Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #65: Mix and Mate (8/20/98)
Wise Snake sees Eliza without Tanzarra, and decides to take advantage of the rare opportunity.
Wise Snake gives Freelance one last pat, then walks casually over to where Eliza is taking care of Flossie.
Eliza: Stand up silly!
Eliza slaps the mare on the neck, then returns to undoing the girth buckles.
Eliza lifts off the saddle bags and then the saddle, and puts them on the ground.
Wise Snake leans against the tree the mare is tied to.
Wise Snake: Hello, Eliza.
Wise Snake is looking a bit peaked, but not as sick as she did the day before.
Eliza: Snake. [keeps brushing the horse down]
Wise Snake: Look, I'm sorry we haven't had a chance to talk sooner than this, things have been pretty crazy what with Richard and the concert and everything.
Wise Snake and Eliza haven't had much time to talk since before Snake switched Eliza from Bum Bum to Tanzarra without warning.
Eliza: That's OK Snake, we have both been pretty busy.
Wise Snake: Well, since we seem to have a moment now, how have things been going with Tanzarra?
Eliza stops brushing and leans on the horse's side.
Eliza: She isn't too good I don't think. ~ worry ~
Eliza: She keeps sort of drifting off and getting upset over things.
Eliza: The other day she yelled at me to go away cause she didn't want me near her, then a few minutes later came over and grabed me and wouldn't let me go.
Eliza: And I can't make her eat much.
Eliza finds that very worrying.
Wise Snake: I see.
Wise Snake: Well, to some extent you will just have to try the best you can.
Eliza: Do you think she will be okay?
Wise Snake hesitates.
Wise Snake: Tanzarra has a tough row to hoe.
Wise Snake: Not many people have survived what she's going through.
Eliza: I wish I could do more to help her.
Wise Snake: Eliza, just being there for her helps a lot.
Wise Snake: You can't be her lost matchmate, however.
Wise Snake: Nobody could be that. A very skilled channel who had known her Soli might have been able to help her more, but nobody like that exists outside the Tecton.
Eliza sighs.
Wise Snake: Tanzarra had a hard time accepting transfer from Gens even before Soli died, so you are in a fight you might not be able to win.
Wise Snake: What's important is that you can be there for her day-to-day, help her with her work and her field.
Eliza: I don't want her to die, like J....
Wise Snake looks at Eliza.
Eliza quickly starts brushing Flossie again.
Eliza: When do you want us to try transfer? This next time?
Wise Snake: No!
Wise Snake is shocked.
Wise Snake: Shen, no.
Wise Snake: I'm sorry, Eliza.
Wise Snake: This is nothing against you. Tanzarra is in an extremely delicate situation.
Wise Snake: Most channels wouldn't even be able to pull her through her transfers.
Eliza: So I won't be giving her transfer at all?
Wise Snake: Not immediately.
Wise Snake: But you have your whole life ahead of you.
Wise Snake: And Tanzarra... well, I'll see what I can do.
Eliza: Oh!
Wise Snake: She has to live her life one month at a time, right now.
Wise Snake: As I said, if she is ever capable of taking transfer from a Gen again, I would like it to be you.
Eliza: ~ down ~
Eliza: How long can she continue on channel transfers?
Wise Snake: Quite a while. It's unpleasant, but not particularly detrimental.
Wise Snake: And... to be honest, Tanzarra has always been partial to channel's transfer anyway.
Wise Snake thinks that's a deplorable situation for a channel to be in, but there it is.
Eliza: ~ very down ~
Eliza: Do you think Linn will be safe with Bumanual?
Wise Snake looks briefly troubled.
Wise Snake: ... Yes.
Wise Snake: Yes, I think that, with care, that situation can work out fine.
Wise Snake: She will not serve him this month, or probably next month either.
Eliza: So, you will?
Eliza thinks that Snake just wants to keep all the transfers for herself.
Wise Snake: Ah!
Wise Snake sees what Eliza was getting at.
Wise Snake had not really considered Eliza for Bum Bum this month.
Wise Snake frowns.
Wise Snake: Are you asking me if I'd consider letting you do it?
Eliza: Ummm yes?
Wise Snake: Yes, I suppose you could. I would have to monitor, of course.
Eliza smiles, then frowns.
Wise Snake: I had planned on collecting precise data on Bum Bum's draw speed and so forth during this transfer, as I plan on simulating Bum Bum's draw when I drain Linn.
Wise Snake: And, I think Linn and Tanzarra should both be there.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: It is a good idea. Thank you.
Eliza: Oh, I see. All right, then.
Eliza had throught for a horrible moment there that Snake didn't trust her.
Eliza: ~ pleased ~
Wise Snake: Now, I plan on leaving you with Tanzarra in the very long term. That is, for as long as Tanzarra lives.
Wise Snake: How do you feel about that?
Eliza blinks.
Eliza: I don't know, I've never thought that far ahead.
Wise Snake: Perhaps you should.
Wise Snake: I don't have enough channels and Donors to use the Tecton's system. You would be her Companion, not Donor to many different channels.
Wise Snake: And Linn would be Bum Bum's.
Wise Snake: When she is ready. [adds]
Eliza: Oh! That sounds pretty good actually!
Eliza likes that.
Wise Snake: That is why I'd like Linn and Tanzarra to both be there when you and Bum Bum take transfer.
Eliza thinks gleefully that he won't catch her by surprise again.
Eliza grins
Wise Snake: Now, ah, how has your training with Tanzarra been going?
Eliza: ~ enthusiastic ~
Eliza: Oh great! I'm learning how to moderate and focus and to sense where she needs me most.
Wise Snake smiles at Eliza's enthusiasm.
Eliza: Griff is a pain though. Can't he hang out with Linn? She seems to have more patience with him than I do.
Eliza: He keeps coming up with stupid comments when we are trying to concentrate. It's really annoying.
Wise Snake sighs.
Wise Snake: I know it's difficult, Eliza. Griff is... he's immature, at best.
Eliza scowls. "He is a moron!"
Wise Snake: But Linn has to concentrate really hard right now. You know how hard it is for her around strange Simes, and this is the first time she has ever done real Donor work.
Wise Snake's lips twitch into a little smile at Eliza's exclamation.
Eliza: Yeah, I guess. Can't you take him?
Wise Snake: I will try to spend some time training him, yes.
Wise Snake: But he should still spend some time with the two of you. It will be good for him to perceive you as a competitor in learning, one who he must live up to.
Wise Snake: And, it will be good for you to... [tries to think of a delicate way to put this]... be offended by childishness every once in a while.
Eliza: He is only interested in anything if it's weird or "ooky".
Wise Snake nods.
Eliza wonders what Snake means by that comment.
Wise Snake: Yes. I have been, and am, concerned that Griff's preoccupation with gore and inability to empathize with others could develop into a full-blown psychosis.
Wise Snake: I hope that I have managed to intervene in his life soon enough to divert that from happening.
Wise Snake: However, it will not be an easy or clean path for Griff.
Eliza wonders where Snake learnt all those long words - and what the devil they mean.
Eliza just nods.
Wise Snake: He will probably mature emotionally, but it could take years.
Wise Snake: In the meantime, I want to channel that fascination with other people's bodies into something constructive.
Eliza thinks of Griff as a grown up man and shudders.
Wise Snake: Get him used to the idea of helping instead of just watching.
Eliza: As long as he doesn't become fascinated with my body!
Wise Snake: He's still in his First Year as a Gen, which makes him more flexible than... urk?
Wise Snake realizes Eliza didn't mean what it sounded like.
Wise Snake: Ah... well,
Wise Snake: Please remember that you can go to Tanzarra or come to me if you are having problems with Griff.
Eliza: I can handle him, don't worry.
Wise Snake: Ah.
Wise Snake nods.
Eliza scowls and thinks of ways she would like to handle him. A 10 foot pole comes into the picture.
Bum Bum, having made his horse comfortable, is sitting under a tree composing a poem to Linn.
Bum Bum would rather be clinging to Linn's nager, but Linn is busy off behind some bushes.
Poem: Your hands (hypnotic) spread, fingers wide
Poem: You place them lightly on the windowsill, gazing out
Poem: Your nager awake with longing.
Poem: I, enflamed by the moist hollows of your palms,
Poem: Wait behind you in the room
Poem: My heart pounding.
Bum Bum scowls at the paper.
Bum Bum scribbles out everything on it.
Bum Bum folds the scribbled paper carefully and puts it in a vest pocket.
Bum Bum zlins the woods again, checking for Linn's location and condition.
Bum Bum sighs and looks down at the blank page under his pencil.
Poem II: How
Poem II: Do I explain my love for you?
Poem II: How
Poem II: Do I fit five years of faith into a word balloon?
Poem II: Or the rest of our lives into a three minute tune? 1
Bum Bum crumples the second poem.
Bum Bum sees a large rock nearby and picks it up, depositing the unfortunate poem, now sadly wadded, underneath.
Bum Bum looks at his last piece of paper.
Bum Bum stares at it intently, then begins to write.
Poem III: A slow, savory, slithering thing:
Poem III: Skin tingling on tangerine taste buds, tongue
Poem III: Hung moist above a divinely shaped orifice.
Poem III: In that slow moment, in that strawberry
Poem III: Delicious moment, a sort of distilled energy is released.
Poem III: A spark sends that lick
Poem III: -- an arch that holds up passion --
Poem III: Down into hands and up into shoulders;
Poem III: A brush fire along dry skin,
Poem III: Wildfire! Spread insatiably along,
Poem III: Running, sweat breaks out, burning,
Poem III: Leaving goose bump ash. 2
Bum Bum re-reads the 3rd poem then carefully folds it and writes Linn's name on the outside.
Bum Bum gets up and goes to Linn's horse and hides the poem in one of her saddlebags.
Tanzarra walks over to Snake and Eliza.
Eliza smiles at her cautiously, not sure what mood Tanzarra is in.
Eliza: Everything all right?
Wise Snake zlins the interaction between Eliza's and Tanzarra's fields, and also zlins Tanzarra's condition.
Tanzarra: Yeah, I guess.
Wise Snake being a typical Farris, always zlins first and asks questions later.
Tanzarra: ~~ past turnover, depressed~~
Eliza: ~ support ~
Eliza: What's for dinner anyway?
Eliza: ~ hunger ~
Tanzarra doesn't feel like eating, and the thought had not crossed her mind.
Tanzarra: I'm sure we can find something.
Wise Snake finally finishes zlinning them and returns to the world of the living.
Eliza puts hobbles on Flossie and lets her go.
Tanzarra goes over to see what's in her saddle bag that might keep Eliza happy.
Wise Snake wanders off.
Eliza looks from Snake's wandering back to Tanzarra's depressed front.
Eliza: Errrr, Snake was talking about Griff before Zarra.
Eliza: She seems to think he is Donor material.
Tanzarra: Oh! What's happening with Griff?
Eliza screws up her nose.
Bum Bum drags himself past Tanzarra and Eliza on his way back from Linn's horse.
Bum Bum: ~~angst~~
Tanzarra glares at Bum Bum as he passes.
Tanzarra: ~~ distaste ~~
Eliza: You alright Bumanuel?
Eliza hates being around all these miserable Simes
Tanzarra mves closer to Eliza.
Bum Bum gives Tanzarra a pitiful look.
Bum Bum looks at Eliza when she speaks, and is visibly torn.
Bum Bum glances at Tanzarra again and decides better safe than sorry. Especially since Linn is who he's really assigned to.
Eliza: ~ sympathy ~
Bum Bum edges towards Eliza's sympathetic field despite himself.
Bum Bum tries to cringe away from Tanzarra and her Look at the same time.
Bum Bum: Oh, hello, um, Eliza. ~nervous~
Bum Bum smiles nervously.
Bum Bum darts cowardly looks at Tanzarra.
Eliza has never seen that particular facial expression before.
Tanzarra hands Eliza the apple as she stifles an urge to get between Bum Bum and Eliza.
Eliza: Thanks Zarra, you have one too?
Tanzarra: No thanks, I'm not hungry.
Bum Bum thinks this would be a good time for him to escape.
Tanzarra: ~~ contolled agitation ~~
Bum Bum backs away from them.
Eliza: ~ disappointed ~
Eliza: Please eat something.
Eliza: ~ hunger ~
Tanzarra tries to ignore the influence of Eliza's field.
Tanzarra: Later maybe.
Eliza: Bumanuel? Would you like an apple?
Tanzarra: Take it, Bumanuel, you could do with some food as well.
Eliza holds out the apple.
Bum Bum freezes.
Bum Bum peers at Tanzarra [too chickenshit to zlin her] then reaches for the apple in Eliza's hand.
Tanzarra: When was the last time you ate something?
Bum Bum: This morning.
Bum Bum can't complain about Linn's attention to detail with regards to food.
Eliza thinks this is a positive sign in getting Zarra to eat.
Eliza: Zarra, you haven't eaten today....
Tanzarra thinks that while she worries about someone else she can forget about herself.
Tanzarra: That's good then.
Eliza looks at Bumanuel hopefully.
Bum Bum bites into the apple, hoping that's what Eliza is waiting for.
Tanzarra: I know!
Bum Bum thinks this is really creepy, standing here between Eliza and Tanzarra's nagers.
Eliza: Shall we go help Snake set up camp or something?
Tanzarra: Yes.
Eliza: I forgot to tell you, too.
Eliza: Snake has asked me to give you transfer next time too, Bumanual.
Bum Bum chokes.
Tanzarra: ~~ shock ~~
Bum Bum: ~~surprise~~
Eliza quickly pats him on the back hard.
Eliza: Did some apple get stuck?
Bum Bum coughs.
Bum Bum: W-wh!!
Bum Bum can't believe she's touching him.
Bum Bum can't believe what she just said.
Eliza keeps whacking.
Eliza: [pound pound pound]
Bum Bum: Ow... ow!
Eliza: can you breath?
Eliza: ~ worry ~
Bum Bum: Yes!
Bum Bum: [gasps]
Eliza: Phew! You had me worried there for a minute!
Tanzarra stares blankly at Eliza pounding Bum Bum on the back.
Bum Bum's head is spinning.
Bum Bum: You and me? For transfer?? But...
Tanzarra: YOU'RE WHAT?
Eliza: Well, Linn isn't ready for you, and Tanzarra isn't ready for me.
Bum Bum cringes at Tanzarra's yell.
Bum Bum: Oh man.
Eliza whirls around, guilt all over her face.
Eliza: Well it was the logical thing to do.
Tanzarra: ~~ that doesn't mean he can have you ~~
Bum Bum prudently places himself behind Eliza, where Tanzarra can't get at him (and Eliza 's pounding fist can't reach him either)
Bum Bum: Wait a minute... you're not joking?
Eliza turns around, trying to face both of them at once.
Eliza: Joking? No, I'm not joking.
Tanzarra: No, she's not!
Bum Bum backs off instinctively as Eliza turns around.
Bum Bum waves his tentacles nervously.
Bum Bum: Look... this was news to me too, Tanzarra.
Tanzarra: I know, I know.
Eliza: What's the matter? Don't you want to have transfer with me?
Bum Bum: Shen, yes!
Bum Bum: [blurts out before he can stop himself]
Eliza: If you would prefer channel's transfer with Snake, I'm sure she wouldn't mind.
Eliza: Snake wants you to monitor too, Tanzarra.
Eliza: She wants to check on Bumanuel's draw so she can copy it for Linn.
Eliza is pleased that at least she won't be getting her field lowered again.
Tanzarra: Yes, I can do that.
Bum Bum: ~~helpless greed with a small amount of guilt~~
Tanzarra thinks she won't actually like it, but she will do it.
Tanzarra zlins Bum Bum's guilt.
Bum Bum senses Tanzarra's resignation to the idea and edges nearer to Eliza.
Bum Bum's guilt is mostly due to Linn.
Tanzarra: Why are you feeling guilty?
Eliza: You are feeling guilty? ~ surprised ~
Bum Bum's nager flattens suddenly.
Bum Bum: ~~still as a deer/caution~~
Bum Bum: Am I feeling guilty?
Bum Bum's expression says "uh-oh".
Eliza looks at Tanzarra.
Bum Bum: ~maybe a hint of embarrassment~~
Tanzarra: Well that is what I sensed.
Bum Bum glances back into the woods where Linn inexplicably still is.
Bum Bum: ~loyalty~
Bum Bum: ~pathetic isn't it?~
Tanzarra: ~~ professonal objectivity ~~
Eliza: ~ confusion about who to support ~
Bum Bum looks back at Tanzarra.
Bum Bum: Well, there's Linn.
Tanzarra: Eliza, support Bumanuel.
Eliza looks at Tanzarra in surprise
Bum Bum: No... you don't have to.
Bum Bum: Ah... well, go ahead. [as he feels her nager]
Bum Bum: ~~helpless greed~~
Tanzarra: Linn will understand.
Eliza: I don't think I should, Snake wouldn't like it.
Tanzarra: ~~ shen, I have to ~~
Eliza nager does wild oscillations between the two of them.
Tanzarra: Until Linn comes back it should be all right.
Bum Bum: ~~Eliza-lust~~
Bum Bum steps into Eliza's field.
Eliza encloses him.
Bum Bum, a mere 3rd, has no hope of resistance.
Tanzarra: ~~ just watch it ~~
Eliza: Where is Linn anyway?
Tanzarra: It's only temporary.
Tanzarra: ~~ don't get used to it ~~
Eliza: Where is Griff for that matter?
Bum Bum's mind has turned to mush.
Eliza isn't really missing Griff.
Bum Bum is Eliza's slave.
Bum Bum stands about 2 inches away from Eliza.
Eliza takes a small step away from him.
Bum Bum follows slavishly.
Eliza looks around to see if she can sight them.
Tanzarra thinks that if Bum Bum gets any closer to Eliza he will be wearing her clothes.
Wise Snake looks up from attempting to set up the tent with Linn and Griff. [not exactly paragons of physical aptitude]
Eliza: Lets go see what Snake is doing. ~ slightly nervous at all the attention ~
Wise Snake zlins something odd happening across the way.
Wise Snake: What the....
Tanzarra: Good idea, lets go.
Bum Bum obediently follows within 1/2 inch of Eliza's passage.
Wise Snake: You two keep going. You'll learn this eventually.
Wise Snake mutters under her breath something about pigs flying.
Wise Snake gets up and walks over toward where she'd left Eliza and Tanzarra.
Eliza starts walking towards Snake.
Eliza tows Bumanuel along in her wake.
Bum Bum clings to Eliza's arm and follows.
Bum Bum: ~~~yummmmm~~~
Tanzarra shakes her head and follows the two.
Wise Snake zlins Eliza and Bum Bum.
Wise Snake: ~surprise/anger~
Eliza attempts to regain her arm.
Wise Snake darts across the clearing to meet them.
Eliza: Did you need help with anything Snake? The horses are all off grazing now.
Wise Snake: What do you think you're... Eliza, go easy on Bum Bum. He's only a Third.
Eliza: ~ lessens support a fraction ~
Bum Bum blinks, then suddenly realizes Snake is standing right there.
Bum Bum: ~~holy shen~~
Wise Snake: What's going on here?
Wise Snake zlins Tanzarra and her lips tighten as she looks back to Eliza.
Eliza: Going on? ~innocent ~
Bum Bum: I'll just... I have to...
Bum Bum turns and scurries off.
Eliza: Oh! Well, Bumanuel wasn't feeling too good and Linn wasn't around and Tanzarra said it was okay....
Eliza: Bye Bumanuel! See you later.
Eliza transfers support to Snake for a confused second before settling down again with Tanzarra.
Wise Snake swallows her lunch as Eliza gets her field under control again.
Tanzarra watches as Bum Bum takes off, wishing she could have that affect on people sometimes.
Wise Snake: Eliza, [looking a bit green], although you will be having transfer with Bum Bum this month, you should be supporting Tanzarra.
Eliza suddenly thinks of a green tree snake she had as a pet once. Now what made her think of that?
Wise Snake: And Tanzarra, I don't think you're in any condition to be giving your support away.
Tanzarra: I suggested she support him.
Wise Snake: That's very noble of you, but you don't zlin like somebody who should be turning down support.
Eliza: I know Snake, I told them that I'd be giving him transfer this month and he went all funny.
Eliza: She won't eat either.
Wise Snake: Er... you should have let me speak to him first.
Eliza looks hopefully at Snake.
Eliza: You weren't there, I was. It was only for a few moments.
Tanzarra thinks he wasn't the only one.
Tanzarra: I thought it best at the time.
Wise Snake: All right. But the two of you, please remember, Linn has to learn to handle Bum Bum and Eliza is assigned to you, Tanzarra, except for the brief time Bum Bum's transfer will occur.
Wise Snake: And that's not for another week yet.
Wise Snake glances at Eliza.
Tanzarra: Yes.
Eliza: I understand, Snake.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake goes around Eliza to get a better zlin of Tanzarra.
Tanzarra: ~~ suppressed depression ~~
Wise Snake: I think we should talk.
Eliza backs off support when she sees what Snake wants.
Eliza: You want that I should go for a walk or something?
Wise Snake would do just about anything to avoid going back and watching "Bookish and Ookish" try to set up a simple tent.
Tanzarra: ~~ oh oh ~~
Tanzarra tries to remain in channel's functional mode.
Wise Snake: Suit yourself.
Wise Snake: Come on, Tanzarra, let's go over by the fire.
Wise Snake knows there's a fire because she set it... er, built it... herself.
Tanzarra goes with Snake over to the fire.
Wise Snake carefully sits with her back to the "tent".
Eliza thinks it might be better if she goes.
Eliza hesitates then starts to walk over to see what Linn and Griff are doing.
Eliza sees what they are doing, and prudently walks in the other direction.
Wise Snake: Now, Tanzarra, I'd like you to be honest with me.
Wise Snake: How are things going?
Eliza doesn't want to get stabbed in the foot by Griff weilding a tent pole.
Tanzarra sits facing Snake.
Wise Snake: With you, with Eliza? With Griff?
Wise Snake is most interested in Tanzarra's own condition at this point, and continues to zlin her carefully.
Tanzarra: ~~ anxious ~~
Eliza decides to survey the area and see what the lay of the land is like.
Eliza read that phrase in a book once and always wanted to use it.
Good Angel: Eliza! You should support Tanzarra! Don't abandon her in her time of need!
Tanzarra: I think I'm confusing Eliza a bit, lately.
Wise Snake: Oh?
Wise Snake studies Tanzarra.
Eliza stops and looks around to see if that was Linn speaking [sounded a bit like Linn lecturing her]
Tanzarra: Tere are times when I just can't stand to have her near me, then other times I can't let her out of my sight.
Eliza shrugs and keeps walking.
Wise Snake: Well, yours is a difficult situation.
Wise Snake: With the difficulty you have in transfer, and the loss of your matchmate, not to mention your previous difficulties with Gens, it is no wonder you have strange emotions.
Good Angel: Eliza! You know what you were born to do... to serve a channel. She needs you.
Eliza wanders down the bank of a dry creek bed.
Tanzarra: I try to override them, but sometimes it gets hard.
Eliza trips over as the voice startles her.
Good Angel gets lost between the trees and becomes unintelligible.
Eliza: Who's there!
Wise Snake: Has Eliza done anything to upset you?
Tanzarra: No!
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: I see.
Tanzarra: She has been very helpful, I just have to try harder to get over this.
Wise Snake's eyes narrow slightly.
Wise Snake: "This"?
Wise Snake: What is it you feel you must overcome?
Bad Angel: Eliza... let's go play pranks on Linn and Griff.
Eliza sits on a rock and tries to remember what Snake said to do in this situation.
Tanzarra: My dependency, and my worry of hurting her.
Bad Angel: Come on, it'll be fun!
Eliza shakes her head to clear it.
Bad Angel dodges back to avoid the swingin' noggin.
Eliza doesn't want to go near Griff, ever.
Wise Snake: Tanzarra... nobody overcomes a dependency with a matchmate. Even a dead matchmate.
Wise Snake meets Tanzarra's eyes.
Wise Snake: Look, I... didn't want to ask you this before, but....
Wise Snake: Is there any chance that you and Soli were not really matchmates?
Tanzarra: ~~ stunned ~~
Eliza gets up and determinedly continues down the dry creek bed away from the others.
Tanzarra: I... I.... don't know. I thought we were, that's why we had so much trouble.
Good Angel follows Eliza like a doting shepherd.
Wise Snake lets her eyes slide away.
Eliza: "As I was going to Alsbery apon a market day,"
Tanzarra: When ever we tried to break it by having transfer with another Gen I would abort and want Soli.
Eliza: "A pretty little Alsbry girl I met apon the way."
Wise Snake: Breaking a dependency is always hard.
Wise Snake: But there is hard - as in, psychologically difficult - and then there's impossible.
Eliza: "Her business was to market, with butter cheese and whey,"
Eliza: "And we both jogged on together my boys, fardle or didle all day."
Good Angel: I think you should bla bla bla bla [drowned out by Eliza's singing]
Good Angel jitters up and down in frustration.
Eliza stops to look at some flowers.
Eliza wonders if Snake is allergic to them.
Eliza decides to pick them and see.
Good Angel rests gratefully on a flower.
Eliza sniffs at the flower.
Wise Snake: Tanzarra, did a First ever zlin the two of you together and pronounce you matchmates? Or was this an idea that the two of you had and never spoke to others about?
Tanzarra: So what are you suggesting?
Wise Snake: I am suggesting that you had an ordinary dependency, which can be broken.
Wise Snake: Do you know how incredibly rare matchmates are?
Wise Snake: And Tecton controllers are trained to avoid ever allowing people who are that close from being on the same schedule, much less have transfer together.
Tanzarra: No, they were worried about the possibility.
Wise Snake: Ah... the way you say that suggests you were not matchmates.
Tanzarra: When we couldn't cope apart Soli suggested we leave before anything happened.
Wise Snake: Because if you were, there would be no doubt whatsoever that an immediate and permanent dependence would occur.
Wise Snake: If they "worried about the possibility", then it sounds like you were simply close matches, and allowed too many transfers in a row.
Wise Snake: I mean... look, just tell me. Did the Tecton use the word "matchmates"?
Wise Snake is frustrated that she never had a chance to zlin Soli.
Tanzarra: Ummm, I don't think so, I was going through a rough time and was sick a lot of the time.
Tanzarra: I think we just assumed we were.
Wise Snake: Ah!
Wise Snake: ~startled relief displayed more openly than usual~
Tanzarra knows better than to assume, but had always taken it as a given that they were matchmates.
Wise Snake: ~optimism~
Wise Snake: This is good. This is a very good thing. Tanzarra, this means there's hope.
Eliza picks some more flowers.
Good Angel: Are you sure you want to bring those to Snake? What if something really bad happens?
Tanzarra: ~~ depressed at thinking of Soli ~~
Eliza grits her teeth.
Tanzarra: Soli was the only Gen I never aborted from.
Eliza throws the flowers down in disgust
Eliza remembers what Snake said. She said to tell her immediately.
Bad Angel: Pooh. Pooh Pooh Pooh!
Eliza jumps out of the creekbed and runs back towards the camp.
Bad Angel: Don't listen to that. Be your own woman. [pout]
Eliza: SNAKE!!!! ~ PANIC ~
Bad Angel: Hey! Where you goin[THUD] [hits a tree]
Wise Snake gently insinuates her field through Tanzarra's in ~~support and optimism~~
Wise Snake: You had a hard time. Soli was the first Gen you could trust.
Wise Snake: But we can pull you through. Eliza is young, you can shape her to your needs.
Wise Snake becomes aware of a disturbance rushing towards them through the woods.
Wise Snake: [a young, unshaped disturbance]
Tanzarra: Do you think it was more psychological than physical then?
Eliza: Snake!
Eliza: Snake! The voices are back!
Wise Snake shields Tanzarra from Eliza.
Eliza: ~ panic ~
Wise Snake spins around to face Eliza.
Tanzarra startles and turns to see Eliza running toward them.
Eliza comes belting across the grass, eyes wild.
Wise Snake reaches out for Eliza.
Wise Snake: Hold on, hold on, calm down.
Eliza: They are back, the voices, you told me to tell you...
Tanzarra jumps up to see who's chasing Eliza.
Wise Snake: All right. Just take it easy.
Tanzarra zlins behind Eliza.
Tanzarra: I can't zlin anyone.
Wise Snake gets a grip on Eliza in the hopes that this will help Eliza get a grip.
Wise Snake: Now take a deep breath.
Eliza takes a deep breath
Wise Snake: Voices, you said?
Eliza: They are gone now. They were there before! Two of them!
Wise Snake doesn't zlin anyone either.
Tanzarra: Who was, where?
Tanzarra: ~~ concerned ~~
Eliza: The voices!
Wise Snake: The voices we talked about in the kitchen two weeks ago?
Tanzarra: Voices?
Eliza nods.
Wise Snake studies Tanzarra, then looks back at Eliza.
Wise Snake: You haven't told Tanzarra?
Tanzarra looks from Snake to Eliza.
Wise Snake: Should we talk about this privately, then?
Tanzarra: I could leave the two of you alone if you like.
Eliza: No!
Eliza: Don't go away!
Tanzarra: OK.
Eliza looks around and wishes that there were more people there.
Eliza: I didn't want to worry her.
Tanzarra: Sit down Eliza. It's all right.
Eliza sits down, shaking.
Eliza: [fortunately the ground was under her]
Tanzarra moves to sit beside her.
Wise Snake releases her hold on Tanzarra's field as Tanzarra chooses to sit by Eliza.
Wise Snake sits down some distance away.
Wise Snake: You're pretty upset. What happened?
Eliza: I went for a walk, and this voice said I shouldn't leave Tanzarra.
Eliza: Then this other voice said I should go annoy Linn and Griff.
Eliza: Then the other voice, the first one, said something, I think.
Eliza strains to remember.
Tanzarra looks around again, in the direction Eliza come from.
Eliza: It's all fading away.
Eliza: ~ sorry ~
Wise Snake says to Tanzarra, "When she told me about this before, I theorized that the 'voices' were manifestations of her subconscious."
Eliza oogles at all the long words.
Tanzarra: Oh, I see.
Wise Snake: The two voices seem to argue with each other over actions she could perform.
Eliza nods.
Eliza: Yes, that's what they do. Sort of.
Tanzarra: Does this happen often Eliza?
Wise Snake has never had a fetish for obfuscatory polysyllabacy, although she does eschew the occasional $15 word in favor of a $300 word.
Eliza: Not very often.
Eliza: A few times.
Tanzarra: And what do you do in response to these voices?
Eliza: I, I try to ignore them
Tanzarra: Have they said anything really bad, or just about what is happening at that time?
Eliza: Well, once they told me to go into a shiltpron parlour...
Eliza blushes.
Tanzarra is concerned about these voices, she doesn't want them telling Eliza to murder her channel in the middle of the night.
Wise Snake: Eliza says it is more likely to happen when she is under stress.
Wise Snake: She also said, when we talked about it before, that they had never yet "made" her do anything against her own moral judgement.
Wise Snake: I told her to come to me immediately if they ever did.
Wise Snake glances at Eliza.
Wise Snake: Has that happened?
Tanzarra: ~~ relief ~~
Eliza: Well, I did go into the shiltpron parlour.
Wise Snake is glad Eliza's sense of humor is coming back.
Wise Snake thinks she's probably over the worst of her scare.
Wise Snake: I meant since we last talked. [dryly]
Eliza: Oh, no. This is the first time I have heard them since then.
Eliza: I remembered you said to come and tell you, so I did.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: Well, let's give you a zlin shall we?
Wise Snake holds out her hands for Eliza's.
Eliza puts her hands into Snake's.
Wise Snake makes lateral contact and deep-zlins Eliza.
Tanzarra keeps her field clear of the others.
Tanzarra waits to see what Snake has zlinned.
Wise Snake after a rather long pause, releases Eliza thoughtfully.
Eliza: Well?
Eliza: ~ axiously ~
Wise Snake: Interesting.
Eliza: ~ worry ~
Eliza: What's interesting!
Wise Snake's brows furrow in inscrutible Farris pondering.
Wise Snake: You're still in your first year since Establishment?
Eliza: I think so.
Tanzarra: What is it you zlin, Snake?
Wise Snake: She's been adapting nicely to your field, Tanzarra.
Tanzarra: ~~ hopeful ~~
Wise Snake ends it on that vague statement.
Tanzarra: Thank you for the talk, Snake. It has given me much to think about, and hope for.
Wise Snake: Yes, I am glad we had a chance to talk about this.
Wise Snake is obviously preoccupied with the results of her examination of Eliza.
Wise Snake looks over at the tent and is finally shaken from her reverie.
Wise Snake: What did they do!!
Wise Snake rushes off in that direction.
Tanzarra watches Snake run off, but remains sitting with Eliza.
Eliza watches Snake go and leans against Tanzarra.
Eliza: I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the voices, Zarra.
Tanzarra: ~~ reaches for Eliza ~~
Eliza: ~ support ~
Notes:
1) "Poem II" is an excerpt from song lyrics for "Valentine's Day Blues" by Kaas Baichtal. [return]
2) "Poem III" is a ripoff of "an arch that holds up passion" by Martin Grider, which appeared in the May 1998 Wayfarer Journal, a publication of the English Undergraduate Organization of the University of Minnesota. [return]