Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #54: Solicitation (8/5/98)
Linn looks around at the filthy, doped up kids in carefully torn clothing and shudders.
Bum Bum looks around at the vast panorama of underaged, underclothed, under-common-sensed, over-drug-using, over-drinking, loud-talking, trying-too-hard-to-have-a-good-time, people with no taste in music and smiles.
Linn moves closer to Bum Bum, who at least has the virtue of familiarity.
Linn runs through the equations to calculate how to modify her support to adjust for the crowd.
Bum Bum smiles even more at Linn's proximity.
Bum Bum wonders why Linn's support is so nice but always lagging just a little bit.
Linn is starting to wonder why Nick wanted the job of Snake's Donor, if this is the sort of customers he has to deal with.
Linn: Do you zlin any prospects?
Kofu is moaning in the bushes, clutching his stomach.
Kofu: ~~ cramping nausea ~~
Kofu is upset, because with all the stomach trouble, he can't take advantage of the free drugs and booze making the rounds.
Linn looks around again.
Linn: You'd think the police would be keeping a better eye on this place.
Bum Bum starts in Kofu's direction.
Bum Bum: The police?
Linn watches Bum Bum dart off into the crowd.
Bum Bum shakes his head, wondering how Linn could be such a spoilsport as to think of the cops in a beautiful situation like this.
Linn realizes a moment later that it's her job to keep up, and starts after him.
Linn: Yes, the police.
Bum Bum: Well, they can't be everywhere all the time.
Linn: Look at these people. Over half of them are taking illegal drugs.
Bum Bum: You sound so shocked. It's not like you haven't been living with it for months now.
Bum Bum sounds amused.
Bum Bum ducks into the bushes to zlin Kofu.
Bum Bum actually finds Linn's amazing straight lines rather refreshing.
Kofu looks at Bum Bum, bleary-eyed and smelling of vomit.
Kofu: Hey, man.
Kofu: You got any honeybee?
Bum Bum: No, but I have something for your stomach.
Bum Bum zlins Kofu.
Kofu still hopes that he'd be able to keep it down.
Kofu: ~~ rampant disagreement between stomach and last night's "dinner" ~~
Kofu: You do?
Kofu: Cosmic.
Bum Bum: Yeah.
Bum Bum: You want to lie down while I check you out?
Bum Bum: [to Linn] I usually don't do any healing work if I can help it, but this one just happened to be lying around.
Kofu is already pretty much flopped on the ground, but manages to uncurl a bit, exposing his belly.
Linn wonders what in the world she's supposed to do now.
Bum Bum: Oh. You can keep doing that supportive thing if you want.
Bum Bum: Come stand over here and do it.
Linn: All right.
Bum Bum pats his knee indicating she should stand right next to him.
Linn positions herself as indicated, careful not to touch Bum Bum.
Linn: ~~ support ~~
Bum Bum smiles; he hasn't worked with support in a long time.
Bum Bum: Do you live in town here? [to Kofu]
Kofu: Naw, just here for the show.
Kofu: That Buggfa is cosmic.
Bum Bum picks through the meager medical kit Snake threw together for him.
Bum Bum: Where you staying?
Kofu manages a dreamy smile despite his cramping stomach.
Kofu: I'm just checking out the scene, man.
Kofu: It's cosmic.
Bum Bum shrugs.
Bum Bum: Oh... well, hold onto these.
Bum Bum gives him two orange pills.
Bum Bum: Now stay still while I try to straighten you out a little, here.
Kofu has actually been camping out with all the other fans, sleeping wherever he happens to be when exhaustion or the drugs catch up.
Kofu looks at the pills.
Kofu: Cosmic!
Bum Bum wonders if he'll be able to hook up with some hookers by the end of the day or if it'll be this boring healing work the whole time.
Kofu: Are they honeybee?
Bum Bum: No, they're for your stomach... but don't take them until I tell you, okay?
Kofu: ~~ pouting ~~
Kofu: Want honeybee.
Bum Bum does his best to try to balance Kofu's bodily systems, at least enough for him to be able to semi-function.
Kofu is only semi-functional at best, so this seems like a miracle cure to him.
Linn is glad that it's Bum Bum touching the vomit-encrusted addict, not her.
Bum Bum: OK [when he resurfaces]... now, take those two pills and go wait in line at the porta potty.
Bum Bum: You'll feel a lot better when you get done.
Kofu absently pops the pills, swallowing them dry.
Bum Bum feels a lot better now that he's had some work.
Bum Bum gets up and walks out of the bushes, surveying what now feels like his domain.
Bum Bum looks at Linn.
Bum Bum: You did a great job. Your nager is really nice.
Kofu sits up cautiously, and smiles when he discovers his stomach is tractable again.
Linn: Thank you.
Bum Bum wonders what the chances are of Snake letting him take a transfer off Linn next month.
Linn: I wonder how Nick and Snake are making out.
Bum Bum gapes.
Bum Bum: Oh! Er,
Kofu goes off to find somebody with honeybee to share, forgetting completely about the porta potty instructions.
Bum Bum: Working wise?
Bum Bum: I imagine Snake is rolling like a pig in mud.
Bum Bum: She loves this scene.
Zaya sees a less-dirty-than-average male approaching, and pastes a professional smile on her face.
Zaya opens her coat to display the merchandise, happy to note that it's superior to that of the man's date.
Zaya: Looking for a good time, fellow?
Bum Bum looks up, then smiles broadly.
Bum Bum: No, but I can show you a bunch of guys who are.
Linn: ~~ tired disgust ~~
Zaya: Really?
Zaya: ~~ interest ~~
Bum Bum: Sure. Any renSime in hard need, send 'em my way, and I'll get 'em all ready for you.
Bum Bum: I can even zlin them out for you if you like.
Zaya: Sure, sugar.
Zaya smiles a more genuine smile at this offer.
Zaya: Just don't let my pimp catch you. He's a little touchy sometimes.
Bum Bum: Well, that wouldn't be in either of our interests now, would it? [smiles]
Zaya smiles back, in a distinctly "come-hither" fashion.
Zaya: Not at all.
Linn is torn between the desire to fulfill her obligation to Snake and her desire to get away from Bum Bum and this prostitute.
Bum Bum: Just a moment, I must confer with my Companion, here.
Bum Bum winks at Zaya and takes Linn aside.
Zaya pouts just a little as Bum Bum leaves her side.
Bum Bum: Linn? Is there a problem?
Bum Bum hopes this isn't a schoolteacher thing.
Linn: I'm just not used to people like her. Or the others here, for that matter.
Linn: ~~ distress ~~
Bum Bum: Oh...
Bum Bum wonders how Snake would deal with this problem.
Bum Bum: Well, do you want to take a break or something?
Bum Bum: You could go back and find the others while I get to know Zaya better.
Bum Bum: You know, develop a, a business relationship.
Linn: ~~ temptation ~~
Linn: Snake insisted that I stay with you while you work.
Bum Bum: She did?
Bum Bum thinks that sounds awfully nice of Snake.
Bum Bum: OK well, then just try not to let your discomfort affect the johns okay?
Bum Bum: I'm sure you'll get used to it eventually.
Bum Bum is operating on the premise that teachers might make good pupils.
Linn is anything but sure.
Bum Bum turns back to Zaya and offers the p... er, lady, his arm.
Zaya takes it, sliding her hand suggestively over his tentacle sheaths.
Bum Bum shivers all over.
Bum Bum: Shall we, then? [gestures grandly and leads the way into the crowd]
Griff looks around at all the ooky grownups in delight.
Griff thought that only kids got that ooky.
Wise Snake is ecstatic, having been working like crazy for several hours now, and having also managed to get several important "errands" done.
Wise Snake watches Griff, having been zlinning his reaction to others ever since Linn had brought up the idea of Griff being trained as a Donor.
Nick is very glad that this time, Snake managed not to disappear when he was in the porty potty.
Wise Snake thinks anybody who finds the disadvantaged so fascinating would make a great Companion.
Griff is so busy rubbernecking that he bumps smack into a very mean-looking, muscular guy.
Griff: Ooof!
Fortuge grabs Griff by the arm and lifts him up off the ground.
Fortuge: Hey, watch where you going, you runt!
Griff: ~~ sudden fear ~~
Griff: Hey!
Fortuge is wearing a spiked collar, a sheen of his own unwashed oils, and a bald head.
Griff has done enough sister-bullying to recognize a master of the game.
Griff: I didn't mean to!
Wise Snake by misfortunate happenstance, had gotten distracted by a passing twisted ankle just as Griff began his encounter with Fortuge, and didn't notice.
Griff 's legs thrash, kicking Fortuge.
Fortuge looks at Griff suspiciously as the kid's runty feet bounce off his shins.
Fortuge drops Griff.
Nick tries to look harmless, in case the twisted ankle case gets upset at being summarily healed without warning.
Fortuge: Ain't you kinda young for a Gen?
Griff sprawls, landing on his tailbone.
Griff: Owwwww!
Griff: ~~ intense pain ~~
Fortuge thinks Griff is actually a child and sneaked into the adults-only concert.
Griff starts to cry.
Fortuge frowns.
Fortuge picks up Griff again and heads off toward the nearest police tent.
Griff: Let me go!
Wise Snake bids farewell to the twisted ankle person, who is now much better.
Griff: My channel will be mad at you.
Griff: SNAAAAKEEE!
Wise Snake: And watch out for those gopher holes! [calls after the person]
Griff: NIIIIIIKKK!
Fortuge: Channel? [grunts]
Griff: HEEEEEEELLLLLPPPPP!
Wise Snake looks at Nick.
Wise Snake: Did you hear something? [she mouths, not speaking loudly enough to be heard over the roar of the crowd]
Griff struggles, beating at Fortuge with his scrawny fists.
Nick cocks his head.
Nick: It sounded like a call for help.
Nick: Maybe an injury?
Griff: SNAAAAKKKKKKEEEEE!!!!!!!
Wise Snake: Shen knows there are enough of those around here. Half these people don't even know they are in pain.
Nick: Enough honeybee will do that.
Fortuge: Stop it, kid. You can't be hanging out at a place like this, you'll get hurt.
Nick lightens his support a bit, to allow Snake to zlin farther into the crowd.
Fortuge: I'ma take you to the cops and they'll take you home.
Wise Snake zlins about.
Wise Snake: Hmm... hey, where's Griff going?
Nick: Going?
Nick: He was right behind me.
Wise Snake: Well, he's not anymore.
Wise Snake starts wending her way through the crowd in the direction she zlins Griff disappearing in.
Nick follows, a bit annoyed at having to waste time retrieving Griff--again.
Griff: HEEEELLLLLLPPPPP!!!!
Fortuge finally reaches a police booth and puts Griff down, keeping a firm grip on him.
Wise Snake: Come on, I think somebody's snatched him. [to Nick]
Griff tries to pull free, glaring at Fortuge.
Griff: Let me go!
Fortuge: Just as soon as I... hey!
Fortuge swears as Griff slips from his greasy hand.
Griff darts into the crowd.
Griff: ~~ panic ~~
Wise Snake zlins Griff's flare of panic and augments slightly to hurry in that direction, trying not to lose Nick in the process.
Fortuge starts after Griff but loses him in the crowd.
Nick pounds after Snake, trying not to bump into too many people bigger than he is.
Nick does not want to lose sight of Snake again.
Wise Snake: Sorry! [to a person who gets bowled over by her passage] I'll be right back! [when she zlins they got banged up in the fall]
Griff is running awkwardly, due to his mashed tailbone, and manages to trip over a couple busily engaged in an activity which would normally get them locked up if done in public.
Griff: Yeow!!!
Griff hits the ground hard, again.
Nick hurdles the person Snake bumped, and keeps sprinting.
Griff scrambles to his feet and limps on his way.
Griff: ~~ barked shin, skin shredded off palm ~~
Griff: ~~ pain, fear ~~
Wise Snake finally catches sight of Griff's considerably slowed form.
Wise Snake catches up to Griff, jumping lightly over the aforementioned couple.
Griff ducks behind a porta potty to pant.
Wise Snake puts her hand on Griff's shoulder.
Wise Snake: Griff?
Griff: Yeow!
Griff jumps six inches, then calms down when he recognizes Snake's voice.
Griff: Ha-hajene Snake!
Griff: ~~ relief ~~
Wise Snake clutches her heart.
Wise Snake: Everything okay, Griff?
Griff starts crying.
Griff: A big guy was dragging me away.
Wise Snake realizes Griff was really, really, scared by the encounter.
Wise Snake: Uh... there there, it's okay. I'm here, no one will grab you now.
Wise Snake pats him on the back.
Griff winces as the pat hits a bruise.
Wise Snake: Sorry.
Wise Snake is glad she didn't send Griff off with Eliza and Tanzarra... in the state he's in today, that could have turned into quite a disaster.
Wise Snake: How about if you hang out with me and Nick for a while?
Wise Snake ignores the fact that Griff was supposedly hanging out with them already.
Griff has no intention of getting more than six inches from Snake or Nick while they are in this park with all the ooky people.
Griff nods, then lifts his bleeding hand to his mouth.
Wise Snake: Well, you've really banged yourself up there.
Griff nods.
Griff: I fell.
Wise Snake takes Griff's hand and stops the bleeding.
Nick scrounges around in the medicine satchel for a bandage.
Wise Snake: Are we running low again, Nick?
Wise Snake thinks after the marathon this morning, it's no wonder.
Nick: We could use some more bandages and antiseptic.
Nick: Still got plenty of painkillers, though.
Wise Snake: Yes.
Nick: This crowd prefers their own.
Wise Snake has managed to significantly restock her illicit substances library, although it is a bit inconvenient not being able to put them in the medical satchel or give them to Nick, but instead carry them on her person as she did back before she had a Companion.
Wise Snake: Well, do you want to watch Griff while I nip into the Tecton tent and see what I can dig up?
Nick: Certainly.
Wise Snake: Great.
Wise Snake takes the depleted medical satchel from Nick.
Wise Snake: I'll be back as soon as possible.
Wise Snake glances at Griff.
Wise Snake: You be okay here with Nick?
Nick knows a Farris-trained nager would stand out like the proverbial sore ankle, especially if not accompanied by a Tecton uniform.
Griff nods, and moves closer to Nick.
Nick: Be back in half an hour, or I'll turn this place upside down looking for you.
Wise Snake: I will.
Nick: ~~ deadly threat ~~
Wise Snake 's eyes widen.
Wise Snake: I will.
Nick nods, satisfied.
Wise Snake turns and sidles off into the heaving mass of bodies.
Voogie falls into Griff's arms.
Voogie: Auuugghhh... bloop
Griff: Wha????
Griff drops the stranger like a hot potato.
Voogie is a young Gen or old kid of indeterminate gender, with a very weak stomach and even weaker sense of balance.
Voogie: BLAARGHH!!!
Voogie loses it all over Griff's shoes on the way down.
Voogie lands on Griff's feet, and wraps his/her/its arms around his ankles.
Voogie: Unnnhhhh... ah, I feel so much better.
Voogie passes out.
Griff yelps as his sore shin is bumped.
Griff pulls free, backing away.
Griff: Ugh!
Dartwig is watching the whole scene and laughs.
Nick shakes his head.
Nick: Don't worry, Griff. We'll get you clean clothes in a bit.
Dartwig is a renSime wearing a holey TBT shirt and chewing on the end of an unlit blunt.
Nick is pretty sure that Linn did laundry in the last town.
Dartwig: Hey, what's with the uncosmic duds?
Dartwig looks Nick and Griff up and down.
Nick looks at Dartwig.
Nick: We're here on business.
Nick: Know anyone who could use healing?
Dartwig's face scrinches up as Nick says "business".
Dartwig: What are ya, like some kinda faith healers or somethin'?
Dartwig looks back down at the body lying in vomit at their feet.
Nick: Better than that.
Dartwig: Ya know I heard about this great healer that goes around Saving everybody.
Nick groans.
Nick: I see Sapis has been busy.
Dartwig: But you know, I figured that had to be bunk.
Dartwig: First of all, who ever heard of people healing by poems?
Nick: But it's true, there's an independent Farris channel working the show.
Dartwig scratches his head.
Dartwig: Farris channel?
Nick: She also does... "special" donations, for the right price.
Dartwig: Special donations?
Dartwig doesn't seem to be getting the drift.
Dartwig: Oh!
Nick: That's right.
Dartwig: Wait a minute... you're saying that this Sapis lady was talking about this Farris channel?
Dartwig will catch up eventually... one hopes.
Nick: Yeah. Sapis met up with us a while back.
Nick can be forgiven for speaking as if it was a long time ago; it has certainly seemed ages.
Nick: So what do you say? Know any Gen fans who might be interested in a truly unique experience?
Nick: She can make it seem just like the song.
Dartwig: No kidding. Wow!
Dartwig can't believe his luck.
Dartwig: Well... can I make an appointment right now?
Dartwig: I am so totally prepared.
Dartwig whips a folded wad of paper out of his pocket.
Dartwig: See?
Dartwig unfolds it and thrusts it proudly at Nick.
Nick looks at Dartwig's tentacles.
Dartwig: My girlfriend wrote this poem.. she's a Gen, do you think it's good enough to get her one of those special donations?
Nick looks at the paper.
Poeme: Your Thrust Lusts for my Busts
Poeme: By Lolita Pharbitan
Poeme: =========================
Poeme: Must your yearning crust, with your heart
Poeme: burning, beneath, a MUST is our love,
Poeme: Take me, oh take me, Dear Dartwig
Poeme: [continues onward for three or four pages]
Nick: Err...very nice, I'm sure.
Nick: However, there is also a fee involved.
Dartwig: What? But I thought... Sapis said.....
Nick: That's for healing.
Nick: "Special donations" cost actual money.
Nick names a figure.
Dartwig: Ackg!!
Dartwig chokes.
Dartwig turns pale.
Dartwig clutches his throat, delivering himself a nasty papercut with the poem as he does so [on his lips]
Dartwig's knees buckle.
Dartwig twirls around drunkenly as his senses leave him.
Dartwig falls into a mud slick left by hundreds of trampling feet.
Nick steadies Dartwig with his nager.
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Dartwig: Oh... wow man.
Dartwig climbs to his feet, covered head to toe in mud and wearing the sadly rumpled poem stuck to his head like a hat.
Nick: I know it seems like a lot, but think of what she'd be getting.
Nick: An experience just like the song.
Nick: In fact, it could be scheduled for tonight's concert.
Nick: Right during the song, and you could zlin it all.
Nick: I'm sure your friends would be willing to chip in, so they could zlin it, too.
Dartwig: Oh wow.
Dartwig pulls the ruined poem off his head in a kind of daze.
Dartwig: I don't know man. I'll have to talk to my friends.
Nick: You do that.
Dartwig: Maybe it could be like a surprise present for her.
Dartwig turns around and wanders off, clutching the poem to his chest.