy who dropped me, let us know.
Tanzarra: I think you could walk better if you are not hurting every time you take a step.
Eliza: ~ stubborn ~
Eliza: It's only a grazed knee! Why do you all make a fuss over every little scratch?
Passerby, a Sime, stops suddenly, clutching his knee.
Tanzarra: Where does he work, do you know? [to Eliza]
Passerby: My god!!! Are you all right?? [to Eliza]
Eliza keeps walking, going faster to make up for lost time.
Eliza throws her arms up in exasperation.
Sapis looks seriously at Passerby.
Eliza: I'm fine.
Sapis: Life is full of pain.
Sapis: It reminds us of the sublime nature of the Tentacles of Caring.
Sapis: But you must find the road.
Sapis: We seek the road. Will you follow?
Tanzarra project to cover Eliza's pain from passersby.
Sapis: ~~ intense commitment to road-seeking ~~
Tanzarra: No, we don't require any one else to join us.
Passerby staggers onward.
Sapis: But how shall the world be saved from the Tecton if no one spreads the Word?
Eliza turns into the road and stops.
Eliza: It's that house there, the tall one that needs painting.
Tanzarra: You know, you can be of service to me. [to Sapis]
Eliza: I think that's the window up there [points to a second story window].
Eliza: Could you zlin him from here if he were in there?
Tanzarra: Eliza, I think I should do something about your knee before we go in. if he's ju... if he's close to need it could upset him.
Eliza: ~ guilt ~
Eliza: He isn't close to need. He had transfer yesterday.
Sapis looks at Tanzarra worshipfully.
Tanzarra zlins Eliza.
Sapis: You have only to speak, and I will serve you with all my heart.
Tanzarra: [with all the hectic panic she hadn't had time till now.]
Eliza cringes.
Sapis: For you are the prophesied Tentacles of Caring, who will save us from the Tecton's wrath.
Sapis is well acquainted with the Tecton's wrath, having experienced it monthly for some years.
Eliza wonders about Snake's wrath. But at the moment, Tanzarra's wrath is closer.
Tanzarra: Could you go around the back of this building and if any Simes, especially a Channel, leaves can you come and tell us?
Sapis: I go, to spread the Word about the Caring Tentacles of Love.
Sapis wanders off around the building in an ecstatic haze.
Tanzarra thinks that at least that gets the renSime out of the way for a while.
Eliza: ~ recently having given transfer to a 3rd ~
Tanzarra: ~~ shock, realization ~~
Eliza: Ummm, you want to look at my knee now?
Tanzarra: You gave him [points to window] transfer?
Eliza: I didn't mean to! He tricked me.
Eliza: I tried to stop him, but it hurt.
Eliza: I slapped him though.
Tanzarra is feeling strangely jealous as well as concerned for Eliza.
Tanzarra: ~~ anger ~~
Sapis wanders around the side of the building, looking for potential converts.
Tanzarra keeps her face tightly controlled as she motions Eliza to sit on a doorstep so she can tend to her knee.
Eliza sits obediently.
Sapis: Come! Hear the Word about the Caring Tentacles of Love, which hold us safe from the Tecton!
Sapis checks the alley for bums--they'll usually agree to anything, for the price of a drink.
Tanzarra zlins the building for signs of a Third Order Channel.
Sapis doesn't have the price of a drink, but they don't know that.
Tanzarra squats in front of Eliza and begins healing the injured knee.
Eliza: Maybe I should go up by myself and talk to him.
Sapis doesn't see anybody in back of the indicated building.
Snoke snores amongst the garbage at the back of the building.
Sapis smells something as pungent as the Tecton's wrath.
Tanzarra: No, I'll come with you.
Tanzarra: ~~ tight control of anger ~~
Sapis goes closer to investigate, so that she can use the metaphor better.
Eliza: Do you think that's wise? You will only frighten him.
Sapis finds a bum in the garbage heap.
Sapis: ~~ enthusiasm ~~
Tanzarra: How did he trick you into it?
Sapis: Awake!
Sapis gives Snoke's ribs a good kick.
Sapis: Awake and hear the Good News!
Sapis: The Caring Tentacles of Love have arrived to save us!
Tanzarra heals the knee enough to relieve the pain and any blood and selyn loss.
Snoke snorks.
Tanzarra: There, how does that feel?
Sapis: Awake! There is no time for sloth!
Sapis kicks Snoke again, just to bring out this important point.
Snoke: Wa??
Snoke: Wa ya kicking me for!
Tanzarra stands and holds out her hand to Eliza.
Sapis: Awake and hear the News!
Sapis: The Savior is here! In front of this very building!
Eliza stands up and takes the offered hand.
Sapis: This is no time for sloth.
Snoke: Wa news? Is the world ending?
Sapis: Yes!
Snoke jumps up.
Snoke: Where! where!
Snoke: When when!
Tanzarra: Come on.
Sapis: The world of darkness, the Tecton's reign, will be defeated by the Savior.
Sapis: And all who are faithful to her will be wrapped in the Caring Tentacles of Love!
Sapis: ~~ fanatical conviction ~~
Snoke: Who? Who?
Tanzarra turns and heads toward the building.
Sapis: The Savior!
Sapis: The channel who is not Tecton.
Eliza: I don't know if the door down here is locked or not.
Sapis: Who asks only for poetry, not taxes.
Sapis: ~~ slight embarrassment ~~
Sapis: It doesn't even have to be good poetry.
Snoke wipes his hand across his drool-laden mouth.
Sapis: If it comes from the heart, she will zlin your intention, and give you relief from need.
Snoke: Poetry? Like, rhyming stuff?
Sapis: Yes! Like this:
Sapis stands up straight to recite.
Bum Bum looks out the window and sees two people talking down below his window... a renSime and an old bum.
Sapis: "My cat is fat. Imagine that."
Tanzarra: It won't be for long.
Tanzarra can barely keep the anger from her voice.
Eliza tries the door handle and finds it's not locked after all.
Snoke: You're mad! Git away! You woke me for that?
Bum Bum hears the bit about the "cat is fat" and groans to himself.
Bum Bum wonders where the people in this town learn to write.
Sapis: What better reason could there be?
Sapis: ~~ complete honesty ~~
Tanzarra: You haven't told me how he tricked you into giving him transfer.
Eliza: He said he needed selyn to give transfer to a renSime.
Sapis thinks that perhaps this effort isn't quite illustrative of her point, and decides to improvise.
Eliza heads up the stairs to the second floor.
Sapis: "My dog is soggy as a frog."
Tanzarra goes in through the door.
Snoke attempts to go back to sleep on his comfortable garbage bag.
Sapis wracks her brain, what there is of it.
Tanzarra zlins the interior of the building.
Snoke: Lem'me alone.
Sapis: "I washed his knees / To bag the fleas."
Eliza knocks lightly at the door. "Bumanuel? It's me. Eliza. Let us in please? I came back like I promised."
Bum Bum lies down on the couch and opens a magazine of "Channel's Monthly".
Bum Bum throws his magazine over his head and bounds up off the couch.
Bum Bum: Eliza??!
Tanzarra projects her field to zlin like Eliza.
Bum Bum zlins 2 Elizas.
Tanzarra stands quietly behind Eliza, but close enough to get in front of her if necessary.
Bum Bum: ~~suspicious~~
Bum Bum: Are you sure you weren't followed?
Eliza: No one followed, I don't think.
Tanzarra slowly drops her show field.
Bum Bum reluctantly goes and opens the door.
Bum Bum sees Tanzarra behind Eliza and frantically tries to jam the door shut in Eliza's face.
Sapis sees that Snoke has passed out, and shakes her head sadly.
Sapis: There are always those who will not be saved.
Eliza quickly steps in. "Are you all right?" ~ support ~
Sapis decides to try someone else.
Sapis zlins around, but there isn't anyone around.
Tody skips down the street, bouncing a ball.
Bum Bum succeeds in slamming Eliza in the door and is amazed at how she can maintain ~~support~~ and a calm tone of voice.
Sapis sees a strong vine growing up the building, and decides to check the inhabitants of the apartments.
Eliza: ARGH!
Eliza: Open the door!!!!
Bum Bum jumps back, letting go of the door with shaking hands.
Eliza: ~ squished ~
Sapis starts climbing up the vine, peering into apartments as she passes them.
Bum Bum: ~~what a disaster~~~
Eliza: Shendoni Bumanuel! Don't you want me any more?
Bum Bum: I'm sorry! I'm sorry!!! I didn't mean to,
Bum Bum: I saw her back behind you and I just panicked.
Eliza checks her nose.
Sapis peers in a second story window.
Sapis: Have you heard the Word about the Caring Tentacles of Love?
Tody stops to watch a person climbing a vine.
Tanzarra lurches forward and pushes the door open and enters the room behind Eliza.
Bum Bum considers jumping out the window to escape, only there seems to be somebody in the window already.
Bum Bum: ~~shock~~
Sapis decides after a few moments that the couple celebrating postsyndrome on their living room floor are too involved with worldly matters to hear her.
Sapis tries the window on the other side.
Sapis zlins Bum Bum's attention light briefly on her.
Sapis: Have you heard the word about the Tecton?
Sapis reaches out to see if she can push the window open.
Tanzarra looks at the Channel in confusion and anger.
Sapis: The Savior has arrived!
Tanzarra sees the renSime outside the window and frowns.
Eliza decides that her nose is still on and checks her left ear which was caught by the door.
Sapis manages to get the window open and climbs in.
Sapis: The Caring Tentacles of Love will hold you in their soft embrace.
Sapis: ~~ utter sincerity ~~
Bum Bum turns in circles, trying to avoid all of them, then suddenly makes a bolt for the door.
Bum Bum: ~~panic~~
Tanzarra: What are you doing? [to Sapis]
Bum Bum hopes to take advantage of Tanzarra's distraction.
Eliza: DON'T GO!
Sapis takes a flying leap and tackles Bum Bum.
Sapis: No! You must hear the Savior's Word!
Bum Bum: Aiiigh!!!bbbooOOFOOOF
Tanzarra stays in front of the door to prevent the other channel from getting any ideas of leaving.
Bum Bum does a double-belly flop on the splintery floor.
Sapis thinks this is just as good as the roller coaster at the carnival.
Eliza goes over and sits on the floor next to him.
Sapis: Do not run from the Truth that will set you on the Road!
Eliza: ~ support ~
Bum Bum lies on his belly, arms outstretched, and tries to play dead, hoping the renSime at least will be fooled.
Eliza: Look, just listen to what she has to say, OK?
Sapis: ~~ beseeching ~~
Tanzarra grabs Sapis and reefs the renSime away.
Eliza pokes his shoulder.
Eliza: Bumanuel?
Sapis: Oooof!
Bum Bum sighs and rolls over painfully onto his back.
Bum Bum: Why don't you just murder me now and get it over with?
Tanzarra: Just stay there!
Tanzarra looks down at the channel on the floor.
Bum Bum freezes.
Eliza: No one is going to murder you! [well, maybe Snake.]
Sapis quickly gets to her feet and goes to hover at the Savior's.
Bum Bum thinks these 2 are giving him an awfully mixed message.
Sapis: ~~ abject devotion ~~
Tanzarra: I am not going to hurt you.
Bum Bum: Oh...? [doubtfully]
Tody runs home to tell his mummy that he just saw a burglar person
Tanzarra thinks, 'although I feel angry enough to'.
Bum Bum has found that anybody that barks "Just stay there!" at you when you have just been tackled and thrown to the ground, is usually planning on hurting you, unless you paid them to do it.
Bum Bum: [and sometimes if you did pay them]
Tanzarra: Now, would you care to get up?
Bum Bum: I-i-i... would I?
Tanzarra backs away a little, but remains between the Channel and the door.
Sapis: Listen to the Word!
Eliza stands up and offers him her hand.
Bum Bum shakes his head as if an insect is caught in his ear.
Tanzarra turns to Sapis.
Bum Bum looks at Eliza, then realizes Tanzarra is distracted.
Eliza: ~ here for you ~
Bum Bum takes the hand and lets Eliza help him up.
Bum Bum: Thank you.
Tanzarra: Could you just stay quiet for a few minutes? Actually why don't you go out front and see if there is anyone to preach to.
Eliza: Or better still, try the next block.
Sapis leaps to her feet like an overeager puppy.
Sapis: I go! To spread the Word!
Eliza thinks that this area is full of fanatics and the renSime shouldn't have any problems.
Sapis Goes to spread the Word.
Tanzarra snaps her head back to Eliza and the Channel.
Tanzarra: ~~ cautious ~~
Tanzarra glares between the two, confused.
Copper walks past the front of the building, tapping his baton on his hand.
Tody runs down the street yelling "burugalah!".
Bum Bum accepts Eliza's support.
Bum Bum doesn't like the look Tanzarra is giving him, but he knows better than to throw down support if Eliza is offering it.
Sapis steps outside the building and looks for opportunities to spread the Word.
Bum Bum hopes Eliza will be able to take care of everything.
Eliza: Come sit on the bed. You look all frazzled.
Tanzarra controls her jealousy.
Eliza: We have good news. Tanzarra knows where Snake is!
Sapis sees a passing puppy.
Sapis: Puppy, are you wrapped in the Caring Tentacles of Love?
Bum Bum: That's supposed to be good news? [voice squeaking up an octave despite the support]
Pupppy looks at Sapis and widdles in excitement.
Eliza: ~ confused ~
Sapis picks up the puppy and squeezes.
Pupppy licks the renSime's face.
Sapis: Yes, you know the comfort of Caring Tentacles!
Sapis: Let me bring you to the Savior!
Sapis carries the puppy back inside.
Pupppy wags its tail enthusiastically.
Tanzarra looks around the room.
Eliza: Yes, of course it's good news.
Eliza: You can stop pretending to be a renSime and work as a channel for Snake again.
Bum Bum: But... [looks at Eliza imploringly, trying to remind her of the bit about him getting murdered by Snake without actually saying it in front of Tanzarra]
Eliza: I'm sure Snake will agree to let you come back.
Eliza: ~ uncertain ~
Eliza: We can ask her anyway.
Bum Bum zlins her uncertainty and blanches.
Bum Bum: Maybe we'd better not.
Bum Bum: I mean, the consequences for being wrong....
Pupppy is happy to be going somewhere with this nice person who loves him.
Eliza: We have to! Do you want to spend the rest of your life ki... running away?
Bum Bum: No, but I'd rather have a long life of ki... running away than a short life of getting mu... a short life.
Sapis flings open the door.
Bum Bum jumps wildly.
Eliza jumps in startlement.
Sapis: I have found a seeker for the Savior!
Sapis sets the puppy on the floor.
Pupppy piddles on it.
Eliza finds herself clutching at Bumanuel.
Sapis: See, it wants the Caring Tentacles of Love!
Bum Bum is first surprised, then pleased by the clutching.
Eliza: Oh! a puppy!
Bum Bum grips Eliza protectively and backs away from the crazy woman.
Tanzarra startles and finally loses control of herself.
Tanzarra: WHAT IN SHEN ARE YOU DOING?
Tanzarra: [to Sapis]
Eliza cringes.
Sapis: I bring one desiring Love and Caring.
Sapis: A seeker running from the Tecton's wrath.
Tanzarra quickly regains control.
Sapis remembers vaguely that the dogcatcher is a government employee.
Tanzarra: ~~ calm, anger, calm ~~
Pupppy cringes from the angry woman and runs under the bed.
Tanzarra: It's a dog. it doesn't need a channel's services. [Oh shen]
Sapis: Even dogs need Love.
Sapis: Love and Life and Caring are universal concepts.
Pupppy peeks out looking worried.
Eliza: Don't you like dogs, Zarra?
Tanzarra: Please, just get the dog and take it back down stairs and stay there until I call you.
Sapis: ~~ shock ~~
Pupppy starts whining.
Tanzarra goes over to Eliza and the channel.
Tanzarra: Are you all right?
Sapis: I couldn't possibly remove a Seeker from the Savior's presence.
Tanzarra: [more to Eliza than the channel]
Tanzarra zlins the both of them.
Sapis tries to reconcile such callous behavior with the Caring Tentacles of Love.
Eliza: I'm all right. Are you all right, Bumanuel? You can let me go now.
Sapis is struck by the solution.
Sapis: Ah, you test my resolve.
Sapis: But I shall stand firm!
Sapis stands firmly in the middle of the room, gesturing dramatically.
Sapis: I shall remain faithful to the principal of Love, and the Caring Tentacles which give life in exchange for a poem.
Sapis thinks, 'and fortunately don't care about the quality of the poem'.
Sapis recites to demonstrate:
Sapis: "My cat is fat. Imagine that."
Eliza wonders when anyone will think to feed the Gen.
Tanzarra: Yes I like dogs, and I'm sorry I got angry. It's just that I am working now and I have to be alone with these people.
Sapis: My dog is soggy as a frog.
Tanzarra: So if you could wait down stairs you can make sure no one else disturbs me?
Sapis: I washed his knees / To bag the fleas."
Tanzarra: Could you do that for me?
Sapis's brain is suffused with a haze of poetic creativity. (?????)
Tanzarra: ~~ grateful ~~
Eliza grimaces.
Sapis comes out with another line.
Sapis: "I did it right / So they won't bite."
Sapis is very pleased with her offering to the Savior.
Tanzarra takes Sapis by one arm and guides her toward the door.
Sapis is inspired by the gratitude.
Eliza: ~ HUNGRY ~
Eliza thinks that half a soggy cheese sandwich, even with a lot of condiments on it, every 36 hours isn't really a good diet for a growing Gen.
Tanzarra: I really appreciate your poetry.
Sapis: "But they jumped on me / When they did flee."
Bum Bum wishes he was Snake so he could quietly have a nervous breakdown, or maybe fly into a fit of apoplectic fury, rather than just standing here wondering what to do.
Sapis wonders if another few lines would be enough to get her another transfer if she has to augment to catch potential converts trying to get away.
Tanzarra: You obviously put a lot of effort into it. But right now, I need privacy with these two.
Eliza: That reminds me of one! "A flea and a fly in a flue, were imprisoned so what could they do? 'Let us flee!' said the fly. 'Let us fly!' said the flea. So they flue through a flaw in the flue."
Bum Bum: Aarrgh!!!
Bum Bum cries out in anguish.
Eliza looks at him in consternation.
Bum Bum tries to school his expression.
Bum Bum: I'm sorry. [murmurs to her]
Bum Bum: ~~anguish~~
Pupppy has curled up and gone to sleep under the bed.
Sapis finds herself in the hall, staring at the closed door.
Eliza: Tanzarra. I think we should head off to where Snake is meeting us.
Eliza is sure that Snake has food.
Sapis is not quite sure how that came about.
Tanzarra: Yes, we should go.
Eliza: Bumanuel? Will you come with me? Please? ~enticing~
Tanzarra: Are you coming as well?
Eliza: You don't understand Tanzarra. I can't go unless he does.
Tanzarra still doesn't know what to make of this channel.
Bum Bum looks at Eliza with sad puppy eyes.
Bum Bum: Well I... okay.
Bum Bum has always been a sucker for Eliza's enticement, being only a 3rd.
Sapis decides that this is a Test on the Road, and stands in the hall, waiting patiently for the Savior to finish.
Tanzarra: Why, Eliza? Why can't you go without him?
Bum Bum tries to make himself inconspicuous, hoping Eliza will deal with the Tanzarra problem.
Eliza is so relieved that he agreed.
Eliza: He needs me, Zarra.
Eliza: I promised him that I'd stay with him until someone who could help him turned up.
Tanzarra: And how long will that take?
Tanzarra: ~~ anxious ~~
Eliza: I don't know.
Bum Bum tries to pretend he's not there, or rather to pretend that Tanzarra isn't there.
Tanzarra: He requires the help of a Channel, Eliza, you know that.
Eliza: He can't live on channel's transfer!
Sapis starts humming, setting her poem to music.
Eliza squeezes Bumanuel's hand.
Eliza: ~here for you ~
Tanzarra: Look, we'll see what Snake has to say about this, but he can't have transfer from you forever either.
Tanzarra: ~~ not if I can help it ~~
Eliza: Do you have much to pack, Bumanuel?
Bum Bum looks around.
Bum Bum: Well, if I'm just going to get mur... no.
Bum Bum goes and throws his things together.
Sapis yodels: "My ca-a-at is fa-a-at."
Tanzarra feels her hope of having Eliza for transfer one day slipping away.
Tanzarra goes to wait at the door.
Sapis runs up the scale:
Sapis: Ima-a-a-a-a-a-a-gine that."
Eliza: What is that noise!
Tanzarra goes to wait at the door.
Tanzarra: Well, can we get going now?
Sapis zlins Tanzarra and puts some extra volume into her impromptu hymn to the Savior.
Eliza puts her hands over her ears
Sapis: "My dog is s-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oo-o-o-og gy as a, as a little frog."
Sapis thinks this aria business isn't as hard as the opera types make it sound..
Eliza: Oh, anything to get away from that mad person.
Sapis: ~~ renewed confidence ~~
Tanzarra hears the voice outside and thinks climbing out the window is a good idea.
Sapis: "I washed, yes I washed his kne-e-e-e-e-e--e-e-s / To bag those itchy fleeeeeeeeeeeeas."
Tanzarra: I suppose this is the only way out.
Sapis: "I did it right, yes I did it right, yes I did it right, yes I did it right."
Sapis goes down the scale briefly before soaring (limping?) into the heights.
Sapis: "So they won't bi-i-i-i--i-ii-i-i--ii-i--i-i-ite."
Sapis decides to pull out the stops for the grand finale.
"But they ju-u-u-u--u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-uu-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u--u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-umped."
Sapis: "But they jumped on me when they did flee."
Sapis: ~~ high artistic gratification ~~
Pupppy starts howling in sympathy.
Sapis hears the applause from the canine seeker.
Bum Bum goes to the kitchen and pulls out a large knife.
Tanzarra: Are you both ready?
Bum Bum prepares to commit hara kiri rather than be dragged back to Snake in disgrace.
Bum Bum actually just wants the singing to end.
Sapis waits in the hall, straining her ears for other signs of appreciation.
Sapis opens the door, figuring that her Journey on the Road has served its purpose in the creation of her hymn.
Sapis sees Bum Bum's hastily assembled luggage.
Sapis: Are you Travelling the Road with the Savior? I shall come too, to the ends of the earth, to join the Caring Tentacles of Love.
Bum Bum, interrupted in the act of committing hara kiri by Sapis' untimely reentry, slips and just nicks himself instead.
Bum Bum: OW!!
Bum Bum: ~~resentment~~
Bum Bum: ~~resignation~~
Bum Bum throws the knife in the sink and returns to the door.
Bum Bum: Yes, yes, whatever you say.