Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #63: Indecent Proposal (8/16/98)
Richard organises for everything to be ready for the big move back to Bender Cove.
Richard wants to see Snake one more time before he leaves, after that abortive and disastrous dinner, what with Eliza hanging on every word....
Richard: Smythe, I'll be back in an hour or two. Make sure everything is ready to leave by 3.
Smythe: Very well Sir.
Richard leaves his suite and goes to the room he knows is occupied by Snake and signals firmly at the door.
Wise Snake is in the bathroom attempting to wash... ugh... her hair.
Wise Snake would do just about anything to get out of that chore.
Eliza: I'll get the door!
Eliza goes over and opens the door.
Eliza: Oh! Richard. Ummm, Snake's in the bathroom. Would you like to come in and wait?
Wise Snake sticks her head under the faucet (she's doing this in the sink to avoid getting any other parts of her body wet unnecessarily) and rinses off all the soap.
Eliza: SNAKE!!!! Richard is here!
Wise Snake jumps violently, banging her head on the faucet.
Wise Snake: OW!
Eliza: ~ yoo hoo ~
Richard: I'll errr, yes, thank you, I'll wait.
Wise Snake scrabbles wildly for the faucet and manages to get the water turned off, then jerks backwards out of the sink's clutches.
Richard edges into the room and looks for a place to sit down that isn't covered in - things.
Wise Snake shakes like a dog, spraying the bathroom with water and fluffing out her crazy black mane.
Eliza quickly picks up a heap of things off a chair and throws them on the bed. "Please have a seat. Would you like some trin or anything?"
Richard sits on the chair offered, feeling very awkward.
Richard: No, thank you, I'll just wait.
Eliza stands there smiling at him for a few moments.
Eliza: I'll just go see how she is doing then.
Wise Snake takes a towel and rubs her hair like crazy, trying to get rid of the last sensations of water touching her.
Eliza turns and heads for the bathroom.
Wise Snake: Ugh... ucch.
Eliza: Snake? You almost finished in there? Richard is here to see you! ~ thrilled ~
Wise Snake: Ack!
Wise Snake: I'll be right out there.
Eliza turns back to Richard. "She'll be right out."
Wise Snake whips the towel off her head, revealing a huge, mass of writhing, staticy hair like two black wings behind her.
Richard tries to look relieved.
Wise Snake leaps out of the bathroom, saved from having to do anything further resembling grooming.
Wise Snake: Ah! Richard. I am so relie... pleased to see you.
Richard views the apparition with distas.. surprise.
Wise Snake is wearing a grotty black outfit that looks like she saved someone who'd been run over by a thresher while wearing it.
Richard: Snake? Oh, you look, different... today.
Richard pulls himself together.
Wise Snake: I apologize, I was just in the middle of, ah,
Richard: I just wanted to say goodbye before I left. I'm headed back to Bender Cove this afternoon.
Wise Snake grabs her hair and pinions it behind her head with one of the awful hair-restraint things Linn has made a habit of insisting upon.
Wise Snake: Ah... your business is concluded?
Richard: Most of it, yes. Anything else I can take care of from home.
Richard: ~ uncomfortable ~
Richard wishes he had a hat or a cane or something to fiddle with.
Wise Snake looks at Richard oddly, picking up his unease.
Wise Snake: Was there... something else?
Wise Snake realizes she makes people nervous, but usually they don't stick around when they're this nervous unless they want something.
Richard decides to be frank. "I was wondering if you would reconsider and come back."
Wise Snake's eyebrows raise.
Wise Snake: Come back?
Eliza fades into the background and pretends to be putting things away.
Richard: ~ uncertain ~
Richard: To Bender Cove. [to me]
Wise Snake: To try to pick up where I was? To try to fight my way back into the position I was in before?
Wise Snake doesn't look like she thinks that would work out too well.
Wise Snake looks surprised, disturbed and rather uncomfortable.
Richard: You could start the Householding you wanted to.
Wise Snake looks away from him.
Wise Snake: A... a lot of things have changed, Richard.
Richard: ~ downcast ~
Richard: Is there anything I can do to help you? Anything at all?
Wise Snake: To have dropped everything, and to try to come back to it after being absent for three months... even if the danger wasn't still present, my contacts with the Tecton are lost, and...
Richard: You know you have only to ask.
Richard: And I don't mean just for now.
Wise Snake looks sharply at Richard.
Richard removes a ring from his finger and hands it to Snake.
Wise Snake stares at the ring.
Wise Snake: What is... what is this?
Wise Snake takes it, uncomprehending.
Richard: Here, take this. This is my family crest.
Richard: If you ever need anything, send it to me and I'll see to it.
Richard goes an odd color.
Richard: ~ embarrassed ~
Richard: Perhaps one day, things will be different.
Wise Snake looks at him, plainly lost.
Wise Snake: Richard... I... what are you saying to me?
Richard: I, should go. I'll miss you, Snake. I'm glad you are alive and well.
Richard: Is there any message you would like me to take back, to anyone?
Wise Snake: Well, I am too, and I'm glad you're well too, of course, but....
Wise Snake gives up.
Richard takes her by the shoulders and plants a clumsy kiss on her lips.
Wise Snake: Ah, if you ever find Rapol or Sky again, tell them when and where you saw me..MMMPhh
Wise Snake: ~~~ !!!!!! ~~~
Eliza disappears into the bathroom.
Wise Snake's tentacles flail.
Richard lets her go and steps back.
Richard: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that!
Wise Snake looks shocked.
Richard looks upset.
Wise Snake is starting to look angry.
Wise Snake: Tell me what in shen is going on here, Richard!
Wise Snake hadn't figured Richard for the type to grab somebody and start sucking lips.
Richard: I guess I feel deeper for you then I thought.
Richard: ~ embarrassed ~
Wise Snake: All I zlin is discomfort and embarrassment. What kind of feelings are you talking about!?
Richard: I had hoped that maybe, one day, that we, you and I, us, could, maybe, perhaps...
Wise Snake has never heard of discomfort and embarrassment leading to an uncontrollable urge to kiss someone, before, but you can never tell, especially with Bender Cove natives.
Richard: Be more to each other then just friends.
Wise Snake stares at Richard.
Wise Snake: You can't be talking about the Householding.
Richard: Well, that too....
Wise Snake wipes off her lips.
Wise Snake: That too?!
Wise Snake: That too in addition to.. OH.
Wise Snake finally gets it.
Wise Snake looks incredulous.
Wise Snake: I see.
Richard wishes a hole would open in the floor and swallow him.
Wise Snake zlins Richard once again, but still zlins nothing but embarrassment.
Wise Snake: Are you sure about this?
Richard: ~ fervently sincere ~
Richard: More sure of this than of anything in my life.
Richard: When I thought you were dead, it was like all the color went out of the world.
Richard: When I saw you again the other day, it was like the heavens opened up.
Wise Snake: Richard, we barely know each other.
Richard: I know.
Wise Snake wonders if Richard really knows more about Rapol's whereabouts and condition than he's let on.
Richard: But there are some things that I take on gut feeling.
Wise Snake frowns.
Wise Snake: Do you have any idea... what would you expect me to do, there?
Richard daydreams never really got that far.
Richard: You wanted to start a Household. I have the backing to do that.
Wise Snake: Yes, yes, but I need to work, and... look.
Wise Snake: I'll gladly accept your funding if you don't mind my taking a look around first and determine a new location for it.
Wise Snake: You can move there later if you like. How's that?
Wise Snake thinks Richard is an utter nut case.
Richard: ~ hope ~
Wise Snake: I'm not going back to Bender Cove.
Richard: It doesn't have to be in Bender Cove, of course!
Richard: Let me know when you find a suitable location and I'll meet you there.
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Wise Snake zlins Richard's head to determine if he has recently received any head injuries.
Richard: ~ perfectly healthy male ~
Wise Snake: Look, ah Richard, I have to admit I find it a bit disturbing that your emotions aren't matching your words.
Wise Snake: Are you sure you have, er, "feelings" for me? I mean, you've had a stressful week, and....
Richard: Snake!
Wise Snake looks startled at his outburst.
Wise Snake: Er... what?
Richard opens up and lets her see all the ~ affection and desire ~ he has been hiding for so long.
Wise Snake: Uggh... I see.
Wise Snake now wonders how he was able to hide that from her, a Farris.
Wise Snake then reasonably concludes he's been hiding it from himself.
Richard fights the desire to throw himself at her feet.
Wise Snake zlins his fixation on her feet and finds it rather attractive.
Richard: So, is there hope?
Richard: ~ hopeful ~
Wise Snake: Uhhmmm, well, I imagine anything is possible. [temporizes]
Eliza has cleaned everything that needs cleaning and wishes that there was another way out of the bathroom.
Richard: You have the ring. You'll send for me?
Wise Snake nods, attempting to hide her reluctance.
Richard's heart sings.
Wise Snake finds his evident desire to be her slave provides a certain draw, however she is reluctant to make serious promises to anyone who has so plainly lost his caboose.
Richard takes her in his arms tentatively, ready to let her go at the slightest reluctance.
Wise Snake is very surprised.
Wise Snake shouldn't have let anything surprise her, after that kiss.
Wise Snake: Ahh... Richard, you shouldn't.
Richard: You don't want me to?
Richard steps back but keeps his hands on her shoulders.
Wise Snake: You're not... it's your nager. I am not usually touched by any but my Companion.
Richard: ~ disappointment ~
Richard thinks that presents a certain problem.
Wise Snake thinks Linn and Eliza don't count.
Wise Snake squirms away from his touch, and the disappointment it transmits.
Wise Snake: I'm sorry. It is possible you could be trained to approach me without disturbing me.
Richard lets her go reluctantly.
Wise Snake doesn't think so, after that disastrous donation he made.
Richard: Yes! I'll see to it as soon as I get home!
Wise Snake winces.
Wise Snake: Great.
Wise Snake: It will come in handy for business negotiations with Simes, if nothing else.
Richard: I had better go. ~ great reluctance to leave ~
Richard hopes she will beg him to stay.
Wise Snake: Good luck on your journey.
Richard: Ah. I'll look for your message then.
Wise Snake: I assure you, I will send for you as soon as it seems appropriate.
Wise Snake thinks, when hell freezes over, or else she thinks of a good use for Richard and his amorous intentions and vast sums of cash, whichever comes first.
Richard: Good luck to you too, wherever you go.
Richard hesitates for a few more minutes, then, when he can't think of a reason to continue hesitating, heads for the door.
Eliza sits down on the obvious seat and waits patiently for Snake and Richard to finish whatever it is that Snake and Richard are doing.
Richard opens the door with a backward glance and leaves.
Wise Snake closes the door firmly after Richard.
Wise Snake: Shen.
Wise Snake goes back and flops down on the bed.
Wise Snake starts going through her pockets.
Eliza hears a door shut and wonders if it's safe to come out of the closet yet.
Eliza gets up and puts her ear against the door.
Eliza: ~ ? ~
Wise Snake gulps a couple of pills to calm her nerves, then gets up.
Wise Snake goes over to her bags and investigates for something to wear that isn't too... Linnish.
Eliza can't hear anything.
Wise Snake finds that not only has Linn thrown away the last remnants of her cool clothes, she has repaired all the damaged Linnish clothes so they will never die a dignified death, and also bought new Linnish clothes.
Wise Snake sighs and changes into one of outfits Linn bought for her.
Eliza hears something that sounds like clothing being put on - or removed.
Wise Snake smells her own armpits and decides she can get away with saying she washed all over.
Eliza sighs and sits down to wait longer.
Eliza hopes they won't be too long.
Wise Snake then tries to locate the stuff Linn gave her for her pits.
Wise Snake: Good grief. Where is that stuff? [aloud]
Wise Snake: Eliza, is my cream in the bathroom? [calls out]
Eliza jumps.
Eliza: Oh! I'll look!
Eliza wonders what cream she means and tries not to think about what she wants it for.
Wise Snake: Ah, never mind, I'll use Nick's.
Wise Snake goes to Nick's bag and rummages through it.
Eliza looks in the cupboard.
Wise Snake: Nick always has loads of that stuff around... ah, here it is.
Eliza can't believe she heard that.
Wise Snake: I don't know why, I like him perfectly well without it.
Wise Snake: More, even.
Eliza groans with embarrassment and wishes she was elsewhere.
Wise Snake is talking to herself, but as it happens, loud enough for Eliza to hear.
Wise Snake: Actually I suspect he has it because of Linn.
Eliza wonders how Richard can take the humiliation.
Wise Snake: I mean, Linn is the one who really likes the cream.
Eliza puts her hands over her ears.
Wise Snake: Yes, that must be it. There was that one time she bought four different kinds in one store.
Eliza: ~ embarrassed ~
Wise Snake nods.
Eliza wishes they would just get on with it so she could escape.
Wise Snake, now appropriately fragrant, stuffs all her clothes noisily back into her bag, and Nick's back into his.
Wise Snake sighs.
Wise Snake wishes she had one of those nifty greens she picked up at the concert, and investigates under the bed where she knows Nick has hidden a thing or two.
Wise Snake sees something wedged in and tries to reach it, unknowingly shoving the bed up against the wall. [clunk]
Eliza goes red.
Wise Snake tries to reach it, squirming and pushing.
Wise Snake: [clunk bonk thud...]
Wise Snake grunts in frustration.
Wise Snake: Shenned Gen, you do this just to torment me, don't you?
Eliza puts her hands over her ears again.
Wise Snake does sound faintly admiring though.
Wise Snake: Still, spirit is a valuable commodity.
Wise Snake gets up and grabs the bed, starts bouncing it up and down on the floor, trying to shake loose the trickily hidden package.
Eliza: Oh shen.
Wise Snake: [squeakBonk squeakBonk squeakBonk squeakTHUMP squeak THUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMP]
Eliza decides she may as well have a cold shower while she is in there. With the shower on, she might not have to listen.
Wise Snake gives up on subtlety and flips the bed completely over, baring the underside (and knocking a lamp off the table while she's at it]
Wise Snake: Oh shen!!!
Wise Snake: Oh yeah! [as she sees the bag exposed]
Wise Snake leaps upon it, scrabbling and clawing, and rips it free.
Wise Snake sees that it contains not only the greens, but five horse tranquilizers.
Wise Snake: YES!!
Eliza turns the water on harder and sticks her head under it.
Wise Snake sticks them in her pocket.
Wise Snake walks into the bathroom, forgetting Eliza was in there, and gets something out of the cabinet.
Wise Snake: I have to remember to take my pills. [adds to herself]
Eliza, thinking it's Richard, lets out a high pitched scream.
Wise Snake jumps, her nerves shattered.
Eliza grabs a towel and wraps it around her. As the shower is still on the towel is instantly drenched.
Wise Snake flees the bathroom and slams the door.
Wise Snake: Holy shen! I had no idea she was still here! [aloud]
Wise Snake: Good grief, look at this place.
Eliza leans against the shower wall, heart beating madly.
Wise Snake hurriedly gulps a horse tranquilizer then sets about turning the bed right side up [ignoring the sheets are all messed up] and picking up the pieces of the lamp.
Wise Snake: What am I going to do with you? [looking at the lamp]
Wise Snake: Linn will have my guts for garters if she catches... ah, quickly - out the window.
Wise Snake opens the window and tosses the lamp out.
Wise Snake: Good bye.
Wise Snake closes the window firmly.
Wise Snake collapses onto the [messy] bed and sighs as the tranquilizer starts to kick in.
Eliza pulls herself together and turns the shower off.
Eliza can't believe that Snake made Richard leave by the window.
Eliza looks around and finds that she has completely soaked the only towel available.
Eliza: Awww shen!
Eliza opens the door a crack.
Eliza: Snake? Is there a dry towel out there?
Wise Snake: Ummm... well, there's a bed sheet.
Wise Snake starts to pull it off.
Wise Snake: Er... no, this one is all wet.
Wise Snake: [from her still-wet hair]
Wise Snake: Sorry.
Eliza blushes furiously.
Wise Snake looks extremely laid back and mellow.
Eliza drops the dripping towel on the shower floor and stand there dripping while she considers the alternatives.
Eliza: Has Richard gone?
Wise Snake: Yes, yes, he's gone.
Eliza: Oh.
Wise Snake: And good riddance, too... his attentions were becoming quite alarming.
Eliza picks up her discarded clothing and uses them to rub herself sort of dry.
Wise Snake: I mean, I suppose it is pleasant enough, up to a point, but when a man is that obsessed, it becomes a bit unsettling.
Eliza: Snake! How can you talk like that after....
Eliza: ~ horrified ~
Wise Snake: Ah... Eliza, I'm sorry.
Wise Snake: His offer was most generous, after all.
Wise Snake: And it would benefit you as much as me.
Wise Snake: Perhaps even more so. [adds]
Eliza: What?!
Wise Snake: That would depend on you, of course.
Eliza: ~ alarmed ~
Wise Snake: I mean, whether you were willing to make that kind of sacrifice.
Eliza holds her now soggy clothing in front of herself and opens the door a bit.
Eliza: What are you talking about?
Eliza isn't sure that she wants to know.
Wise Snake pushes herself up on her elbows, regarding Eliza oddly.
Wise Snake's inky black mane is spilling over into her eyes.
Wise Snake: Richard? I think?
Eliza: What sacrifice?
Wise Snake: Well, you'd have to give up all your worldly possessions, your name, and of course pledge undying devotion.
Eliza: What?
Eliza: To Richard????
Eliza doesn't have any worldly possessions, her name never got her anywhere, but undying devotion????
Wise Snake: Well, I suppose it does go both ways. I would have to accept your pledges, his and yours both, and deliver myself in return.
Wise Snake: But I feel that I was born to it, it feels like a very natural act to me.
Eliza head spins and she takes a step into the room nervously.
Eliza: Snake, I'm not sure I'm ready for that sort of thing yet.
Wise Snake: I mean, of course I have always considered you my possession, and I know you have looked up to me, but this would make it more... official.
Wise Snake looks disappointed.
Wise Snake: Ah.
Eliza had heard odd stories about Snake's upbringing, and Snake's mother. But she had no idea!...
Eliza: Hold on, what are you talking about? Possession? Official?
Wise Snake looks hurt.
Wise Snake: Surely you didn't believe I have kept you with me all this time because I did not want to continue our association?
Eliza edges cautiously around the bed to where her clothes seem to be in a heap on the floor (where she left them)
Eliza: ~ nervous ~
Eliza: I didn't think, I mean, I thought you and Nick, Richard....
Wise Snake: I believe you have great potential, Eliza, and I would enjoy being given the opportunity to continue to develop you to your fullest.
Wise Snake: You... and Tanzarra.
Wise Snake looks into Eliza's eyes.
Eliza: I don't think, oh shen. Snake, I like men!
Wise Snake's eyes snap wide as she freezes.
Wise Snake: You like men only?
Eliza: I mean, I'm flattered and all.
Wise Snake: But why didn't you tell me this before!!
Eliza blushes.
Wise Snake looks horrified.
Eliza: I think so. I mean, I've never really tried it with a woman.
Wise Snake: You mean I've had you with poor Tanzarra this whole time and...
Eliza: Just John and then Mos - Tanzarra????
Wise Snake: Good Grief, Eliza. Didn't you give Jirelle transfer once?
Eliza: Transfer, yes, but that's all!
Eliza: I'm sorry if I led you on. I didn't mean to.
Wise Snake: Didn't you work with her for that whole month too???
Eliza wishes she had clothing on while this conversation was happening.
Wise Snake: Two months, even?
Eliza: Yes of course. Worked with her.
Wise Snake of course doesn't even notice Eliza's unclothed state.
Eliza: But no sex.
Wise Snake's face freezes once again.
Wise Snake then looks somewhat confused.
Wise Snake: Sex? Well, no, er,
Wise Snake: Look, let's stick to the topic here.
Eliza: ~ confused ~
Eliza: I thought I was.
Wise Snake: Being Companion to Tanzarra would be no different than working with a channel as a Donor, it would just be more permanent.
Eliza: What are you talking about?
Wise Snake: I'm talking about your future!!!
Wise Snake looks upset.
Wise Snake: What do you think, this is a joke?
Eliza has a horrible feeling that she has misunderstood something.
Wise Snake: I'm asking you to pledge to my Householding! Whenever it happens.
Wise Snake: Do you think I ask this to just anybody?
Eliza: What? What about sex?
Wise Snake stares at Eliza, and finally realizes she is naked.
Eliza looks pointedly at the mussed up bed.
Wise Snake's eyes widen in comprehension.
Wise Snake looks momentarily nonplussed.
Eliza clutches her wet clothes in front of her.
Wise Snake: I... Eliza, I'm a channel. I shouldn't... and, er, I thought you only liked men?
Wise Snake wonders if Eliza had been trying to say something entirely different.
Eliza: That's what I mean.
Wise Snake: You only like men but you want to do it anyway? [even more confused]
Wise Snake: But you realize, that, for a channel, er... I mean, it just isn't prudent.
Eliza tries to pick up some dry clothing without dropping the ones she is holding in front of her.
Wise Snake: I'm really a lot less reckless than I'm given credit for.
Eliza: What?
Eliza: No!
Wise Snake: No, I really am. I'm very cautious, particularly where my own life is concerned.
Eliza: Snake I thought you were asking me, telling me, with Richard and you....
Wise Snake: And I want you to know that I am flattered, and all, but, er,
Wise Snake: What?
Eliza: I didn't know what you were talking about. And considering what just happened with you and Richard....
Wise Snake: Ach... that. I don't know what came over him.
Wise Snake: And it's hard to know how long he'll keep feeling that way. It must have been at least partly the shock of seeing me again, alive.
Wise Snake: But yet, he offered a substantial sum of money, and he does have his other uses as well.
Eliza: You mean he paid you?
Eliza: ~ shocked ~
Wise Snake: Not today.
Wise Snake: But he has in the past.
Eliza looks at Snake with her mouth open.
Eliza is unable to think what to say.
Wise Snake: He would have ended up paying for much of the restoration cost of the Ferry Building, actually.
Wise Snake: He is a very generous man, although of course he wants something in return. Something which is not easy to give.
Wise Snake: Not easy for me, anyway. [amends]
Eliza looks uncomfortable.
Eliza: Well, it's really up to you isn't it? I mean, I can't really help you there.
Eliza: It's your decision.
Wise Snake: Of course it is.
Wise Snake never considered it anything but.
Eliza: So what did you want me to do?
Wise Snake: And it is possible that one day he will call me Sectuib. But only time will tell.
Wise Snake: Do?
Wise Snake: Eliza, what I'd like you to do is keep working, keep pushing yourself, keep learning.
Eliza: That's all? ~ suspicious ~
Wise Snake: I'd like you to help Tanzarra, shen knows she requires the help.
Wise Snake: If it is ever possible for Tanzarra to take transfer from a Gen again, I'd like it to be with you.
Eliza nods.
Wise Snake: And, if I ever manage to found that Householding, I would like you to pledge.
Eliza: Oh! I'd like that too.
Eliza: Snake, does Nick know? About Richard and you, I mean.
Wise Snake: Er... well, I didn't know myself, until just now.
Wise Snake: Richard has managed to keep his feelings hidden surprisingly well.
Wise Snake: Although, in retrospect, I think I should have realized before. There were signs.
Eliza: He has?
Eliza looks at the rumpled bed.
Wise Snake looks at the bed too.
Wise Snake wonders if she missed something.
Wise Snake's eyebrows rise as she considers what it looks like happened in the bed.
Eliza: Well, I'll just go slip these clothes on.
Eliza edges back to the bathroom.
Wise Snake remembers the series of events that occurred while Eliza was in the bathroom and finally realizes what it sounded like.
Wise Snake turns bright red.
Wise Snake: Oh shen... Eliza, it wasn't what you thought it was.
Wise Snake hurries after Eliza.
Eliza, back in the bathroom, finally drops her soggy clothes and starts to step into her pants.
Wise Snake opens the bathroom door.
Wise Snake: I can explain.
Eliza hops on one leg as the door opens again and sits down suddenly on the cold floor.
Wise Snake: I can see where a misunderstanding could easily have taken place, but I assure you, nothing untoward occurred in the other room here while you were in here.
Eliza: Snake! ~ bump, ouch ~
Wise Snake's tentacles curl at the pain.
Wise Snake: Are you all right?
Eliza: Can I please have some privacy?!
Wise Snake zlins Eliza.
Wise Snake jumps.
Eliza: I'm trying to get dressed!
Wise Snake: OK... if that's what you... [flinches again]
Wise Snake pulls the bathroom door shut and hurries away.
Eliza quickly slips on the rest of her clothing before the door opens yet again.
Eliza opens the bathroom door and steps out.
Eliza: Snake, what you do is none of my business, really.
Eliza: You don't have to explain anything to me.
Wise Snake: I didn't do anything.
Wise Snake is curled up on the couch, looking confused and annoyed.
Wise Snake: I just was trying to get some pi... er, thing out from under the bed, and made too much noise.
Eliza: That's fine. Like I said, it's none of my business.
Wise Snake: And that stuff I asked you for was for my arm pits. You know how Linn goes on about that stuff...
Eliza nods and drapes her wet clothes and the towel over the window sill.
Wise Snake: I'm only five days from transfer, for shen's sake.
Wise Snake: What, do you think I'm capable of tearing apart a hotel room in a wild sex orgy when I'm in need?
Eliza thinks that Snake is capable of anything she wants to be capable of, actually.
Wise Snake thinks she is going to have to give Eliza some more lessons on Sime physiology, although she would have thought Mostan would have taught her at least that part.
Eliza: Don't worry about it. It doesn't matter.
Wise Snake looks irate.
Wise Snake: It matters to me!
Wise Snake: It is important that you believe me when I tell you something.
Eliza: I just got upset when I thought you wanted me to join in or something.
Eliza: I didn't know what to think.
Wise Snake blinks.
Wise Snake: I have had my suicidal moments, but I would never choose that way to go.
Eliza: What?
Eliza: ~ confusion ~
Wise Snake: To become homosexually aroused is fatal for a channel.
Wise Snake thinks, or so she has been told.
Wise Snake is not about to let it happen just to find out, either.
Eliza: It is?
Eliza didn't know that.
Eliza: What, right away?
Wise Snake: Instantly, supposedly.
Wise Snake: And not prettily.
Eliza: Wow!
Wise Snake: So, I have made it a point never to allow myself to become physically aroused in that way.
Wise Snake: Of course, there has never been a severe test of my willpower in this area. I have only been capable of being aroused perhaps three times in my life.
Eliza: Wow!
Eliza is speechless.
Eliza is also curious.
Eliza: With Nick and Richard?
Eliza: Or Rapol?
Eliza: Or - someone else?
Wise Snake: Rapol never got a chance. He didn't know me long enough.
Wise Snake: So it has been Nick.
Wise Snake: The first time, it was a friend of mine. Nobody you'd know.
Eliza: Why is that?
Eliza: I mean, that you have only, you know, 3 times.
Wise Snake: Well, I suppose it's because I have had so many bad transfers.
Wise Snake: And my health has not been great.
Wise Snake hopes this doesn't shatter Eliza's image of her.
Eliza: Maybe if you didn't take so many of those blue pills.
Eliza isn't blind.
Wise Snake: Ah... I appreciate your concern, Eliza, but the problem is more complex than that.
Eliza: You should settle down in one place maybe, get yourself more possible Donors.
Wise Snake thinks if she didn't take so many of those blue pills, then Eliza, Richard, Bum Bum and their ilk would drive her utterly bats within days.
Wise Snake: Well, that is the plan, eventually.
Wise Snake: Right now I am still looking around at possible locations.
Eliza: ~ support ~
Eliza: I'll be happy to stay wherever you pick Snake.
Eliza: I'm sorry about the misunderstanding before.
Wise Snake is surprised by Eliza's attempt at support, but recognizes the intent behind it.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: I think it has been cleared up. And thank you for your vote of confidence.