Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #68: Iths ab bif Sithy (8/26/98)
Wise Snake opens one eye.
Wise Snake detects singing birds, chill morning air, etc.
Wise Snake sighs.
Wise Snake crawls out of Nick's sleeping bag and stands up, rubbing her face.
Eliza rolls over in her sleep, away from Tanzarra.
Wise Snake surveys all the bodies of all the people who she rescued yesterday, in trying to get away from this campsite.
Wise Snake: It was just supposed to be a two hour rest stop. [mutters under her breath, for maybe the 1000th time since two and a half days ago]
Tanzarra groans and rolls over toward Eliza.
Wise Snake looks at Tanzarra and Eliza, then zlins them.
Eliza: ~ asleep ~
Tanzarra: ~~ dreaming of when Soli died, restless ~~
Eliza wakes up with a start and sits up.
Eliza: What did you say, Snake?
Eliza: Errr....
Eliza rubs her eyes.
Tanzarra curls up on herself.
Wise Snake shakes herself.
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Tanzarra: ~~ sadness, loss, fear ~~
Wise Snake walks over to the remnants of last night's fire and starts to build it up again.
Wise Snake keeps part of her attention on how Eliza is handling Tanzarra.
Wise Snake's eye roves over Linn, Bum Bum, Nully and Neffy, and Messa, and the guy with the cracked head whose name she never quite caught, and the drunk jerk who never did find his way home, and all the others.
Wise Snake sighs.
Eliza looks down at the still asleep Tanzarra and wonders if to wake her or not.
Eliza puts a hand on Tanzarra's arm ~ soothing support ~
Tanzarra dreams of the farmer as he falls from the tree, and how while her and Soli were seeing to his injuries a broken branch falls and crushes Soli....
Eliza is worried about the mechanical way Tanzarra helped Snake with the "walking wounded" that seemed to just turn up out of nowhere yesterday.
Tanzarra snaps awake.
Tanzarra: Agggg.
Eliza: Zarra?
Eliza: ~ support ~
Tanzarra: Uh... oh....
Tanzarra is slightly disoriented from the dream.
Tanzarra: ~~ calms a little, back to just depressed again ~~
Eliza wishes that there was something she could do to make Tanzarra better.
Wise Snake picks up the water container.
Wise Snake: Hello. I'm just going to the stream, I'll be right back. [to Eliza and Tanzarra]
Wise Snake pauses, zlinning them both.
Eliza: ~ concerned and supportive ~
Eliza nods to Snake, not really hearing what she said.
Eliza: Would you like some tea, Zarra?
Wise Snake is trying to determine if Tanzarra's field is responding to Eliza's at all.
Eliza: Something to eat?
Tanzarra: ~~ depressed, but easing ~~
Wise Snake turns and walks off.
Tanzarra: Yes, I should have something.
Tanzarra doesn't feel hungry but hasn't eaten for a while.
Eliza: I'll go see if there is any hot water, you be right?
Eliza didn't really hear what Snake said at all.
Wise Snake walks down to the stream, which is about a quarter mile away.
Wise Snake thinks she'd have picked a campsite with a nearer water supply, if only she'd known they'd be staying there 2 days instead of 2 hours.
Wise Snake relaxes a little as she gets away from all those nagers.
Eliza looks around but can't find any water.
Tanzarra: Snake has gone to get some, you'll have to wait.
Eliza: Oh. Is that where she has gone? Well, ummm, let's see.
Eliza finds an orange in the bag and takes it over to Tanzarra.
Terl is sitting at the water's edge feeling rather sickly, and convinced that he is going to through changeover. [he isn't really, but is convinced of it]
Eliza: Will this do?
Eliza tosses her the orange.
Tanzarra: That'd be fine, share it with me?
Wise Snake zlins Terl from a long way off.
Wise Snake: Uh-oh.
Tanzarra catches the orange and starts peeling it.
Wise Snake groans.
Wise Snake's entran gets the better of her and she continues the rest of the way over to Terl.
Wise Snake: Hello.
Wise Snake: Are you all right?
Terl: Ah.
Wise Snake crouches by the edge of the stream and starts filling the water container.
Terl: ~~ fear ~~
Terl: Umm, I think I'm changing over.
Terl: My body is burning up and I feel real sick, just like they say happens.
Wise Snake zlins him.
Wise Snake: No, I don't think you're in changeover. But you do have a bit of a fever.
Wise Snake: How long have you been feeling like that?
Wise Snake caps the water and sets it down.
Terl: No. I know I am, I can feel it.
Terl: ~~ convinced ~~
Wise Snake: Okay.
Wise Snake picks the water back up again.
Terl: About five hours, I think.
Wise Snake: I see.
Wise Snake zlins him again to make sure whatever he has isn't life-threatening.
Tanzarra halves the orange and hands some to Eliza.
Terl: ~~ high temp and severely upset stomach, and muscle cramps ~~
Eliza: Thanks, but I think you should eat it all. You didn't eat anything yesterday.
Eliza sits down close to Tanzarra again.
Eliza: How do you feel?
Terl: Can you help me? I have to get to a channel before....
Tanzarra: I don't know, really. I had another dream.
Eliza: About Soli?
Wise Snake: Well, I suppose you could come back to our camp with me. [doubtfully]
Wise Snake: I really don't think you're in changeover though.
Wise Snake: Perhaps you'd allow me to examine you?
Terl: Uh. Yeah. Are you a channel?
Wise Snake: Yes.
Wise Snake: [admits]
Terl tries to stand but feels way too nauseous.
Wise Snake: All right, why don't you just sit there.
Wise Snake puts down the water jug and approaches Terl.
Terl turns his back on the channel and proceeds to throw up any remaining food from his stomach.
Wise Snake uses the unguarded moment to zlin Terl more thoroughly.
Terl: ~~ anxiety, the very beginning of Establishment ~~
Terl wipes his mouth on his shirt.
Terl: Sorry about that.
Wise Snake: Just take it easy.
Wise Snake: Can you come sit over here?
Wise Snake takes his arm gently and tries to guide him over to an area a little less... soiled.
Terl follows nervously.
Terl: Am I going to die?
Wise Snake wonders just how many sick and/or injured people can be encountered on one, 1-mile stretch of "deserted" country road.
Wise Snake: [at last count, 25]
Terl: I don't want to kill anyone.
Terl: ~~ scared ~~
Wise Snake: Kill somebody!?
Wise Snake: Do you have a grandparent who tells you a lot of really colorful stories?
Terl: Yeah, mum always said that when I changed over I could kill someone.
Wise Snake: Anyway, you're a Gen, you've Established.
Terl: She said she seen it once.
Terl: What?
Wise Snake: You're a Gen.
Wise Snake: Barely. [adds]
Terl: I can't be. I feel so sick. I can feel it.
Wise Snake: A Gen with what seems to be a case of food poisoning.
Terl: ~~ confusion ~~
Wise Snake: Did you eat anything that was supposed to be just for Simes?
Wise Snake: You'll have to be a little careful, you're not a kid anymore.
Wise Snake pats him on the shoulder.
Wise Snake: Congratulations, by the way.
Terl thinks back on what he has been eating.
Terl: I think I have, I was sure I was going to be Sime.
Wise Snake opens the medical satchel, which she had brought with in hopes that Murphy's Law would prevent her from requiring it.
Wise Snake locates some of the little yellow pills.
Terl: You mean... I'm Gen... now?
Terl: Oh wow.
Wise Snake: [the bottle's label reads: Gentrusi Larboni's Gen Stomach Balm... active ingredient Tri-Polynimbuscyloharitone]
Wise Snake: Yes, you are.
Wise Snake: You've just Established within the last hours.
Terl holds his stomach as it does another flip.
Wise Snake hands him two of the pills.
Wise Snake: Here... this will help, but you'd better lie down for a little while.
Terl takes the pills with a shaky hand and puts them in his mouth.
Wise Snake: How about right here, on this moss?
Terl: That means I can't eat some of my favourite foods anymore, doesn't it?
Wise Snake: If your parents cook a lot of Sime Territory cuisine, then yes, you may have to pick and choose. Are they Simes?
Terl: Yes they are.
Terl: So is my sister.
Wise Snake helps Terl lay down on the soft mossy embankment.
Terl: ~~ nervousness ~~
Wise Snake: What you might want to do, then, is when you go in to register and make your first donation at the local Sime Center, to ask them for some brochures on what is safe to eat.
Wise Snake wonders why this guy is so nervous.
Wise Snake: What's the matter?
Wise Snake hopes his family aren't anti-Gen.
Terl lays down and waits for the pills to start working.
Terl: Oh all right. When should I do that?
Wise Snake: Well, your field will be at full strength in a matter of hours. So you can do it any time in the next couple of days.
Wise Snake: The sooner the better, but you don't have to do it right this instant.
Terl: Can I do that straight away?
Wise Snake: You can, but please wait until you're strong enough to make it without falling over, OK?
Wise Snake: You should drink lots of fluids until your body is done ridding itself of the stuff it didn't like.
Terl: OK.
Wise Snake: And don't try walking anywhere very ambitious right away... you're still kind of weak.
Wise Snake nods.
Terl: Oh... could I live there?
Wise Snake looks confused.
Wise Snake: Live where?
Terl doesn't want to face his family with the disgrace of becoming Gen.
Terl: At the Sime Center.
Wise Snake: Ah... er... that would kind of depend on what kind of Center it is.
Wise Snake: Is there some problem?
Wise Snake doesn't think he looks homeless.
Wise Snake: I'm sure that they would at least have some resources for you to look into.
Terl: Well, dad always said that he wouldn't want any child of his being a mere Gen.
Wise Snake: Ahh. I see.
Wise Snake: Yes, that's a tough situation.
Wise Snake: Do you think there's any chance he'd warm to the idea if he knew it'd already happened?
Tanzarra looks at Eliza and tries to shake the image of Soli from her mind.
Terl: I don't know, I've seen how they treat other Gens that live in the area.
Wise Snake: I see.
Wise Snake: Well, you are legally an adult. So you are free to move anywhere you like, and you will have money once you've donated.
Terl: Dad's worse, but they both treat them as if they are less than human. Am I less than human now?
Terl: ~~ worried ~~
Wise Snake: Give me a break, kid. Of course not.
Terl: Good, I don't feel any different.
Wise Snake: Have you been to school?
Terl: A little.
Wise Snake: Surely in school they said that both larities are humans. Right?
Terl always thought his parents were wrong about Gens.
Terl: Yeah, they did but you didn't know my family.
Wise Snake: Anyway, as soon as you move to a different town you'll see that practically nobody thinks like that, except, er, rednecks.
Eliza: How are you feeling Zarra?
Tanzarra sighs.
Tanzarra: Uh, not too bad I guess. I can't stop thinking about....
Eliza: Yeah, I know.
Tanzarra: I think Snake is right.
Wise Snake: Can I offer you an escort to the Sime Center?
Terl: Well that describes my family pretty much.
Eliza: Right? [thinks, 'well of course Snake is right.'] Right about what?
Wise Snake regrets the offer as soon as it's out of her lips, but you really can't leash Farris idealism.
Terl: ~~ excited ~~
Terl: Would you?
Wise Snake: Sure. How far away is it? Do you know where it is?
Wise Snake thinks of course he knows where it is, all his relatives are Simes.
Terl: It's not too far, about a day's ride from here.
Wise Snake hopes the place has separate doors and lobbies for the Simes and Gens, if everybody in these parts thinks like his folks.
Wise Snake: A day?
Wise Snake sighs.
Wise Snake: OK.
Wise Snake: Do you own a horse?
Tanzarra: About my problems with Soli.
Wise Snake thinks they are going to look like a circus act if they have too many more people riding double and triple.
Eliza: Why, what did she say about them?
Eliza tries to pretend that it's professional curiosity, instead of just curiosity.
Terl: Yes, his over there. [points to a horse by a tree further along the bank]
Tanzarra: That we probably weren't true matchmates, that it's more psychological.
Eliza: Oh yes. I see.
Wise Snake wonders how she managed to miss a horse in plain view.
Wise Snake massages her head briefly.
Wise Snake: Unnh.
Wise Snake: Great.
Wise Snake: Well, do you see the smoke from that campfire there? [pointing over the trees]
Terl: Yes.
Wise Snake: When you feel strong enough, why don't you ride home and get your stuff. Just pack one bag with clothes and maybe a book or two.. whatever you can't bear to give up.
Eliza: How do you feel about that? I mean, it's good isn't it? ~uncertain ~
Wise Snake: Try to avoid your family but remember, you've been a Gen for such a short time they might not even notice.
Wise Snake: Once you've done that, come and join us. I'm sure we'll still be there.
Wise Snake in fact would be amazed if they ever manage to leave that shenned campsite.
Tanzarra: Yes it is good, I'm just having trouble coming to terms with it.
Terl thinks that it sounds strange that a Sime would say it might not be noticed.
Terl: OK, I can do that, they are usually out most of the day.
Wise Snake: Great. I'll see you in a little while then, OK? I have to bring this water back now.
Wise Snake is beginning to feel somewhat like the Pied Piper of Hamlin.
Tanzarra: I just wonder what we would have done if we'd known we weren't truly matchmates.
Wise Snake can't even remember how many of these people at the camp she agreed to take with her or escort somewhere.
Wise Snake thinks that between the two changeovers and the other Establishment and now this one, and those three little kids, she is going to wipe out a whole generation of rednecks.
Wise Snake hoists the water jug and heads back to the camp.
Terl: Thank you for your help. I'll see you later.
Terl lays down and tries to go to sleep while his mind is full of all the things that are happening to him.
Wise Snake walks into the camp some time later.
Wise Snake looks around and realizes that the majority of the annoy-- patients aren't awake yet (or her own people for that matter)
Eliza: Did you get water, Snake?
Wise Snake: Yes, here it is.
Wise Snake hands Eliza the full jug, carefully.
Eliza goes over and gets the saucepan they boil water in.
Eliza: I'll make some tea.
Eliza pours some of the water into the saucepan and puts the jug down between some rocks so that it won't spill.
Eliza puts some more wood on the smoldering fire and stirs it up again then puts the saucepan on to boil.
Wise Snake: I suppose I will check on all these patients.
Wise Snake thinks the campsite looks like a battlefield.
Wise Snake: Maybe we can leave most of them at the Sime Center. [brightens]
Wise Snake: Oh, that reminds me, Eliza, Tanzarra, we're going to have to make a brief detour to the local Sime Center. It's about a day out of the way.
Eliza: How are we going to get them there?
Eliza doesn't care where they go, really. She is in no hurry to get anywhere - unless it has a bathroom and a bed with sheets.
Wise Snake: I guess the ones that can walk will have to walk... and that includes us.
Wise Snake sighs.
Eliza: We should have bought that cart with us.
Wise Snake: I'm going to recommend that somebody open a Sime Center in this area. There is definitely a strong client base.
Eliza looks around and silently agrees with her.
Tanzarra: Why do we have to go to the local Sime Center?
Wise Snake: Oh. I ran into a young Gen down at the stream, who has to go there, and is afraid for his safety.
Wise Snake in hindsight thinks she may have been overgenerous to offer escort services... but then again, she thought so at the time too and much good it did her!
Eliza: Why?
Wise Snake: Evidently his parents are anti-Gen.
Eliza: Really?
Eliza is amazed.
Eliza's parents were anti-Sime, of course.
Tanzarra: That's a shame.
Eliza gets the trin ready to add to the water and sets out three cups, as there are only three of them awake and in camp it seems.
Eliza: Hey, where is Bumanuel?
Eliza hadn't noticed him missing before this.
Tanzarra hadn't either but doesn't really mind him not being here.
Eliza hopes that he hasn't done anything silly.
Wise Snake zlins about.
Wise Snake: He's about 500 yards that way, across the road, and moving East at about a walking pace.
Eliza pours water over the leaves and then adds some cereal to the remaining hot water.
Wise Snake: Would you go fetch him, Tanzarra?
Wise Snake does not feel up to a wrestling match with the sleazeball this morning... in the mood she's in, she'd like as not slit his throat and claim she couldn't find him later.
Eliza looks at Snake for a sign that she should go too - or stay.
Wise Snake sees Eliza looking at her and gestures for her to go with Tanzarra of course.
Eliza takes the pan off the fire to cool.
Tanzarra: Of course.
Eliza: I'll come with you Zarra.
Tanzarra starts toward the direction Snake indicated, and stops to wait for Eliza.
Wise Snake sighs and goes back to checking patients.
Eliza quickly catches up.
Eliza: I don't see why he would have left Linn, anyway.
Tanzarra: Who knows why he does anything?
Eliza: Not me.
Bum Bum is walking in the woods.
Eliza: Maybe we should have brought the horses, in case he... well....
Tanzarra: No, he's not walking fast. We'll catch up in few minutes.
Tanzarra zlins Bum Bum as they get closer.
Eliza: You can zlin him?
Tanzarra: He's just on the edge of my range.
Tanzarra: Although he keeps dipping in and out behind the trees.
Bum Bum is following a deer trail in a generally Eastward direction, not really paying attention to anything around him.
Tanzarra picks up the pace a little as she doesn't want to spend too much time following Bum Bum around.
Eliza: Want me to see if I can get his attention?
Eliza gives a nasty grin.
Tanzarra: I don't know if he'll pick it up, but you can try.
Eliza: On second thought....
Eliza: I better not.
Eliza looks back in Snake's direction.
Bum Bum gives every indication of not having noticed them yet.
Bum Bum seems to be locked into his own thoughts.
Eliza concentrates on supporting Tanzarra instead.
Tanzarra: Bumanuel!!!
Eliza: There he is - I see him.
Bum Bum looks around at the tiny shout of his name.
Bum Bum turns around and looks back at them.
Bum Bum waves.
Eliza waves back.
Tanzarra allows Eliza's support and twinges as she tries not to react to the fact it's not Soli.
Bum Bum looks like he wants to keep going, but instead stops and waits for them.
Tanzarra: Good, at least we don't have to go chasing him all over the place.
Eliza: Where you going, Bumanuel? [as they get close enough not to have to yell]
Eliza: ~ curious ~
Bum Bum shrugs. "Just walking around."
Bum Bum looks at Eliza and Tanzarra. "Did she tell you to get lost, too?"
Bum Bum: ~cynical~
Eliza: Who told you to get lost?
Bum Bum: Snake, of course. Do you think she'd let another channel stay around with all that work to be done?
Bum Bum: She told me last night, she didn't want to see me before noon.
Bum Bum: ~truth~
Eliza blinks.
Eliza looks at Tanzarra for confirmation.
Eliza: Did Snake say anything like that to you?
Tanzarra: He's telling the truth.
Bum Bum tries to avoid being insulted that Eliza had to ask.
Tanzarra: I didn't hear it, but that doesn't mean she didn't say it.
Tanzarra: Well come on, Snake asked us to fetch you so it must be all right to return.
Eliza is very thoughtful.
Eliza: I'm sure she didn't mean it like that, Bumanuel.
Bum Bum looks guarded.
Eliza: And you probably shouldn't have left Linn.
Tanzarra turns to head back to camp.
Bum Bum: I'm not going back there until noon. She was very clear about it.
Tanzarra: Yes, where is she anyway?
Bum Bum: Linn? She's still in the sack.
Bum Bum: [resentfully]
Eliza: She is still asleep.
Bum Bum's resentment is not for Linn of course, but for Snake.
Eliza: Bumanuel, [reasonable] if she didn't want you back, why would she have sent us after you?
Tanzarra: Well she just asked me to fetch you so maybe you should come back now.
Eliza: And I just made cereal and tea.
Bum Bum: To get rid of you?
Eliza: ~ Gen hunger ~
Eliza: I don't think she would do that.
Bum Bum looks doubtful.
Tanzarra hadn't thought of that.
Bum Bum: Well, are you going to defend me if it turns out you're wrong?
Bum Bum rubs his neck nervously.
Tanzarra: Well let's go back anyway.
Eliza is sure that Snake wouldn't do that. If she wanted them gone she would have said so.
Tanzarra: Yes, I will.
Tanzarra: ~~ frustrated ~~
Eliza sighs. She is always defending him, it seems.
Tanzarra: Can we get going or do you want to feel Eliza's hunger for a few more hours?
Bum Bum zlins them and looks morbidly depressed.
Bum Bum: OK.
Bum Bum moves to follow them.
Eliza blushes slightly. "Sorry, I didn't mean that. I should practice hiding it more."
Bum Bum winces.
Tanzarra: That's all right.
Eliza: How are you getting on with Linn, Bumanuel?
Eliza really wants to know how Linn is getting on with Bumanuel.
Tanzarra: ~~ curious ~~
Eliza thought that Griff should have been working with Bumanuel. They seemed made for each other, and if Bumanuel had an "accident" with Griff - well....
Eliza certainly wouldn't cry much.
Bum Bum: She is a very special lady.
Bum Bum: ~guarded~
Tanzarra: Do you think Linn is settling OK?
Eliza: Yes, Snake likes her a lot.
Eliza: She would be very upset if anything happened to her.
Tanzarra: Well it's good that you get on.
Bum Bum has been paranoid about other people's perceptions of the situation ever since Nick ambushed him.
Bum Bum looks at Eliza nervously.
Eliza: I think that Snake looks upon her like a mother.
Eliza: ~ innocent ~
Bum Bum: ~scared/nervous~
Eliza: Everyone seems to like Linn. And she is so clever too.
Bum Bum: Yes... she is.
Eliza: We are lucky to have her with us hey.
Bum Bum: Yes, we are.
Tanzarra zlins Bumanuel's fear.
Tanzarra: Why are you scared?
Eliza: 'Cause he is junct of course!
Bum Bum manages to tear his eyes away from Eliza and tries to look at Tanzarra.
Tanzarra has an idea why.
Bum Bum winces again at Eliza's explanation.
Eliza: If he had an accident with Linn, Snake'd murder him!
Eliza: ~ relish ~
Bum Bum sweats.
Eliza: But you wouldn't do that, would you Bumanuel?
Bum Bum: Well, it's not as if there's much chance for anything to happen, we're not even taking transfer this month. [defensively]
Eliza: Oh, that's right, you are with me this month aren't you?
Tanzarra: No. But when the time comes, how do you feel about that?
Tanzarra looks at Eliza and stifles her feelings.
Tanzarra: Are you more scared of hurting Linn or of what Snake might do if you do hurt her?
Bum Bum gets flustered and looks away from Tanzarra.
Bum Bum: ~~nervous and beleaguered~~
Tanzarra: Well?
Bum Bum: Both actually, I mean either one would be terrible.
Tanzarra: I doubt Snake will let you take Linn before she is sure that she is ready.
Eliza: I don't think it would come to that anyway.
Tanzarra: ~~ well I hope not ~~
Eliza: I mean, I'm sure that Snake would kill you before you could do any permanent damage to Linn.
Bum Bum rubs sweating hands together, hunching his shoulders.
Bum Bum: So she has said.
Eliza: So you don't have to worry about hurting Linn.
Eliza smiles at him reassuringly.
Tanzarra: You'll just have to make sure it doesn't come to that.
Tanzarra thinks Bum Bum's fear of Snake will kill him before anything else will.
Bum Bum hangs back, trying to slow their arrival at camp, and unable to look at either one of them.
Eliza: Come on, hurry up, the tea will be cold.
Eliza walks faster.
Tanzarra hangs back with Bum Bum.
Bum Bum's nager crawls with apprehension at Tanzarra's nearness.
Tanzarra: Look, just try to relax. Snake will not let Linn give you transfer until she is ready.
Eliza: Come on, you guys.
Bum Bum: I know.
Tanzarra: You have Eliza [shivers] for your next transfer.
Tanzarra: Yes, Yes we're coming.
Tanzarra: Think positive about Linn, that's what you have to do. Believe that it will be okay.
Bum Bum glances at Tanzarra.
Bum Bum: I'm trying to do my best.
Bum Bum wishes people would stop trying to freak him out about Linn, he already knows it's a life or death situation.
Tanzarra: That's all that's expected of you.
Bum Bum nods.
Bum Bum: OK.
Eliza waits impatiently for them at the road, knowing what Snake would say if she turned up without them.
Tanzarra: So, are you coming back for some breakfast?
Bum Bum: ~reluctant~
Bum Bum: If you're sure....
Bum Bum glances in the direction of the camp.
Tanzarra: I'm sure. Come on.
Bum Bum nods and follows Tanzarra.
Tanzarra: ~~ support ~~
Tanzarra: Just relax a little.
Tanzarra catches up to Eliza at the road.
Bum Bum follows them.
Bum Bum: ~gloomy but trying to control it~
Eliza is glad that the walk seems to have done Tanzarra some good. Maybe it's seeing that there are other people with serious problems.
Tanzarra heads back to the camp with Eliza and Bum Bum in tow.
Eliza goes over and finds with dismay that Snake has let the tea draw to a treacley brown unbearable strength.
Wise Snake is crouched over the last of the nuisa... patients.
Eliza: Ugh.
Wise Snake looks up in triumph as she finishes the examination.
Wise Snake: Ah, hello, Tanzarra, I see you found him.
Wise Snake ignores Bum Bum.
Wise Snake: Good work.
Eliza tips the tea out and goes to start again, only to find that there is cereal in the pot.
Eliza: Oh shen.
Eliza: Well, anyone for cereal?
Tanzarra: I'll have a little. What about you Bumanuel?
Bum Bum thinks he'd better do as Tanzarra wants.
Bum Bum: Yes, thank you.
Eliza slops the cold cereal into the tea mugs and digs out some spoons.
Eliza: Snake?
Wise Snake: No, thanks.
Wise Snake sets about straightening out the medical satchel and putting everything away.
Wise Snake is feeling ~~pretty good~~ after the healing work.
Tanzarra sits beside Bum Bum.
Tanzarra: ~~ support ~~
Eliza hands sticky cereal to Bumanuel and Tanzarra.
Eliza: Better eat it before it sets.
Eliza thinks it has a lot in common with quick drying concrete.
Bum Bum takes the cereal diffidently, trying not to obviously notice Eliza exists right in front of Tanzarra.
Eliza brushes his hand as he takes it.
Bum Bum's skin tingles at the touch and he suppresses a pang of... well it's pretty suppressed.
Eliza: Here you go Zarra, here is a spoon.
Eliza: [although a shovel might be more appropriate]
Tanzarra takes the spoon and hopes it's a strong one.
Tanzarra: Thank you.
Eliza spoons up a glob of gunk and puts it in her mouth.
Tanzarra starts nibbling at her cereal.
Eliza: Iths ab bif sithy.
Tanzarra: ~~ relax ~~
Bum Bum studiously applies himself with the spoon.
Bum Bum doesn't notice the state of the cereal, he's in such a state himself.
Tanzarra looks up at Eliza. "What?"
Bum Bum relaxes slightly under Tanzarra's influence.
Eliza wonders how come Linn doesn't get yelled at for not supporting her channel.
Eliza: I said, it's a bit sticky.
Tanzarra: Oh, yes. It is, a bit.
Eliza puts the spoon back in the mug and fights to pull it out again.
Tanzarra is eating so little it doesn't really matter.
Eliza holds the spoon by the handle and turns the mug upside down.
Eliza: I think it's set.
Eliza waves it around to see what will happen.
Bum Bum absently augments to keep eating.
Eliza: [the mug finally gives in and flies off the spoon to land perilously close to Snake.]
Eliza: Woops!
Tanzarra cringes.
Wise Snake looks up.
Wise Snake: Ah, no, I said I'm fine, thanks.
Eliza goes to fetch it.
Wise Snake goes back to her work.
Eliza: Oh, umm all right, sorry about that Snake.
Eliza returns with the mug and fills it with water to see if the cement, er, cereal, will dissolve.
Tanzarra: Eliza, I think you better be a bit more careful with your cereal.
Tanzarra actually feels like laughing at that.
Eliza: Yeah, I think we could sell it to the army as a weapon.
Eliza: ~ humor ~
Tanzarra: Why sell it to them, you're pretty good with it yourself.
Wise Snake gets up and goes over to get some tea.
Wise Snake looks in the tea pot and finding none, looks perplexed.
Eliza: Change your mind Snake?
Wise Snake: Why didn't you make any tea?
Wise Snake: ~puzzled~
Eliza: I did. But it sat too long. Then the pot had cereal in it.
Eliza: I'll make some more now.
Eliza picks up the pot and looks around for something to scour the cereal out of it with.
Wise Snake frowns as Eliza makes it sound like the tea turned into cereal because it was left too long in the pot.
Tanzarra: Just warn me when you are going to start flinging your food around.
Wise Snake knew there were many things she didn't know about cooking, so reluctantly shrugs it off.
Eliza finds something and puts some water in the pot and starts to scrub at the rough sides.
Tanzarra smiles at Eliza.
Eliza: I only fling solid food around, never tea.
Eliza rinses it out and puts more water on to boil.
Bum Bum crunches his way through the last bite of cemen... cereal and sets down his mug.
Eliza smiles back at Tanzarra.
Bum Bum goes over to the water jug and pours himself a huge drink and gulps it down.
Tanzarra realises she hasn't felt any humor for such a long time, but sometimes Eliza does things that reminds her so much of Soli.
Bum Bum has 3 or 4 more glasses of water.
Eliza: Here, I'll put some water in that. Hopefully it will dissolve off eventually.
Eliza: You know - we don't have much water left.
Eliza: Snake - are we going to leave soon or will I go get some more?
Wise Snake: I just went to get some. [annoyed]
Wise Snake: Don't tell me it's gone already....
Wise Snake sighs.
Eliza watches the last of it disappear down Bumanuel's throat.
Wise Snake: Look... I would like to say we are going to leave soon but at this point it's really hard to say.
Tanzarra: I'll go and get some more this time.
Eliza gets up to go with her.
Bum Bum, glad to be far from the focus of attention, slinks back to where Linn is lying, to recover from the cereal.
Tanzarra looks from Bum Bum to Snake in concern.
Wise Snake is pondering the label on a bottle, apparently not paying any attention to Bum Bum, Eliza, or Tanzarra.
Wise Snake had forgotten all about the water as soon as she heard somebody else say they would make fetching it their problem.
Tanzarra heads off to the creek to fetch more water.
Go on to Episode #69: Excuse Me, But That's My Gen You're Stepping On