Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #72: Arborphobic? (9/1/98)
Wise Snake steps out in front of the Sime Center and then pauses, frowning, as she sees two of their horses are missing.
Errel moans as he comes to.
Errel: Who hit me?
Wise Snake curses under her breath, thinking Nick won't miss Pumpkin but Eliza will throw a fit over Flossie's theft.
Errel feels like someone hit him over the head with a barn.
Wise Snake sighs and unties Freelance and two or three other horses, starts leading them toward the table.
Sosu Bralz: Oh dear... Errel, are you all right?
Sosu Bralz: ~~flutter flutter soothing ~~
Errel: No, I don't think I am.
Errel puts his hand to his head and pulls it away sticky with blood.
Errel pulls himself together. "How long.... Oh Shen! Are they still here? Have they left? Did you get the police?"
Sosu Bralz: Oh... oh... I don't know. ~~flustered~~
Sosu Bralz: Oh deary me, what a lot of excitement.
Sosu Bralz is not used to a lot of excitement.
Wise Snake comes around the corner and stops, surprised to see Errel sitting on the ground in front of the barn and Sosu Bralz hovering near him.
Wise Snake clears her throat.
Wise Snake: May I be of assistance?
Errel: Bralz, listen carefully...
Errel zlins Snake as she rounds the corner and jumps.
Errel: ~ ouch ~
Errel: Oh my head!
Sosu Bralz winces and reaches out sympathetically as Errel's injury pains him.
Sosu Bralz: That's got to hurt.
Errel points an accusing finger at Snake.
Errel: He is junct, you know he is junct! You are harbouring a junct!
Wise Snake: Me?
Wise Snake looks around but nobody else is there, and besides, Errel's attention can be zlinned to be firmly on her.
Wise Snake: Oh. Yes, I am.
Wise Snake: But don't worry, he will never kill again. I have given my word on it.
Errel wishes for the 1000th time that Bralz was more... and less....
Sosu Bralz wonders if Errel had meant for her to listen carefully only to "Oh my head!" or to keep listening carefully until otherwise notified.
Sosu Bralz: ~~attentive~~
Wise Snake leads Freelance, Trigger, and a couple of other horses carefully around Errel and Bralz.
Errel: How do you intend to do that? That is why we have Last Year houses. It's the only way to ensure, the only way to keep Unity. They have to know, they have to have faith that, oh my head!
Wise Snake: Well, I have a Companion prepared for him. If that doesn't work out, I'll murder him.
Wise Snake thinks this sounds perfectly reasonable.
Wise Snake: Ah, there you are.
Wise Snake sees Pumpkin and Flossie stuffing themselves in the barn.
Errel puts his hand to his head again in an attempt to stop it splitting in two.
Sosu Bralz: ~~worry/flutter/all-ears~~
Errel: But, but, the law....
Wise Snake: Hold on a second, I can't quite hear you.
Wise Snake dumps grain into some buckets and spreads out some hay, after removing the bits and tying off the horses to some convenient posts.
Wise Snake sneezes violently.
Wise Snake: Aw, shen.
Wise Snake: I hate straw.
Wise Snake staggers out of the barn, popping several allergy pills
Errel has never eaten it, but that's not important right now.
Wise Snake: You were saySNEEZEing?
Wise Snake rubs her arms and sneezes again.
Sosu Bralz touches Errel's bleeding forehead with a corner of her handkerchief.
Sosu Bralz: ~~concern/worry/oh dear~~
Errel: The law, we can't have juncts running around scaring the Gens!
Sosu Bralz: Now, don't get all excited dear.
Errel: ~ ouch ~
Wise Snake: Ah, yes.
Wise Snake: Well, Bum Bum is remarkably well controlled. I mean, he is a channel, after all. And, he has a healthy fear for his own life.
Wise Snake: Anyway, if it works out between him and Linn, he'll be as good as nonjunct.
Errel is glad that she agrees.
Errel: Then you will turn him over without any trouble.
Wise Snake: No, I'm afraid I can't do that.
Wise Snake disappears back behind the Sime Center briefly, then reappears with the rest of the horses.
Errel: He will?
Errel decides that it's probably not his problem. He doesn't have the backup to enforce it, and he also has a healthy fear for his own life.
Wise Snake: Excuse me.
Wise Snake leads the small herd around (but perilously close to) Errel.
Sosu Bralz: Oh, my.
Sosu Bralz puts the handkerchief away.
Sosu Bralz: ~~worried support~~
Sosu Bralz: This used to be such a quiet little Center.
Sosu Bralz: ~nostalgic regret~
Errel staggers to his feet.
Wise Snake finishes loosening girths, removing bridles and serving food.
Wise Snake catches Flossie and Pumpkin and ties them up so they don't wander off.
Wise Snake: [not that they show any inclination to, whatsoever]
Wise Snake sneezes.
Wise Snake: Ucch.
Wise Snake pops some more pills.
Errel holds up the barn for a while.
Errel: How are the injured?
Errel has his suspicions as to how they all got injured but doesn't think it's right to raise them at the moment
Nick heads for the barn, wondering why it's taking Snake so long to see to the horses.
Nick hopes it isn't another "episode" linked to overindulgence in the Center's pharmaceuticals.
Nick wishes that he hadn't had to deal with Errel instead of keeping a close eye on Snake's pill intake.
Nick wonders if discussing the matter with Snake--again--would make a difference, and decides that it probably wouldn't.
Wise Snake: They're fine.
Wise Snake: I have five of them bedded down in the lobby, six in your office, three in the storeroom (I closed the window, by the way,) four in the -- oh hello, Nick.
Wise Snake puts something back in her pocket.
Wise Snake: But you really should deal with those new changeovers and Establishments, the five in the lobby.
Wise Snake: I am sure they'd appreciate getting some information on local resources.
Nick checks Snake over for lucidity, and is glad to see her in acceptable condition.
Errel realises he is going to have to arrange extra food for all the Gens.
Nick: Hi, Snake. Horses all right?
Errel wishes he were back in the Capitol.
Wise Snake: Yeah. They're eating now. I'd like to get going before the night.
Wise Snake is glad they were able to feed the horses at the Tecton's (considerable) expense.
Errel: And you will be leaving.....?
Errel: ~ hope ~
Nick automatically falls into support, with the precision only a Gen trained by a Farris would bother to acquire.
Wise Snake: Oh, I don't know, as soon as everything seems to be under control.
Nick tries to look Tecton, a task complicated by the fact that he didn't stick around long enough to discover how Tecton Donors are supposed to zlin.
Wise Snake sees that Errel has managed to control the bleeding himself.
Wise Snake: How did you get that?
Wise Snake indicates the huge goose egg on his forehead.
Nick adjusts his field to allow Snake a good zlin.
Errel puts his hand to his head.
Errel: I have no idea.
Errel can't remember.
Errel: I think I got hit with a barn.
Nick wonders what Errel did to provoke the barn; he's never heard of one attacking somebody before.
Wise Snake: Do you require any assistance?
Wise Snake zlins Errel skeptically.
Nick: You do look a bit pale.
Nick realizes that Snake is paler, but that's normal for her.
Errel: No!
Errel jumps backwards and falls over a bale of straw.
Nick: What's the matter?
Errel clambers back to his feet.
Errel: I'm fine, don't touch me.
Nick tries to look harmless, to make up for Snake's appearance.
Nick: ~~ skepticism ~~
Nick: Simes don't usually trip over their own feet.
Errel looks insulted.
Errel: They don't usually get hit by barns either.
Wise Snake looks at Errel [snake-eyed], then turns her head to study the barn.
Errel: ~ defensively ~
Wise Snake: Where's your Donor?
Nick: You should let Snake have a zlin at that bump. You're obviously not functioning at full efficiency, and with the extra work just now...?
Errel looks around in panic for Bralz who seems to have slipped out.
Errel: She was here.
Errel: Work, yes, work. I better get in to work!
Nick projects ~~ calm ~~ to stop the panic.
Nick: Why start now?
Errel: If you see Bralz, please tell her to report to me in my office.
Errel remembers that there are 6 or 7 people in his office and groans.
Nick: Besides, all the patients are in good condition, at the moment.
Wise Snake: Actually, I do think he should speak to those young adults.
Wise Snake: ... After he washes his face. [adds]
Errel: Yes ~ embarrassed ~ Well, I do thank you for that.
Wise Snake: Why don't you come along with us?
Errel: Yes, very well, Yes, I'll do that.
Sosu Bralz rushes outside and around the corner.
Sosu Bralz: Hajene Errel! Hajene Errel!
Nick blinks in surprise, as Snake appears to volunteer to wash her face.
Errel: ~ suspicious ~ Why, where are you going?
Sosu Bralz: ~~accomplishment~~
Wise Snake: Back inside.
Wise Snake: ~~where did you think?!~
Wise Snake: Where your work is waiting.
Errel jumps.
Errel: There she is!
Sosu Bralz: I brought you some nice Chamomile tea. It'll settle your stomach nicely.
Errel brushes past Snake as he weaves his way outside to where Bralz is yelling.
Errel: Bralz! Over here.
Sosu Bralz is indeed carrying a scalding hot cup of yellow-green tea.
Nick looks at Snake.
Sosu Bralz sees Errel and hurries in his direction.
Sosu Bralz: [slopping tea over the side of the cup]
Nick: Is he going to be able to function?
Errel: ~ heart sinks ~
Errel: Don't run!
Wise Snake: It is difficult to say, since I don't have any proof he functioned before.
Sosu Bralz slows down.
Errel: Just walk Bralz. Thank you so much for the thought. I'm sure it's just what I need.
Nick: True enough.
Sosu Bralz: I brought you some nice tea to settle your stomach.
Sosu Bralz: ~~pleased~~
Wise Snake moves back in the direction of Errel, Bralz, and the front door.
Nick: How well has he been handling the patients? You mentioned that there weren't many folders of Center clients...
Errel looks at the tea with dismay and realises that he is probably going to have to drink it.
Errel: Just put it down there [points to the fence]
Eliza is sitting amongst the newly-changed-over and telling them all about being Sime.
Linn comes in carrying a tray, and shakes her head in amazement.
Eliza: [as Eliza is Gen this is a good trick. She isn't getting it all wrong however]
Linn wonders how Eliza can be so confident about being Sime, when she's Gen herself.
Sosu Bralz sets it on a fence post.
Errel: ~ relief ~
Errel picks it up and blows on it.
Eliza: [Tanzarra is talking to the newly-Established and explaining how they will donate to Channels and won't feel any discomfort at all and will even be paid for it.]
Eliza: .... and then every month you will go to a Channel for transfer at a Center like this one, or probably like this one. Maybe you will go to this one.
Bum Bum: Then again, maybe you'll get lucky.
Bum Bum: ~sarcastic~
Eliza glares at Bumanuel.
Eliza manages to keep the glare out of her nager, not wanting to upset the "kids".
Eliza: It doesn't matter where really, the important thing is that you will never have to feel need. Not real need anyway.
Bum Bum: Not real need?
Bum Bum: I suppose to you, a Gen, no need feels "real".
Bum Bum is possibly showing some signs of stress due to being trapped in this Sime Center after being fingered as a junct by the local channel who then ran off to fetch the police.
Eliza: Here, Bumanuel is a channel, he can tell you better than I can.
Eliza indicates for Bumanuel to take over.
Bum Bum: Thank you.
Bum Bum: Now, kids, let me tell you, nothing can prepare you for being in need for the first time.
Bum Bum: I mean, really being in need.
Bum Bum: First of all, it's really depressing.
Eliza feels a nagging sense of dissatisfaction that she can't quite pinpoint.
Linn: Tea, anyone?
Bum Bum: Pretty much, day in and day out, all you can think about is selyn.
Linn starts pouring tea and passing it around.
Bum Bum: You'll want to hang out with your Gen friends... even the ones you can't stand!
Eliza: Yes, thank you Linn.
Bum Bum: If you have a girlfriend or boyfriend, forget it... they won't even bother calling you for at least 2 weeks.
Bum Bum: Hopefully they haven't forgotten your name by the time you get transfer.
Bum Bum: ~cynicism~
Linn wonders if Bum Bum really can't stand her, and just wants a Gen -- any Gen.
Bum Bum: Pretty soon, selyn becomes an obsession.
Jaquey starts snivelling.
Bum Bum: You'll find yourself sitting at the Porstan parlor, chugging down your 10th cold one and talking about which channel has the best "feel".
Eliza smiles at Linn until she is distracted by the effect that Bumanuel is having on the youngsters.
Bum Bum: Of course it's all a joke, since they don't let you pick which one you get.
Jaquey is joined by a few others, some of which start crying outright.
Linn: Bum Bum, have some tea.
Bum Bum: ~depressed~
Linn: ~~ calm, soothing ~~
Eliza looks at Bumanuel in horror.
Bum Bum: Thank you, Linn.
Bum Bum accepts the tea.
Eliza resists the temptation of taking the tea and pouring it down his back.
Bum Bum smiles at her to let her know how much he cares about her as a person (as per Nick's instructions)
Eliza: Oh, no.
Bum Bum: Where was I?
Bum Bum: Ah yes.
Eliza: ~ soothing comfort - not directed at Bumanuel ~
Bum Bum: Of course, those are just the side effects.
Bum Bum: What's really a bummer is the need itself.
Eliza: I think maybe that's enough, Hajene.
Bum Bum: Some describe it as falling down an endless hole, forever and ever, kind of like falling into Hell.
Bum Bum: What? [distracted by Eliza]
Jaquey: Is that worse?
Jaquey: [sniffs]
Jaquey: ~ whimper ~
Eliza: I think that's enough for now. Drink your tea.
Linn goes over to Jaquey and hugs her.
Bum Bum: Oh. OK.
Bum Bum shrugs and gets up and walks off, drinking his tea.
Eliza glares at him.
Linn: There, there, dear. Simes all experience need differently.
Bum Bum turns to look at her in surprise as she glares at him.
Eliza: It's not that bad kids, and think of all the really neat stuff you can do!
Eliza: He is just a grumpy Bum Bum.
Bum Bum shakes his head and walks out of the room, thinking to look for something to eat.
Linn: And you have a whole new life in front of you to discover what you can do with yourself.
Jaquey sniffs and stops crying.
Jaquey: Like running fast and stuff?
Jaquey: And being Post?
Linn: Yes. That sort of thing.
Jaquey: What's that mean, anyway?
Linn thinks that yes, Simes do tend to go postal.
Eliza sputters into her tea.
Eliza: I'll be back in a moment, Linn.
Eliza flees.
Linn: Perhaps you should ask Eliza there to explain it to you.
Wise Snake walks in the front door, hoping Errel will take the hint.
Eliza flees past Snake on her way out.
Nick follows at her heels, ready to deal with any chaos in the lobby.
Wise Snake is startled by Eliza flashing past.
Wise Snake: What... Linn, what's going on here?
Jaquey looks at Linn, patiently waiting. All the others do, too.
Nick's experiences in Bender Cove have conditioned him to anticipate disaster in all Sime Center lobbies.
Wise Snake sees Linn surrounded by three sobbing kids.
Linn: Er... Bum Bum was trying to explain some of the details about life as a Sime.
Errel looks around his nice clean lobby, now looking like a cross between a school and a hospital emergency zone, in distaste.
Linn: He was perhaps a bit on the pessimistic side, I'm afraid.
Linn sees Errel and smiles.
Wise Snake: I see.
Wise Snake: Errel, do you want to handle this?
Errel looks at Linn and blushes down to his toes, without really knowing why.
Linn: However, kids, Hajene Errel here works for the Tecton. He'll be able to tell you all about the programs to help you adjust to adult life.
Errel starts and looks at Snake to see if she really meant that the way it sounded.
Errel: Oh! No, I see you mean the situation, not the Ge.... errr, no, I'm sure you are doing a fine job Miss, a fine job.
Linn looks prim, proper, and every inch the school teacher she used to be.
Wise Snake looks disgusted.
Wise Snake: I'll do it.
Wise Snake sits down next to the kids.
Nick knows that disgusted look, and turns on the ~~ calming support ~~
Errel smiles at Linn, who looks exactly like his 4th grade teacher. He had the hugest crush on his 4th grade teacher.
Nick also takes the opportunity to pour himself some tea from Linn's tray.
Jaquey looks at Snake and cringes. She liked it better when the nice Gen lady was telling them.
Wise Snake: ~~kindly reassurance~~
Jaquey looks at Linn in silent plea.
Linn looks at Jaquey and tries to project ~~ reassurance ~~ as she smiles.
Jaquey really likes the nice Gen lady.
Linn: Snake knows a great deal about getting along as a Sime. You should listen to her.
Jaquey pouts.
Linn: Unless you'd rather keep on as you were, just wandering the roads?
Jaquey: Can I sit next to you then? [slight lisp]
Wise Snake is flabbergasted as to why her field does not affect this young Sime.
Jaquey smiles in what she has been told is a winning way.
Linn: If you wish. Have some more tea.
Wise Snake looks around.
Wise Snake: Er, Linn, what did you do with Bum Bum?
Linn realizes that Errel is still staring at her, and goes over to him.
Linn: Is something wrong, Hajene?
Linn turns back.
Linn: He was talking to them about need, I believe.
Errel: Err, no. I do apologize. You remind me of someone I knew.
Linn: Ah.
Errel: I had better, errr, look in on the other patients.
Errel hurries off.
Eliza looks around for Bumanuel.
Linn runs into this sort of reaction pretty often; teachers have enough in common that it tends to show.
Linn returns to sit near Jaquey.
Wise Snake: Linn, [a bit annoyed that she doesn't have the Donor's full attention] you have lost your channel.
Wise Snake: Don't you think, under the circumstances, you should find him?
Linn: I suppose I should, if only to discuss his educational technique.
Linn checks the kids to make sure that the situation is under control, then picks up the tea tray and heads for the kitchen.
Jaquey looks after Linn wistfully then turns her attention onto Snake.
Jaquey: She was going to tell us about Post.
Wise Snake: She was?
Wise Snake: ~surprised~
Wise Snake had no idea Linn was that knowledgeable on the subject.
Jaquey nods.
Wise Snake: I see.
Linn carries the tea tray down the hall, remembering nostalgically how much she enjoyed teaching, back before she somehow got tangled up with Snake.
Wise Snake: Well, the deal is this.
Wise Snake: When you are in need, your emotions are repressed. So any feelings of sadness, anger, happiness, or even love, are put aside and you can't really feel them.
Wise Snake: But after you have transfer, it all comes rushing out.
Jaquey stares at Snake's eyes.
Wise Snake: You will probably cry, laugh, and everything all at once, right after transfer, because of it.
Wise Snake's eyes are white and seem to glow eerily.
Linn: ~~ wistful regret ~~
Jaquey: Laugh and cry? At the same time?
Jaquey: ~ doubtful ~
Bum Bum is in the kitchen, puttering around in a cupboard.
Wise Snake: Yeah.
Nick thinks of the rest of the aftermath, with the predictable result in a 25-year-old guy.
Wise Snake: Also, right after transfer is the only time a Sime is really interested in making love.
Eliza can't find trace of Bumanuel outside anywhere so goes back inside to the kids figuring that Linn has probably finished explaining any sticky bits by now.
Jaquey looks at Nick in amazement.
Nick thinks that every once in a while, tight pants become inconvenient.
Wise Snake pauses as Nick creates a distraction.
Jaquey: Like him? [points to Nick]
Wise Snake turns and looks at Nick oddly.
Wise Snake: Is this topic too hot for you?
Nick: ~~ utterly blank nager ~~
Wise Snake: Er... yeah, only he's a Gen.
Wise Snake: Gens are a little bit less cyclical than Simes.
Linn goes into the kitchen, and heads for the sink to deposit the tea tray.
Linn: Oh, there you are, Bum Bum.
Jaquey: Oh.
Jaquey: Then what?
Bum Bum: Want any... er... [reads a label]... Vegemite?
Linn: ~~ distracted/nostalgic ~~
Bum Bum opens the jar and sniffs it.
Bum Bum: Mmm!
Linn: No, thank you.
Wise Snake shrugs.
Linn, like most Gens, can't stand the stuff.
Linn: Did you have to scare those kids like that?
Wise Snake: Then, between 24 and 48 hours later, the effect fades.
Bum Bum looks over at her in surprise.
Bum Bum: Scare them? They weren't scared.
Bum Bum: Sobered, maybe, but not scared.
Nick thinks, maybe it does for Simes.
Bum Bum: There's no use in hiding the truth from them is there?
Jaquey: So can't you do... it... [blushes] any other time?
Eliza walks back into the lobby.
Wise Snake: Oh sure. You just don't enjoy it as much... maybe not at all.
Linn: There's a difference between providing information and upsetting a bunch of kids for no reason.
Wise Snake: But that doesn't stop a lot of people.
Wise Snake: Especially if your partner is a Gen and doesn't care how you zlin.
Eliza hears the topic and tries to back out quickly.
Jaquey is fascinated.
Jaquey: So, what do you do?
Wise Snake: Come here, Eliza, you'll find this interesting.
Nick lets his nager show an ever so slight ~~ hurt ~~, too subtle for the renSimes to zlin.
Jaquey thinks that this person is much more informative then her mum.
Bum Bum studies Linn, suddenly realizing she is upset with him.
Bum Bum looks concerned.
Bum Bum: I'm sorry.
Linn: Those kids required information they could use to get their lives in order, not a scare story -- however truthful.
Wise Snake squirms, wondering if Nick is projecting "hurt" because she said that about Gens, or because she doesn't provide that service for him.
Eliza goes over to Snake reluctantly.
Bum Bum: I'm sorry. [trying to look truly repentant]
Bum Bum: I won't do it again.
Wise Snake: What do I do??
Nick is wondering if Snake ever wanted him at all, or just grabbed him in a fit of post-transfer lust.
Jaquey: [lisps] Yeth.
Linn accepts the apology gracefully, having made her point.
Bum Bum 's tentacle droops until the vegemite is lying on the counter on its side.
Linn: Teaching isn't as simple as many people assume. It takes skill to learn when to present information, and when it does more harm than good.
Wise Snake: Well, that's kind of a personal question, Jaquey. You've got to watch out about asking those kind of questions.
Bum Bum wonders if it would do him any good to point out that Eliza was the one who stuck him up there to "teach", then decides it wouldn't.
Bum Bum: OK Linn.
Linn: Let me guess: Eliza dragged you over when they asked a question she didn't care to answer, right?
Linn smiles, a bit crookedly.
Bum Bum: I think she thought I had something to contribute.
Linn: Well, you do. But you have to be careful not to do harm when you're trying to help.
Jaquey wonders if the Snake lady means that she has to learn by watching.
Linn: It's not that different from healing, actually.
Jaquey decides to keep her eyes open and watch that Gen man.
Melach watches with Jaquey.
Bum Bum: Yes, Linn.
Bum Bum tries to look appropriately penitent and hang-dog.
Wise Snake: Now, did you have any other questions on that subject?
Linn decides that her point had been made, and changes the subject.
Linn: Would you care to join me in some lunch?
Bum Bum: ~depressed~
Bum Bum perks up slightly as it appears he is not totally in the doghouse.
Bum Bum: OK.
Linn: ~~ support ~~
Bum Bum: I'd love to eat with you, Linn.
Jaquey shakes her head.
Bum Bum: It'd brighten up my whole day.
Wise Snake: I see.
Wise Snake: What have Eliza and Linn told you about already?
Jaquey: Unless, I mean, well I had my first transfer a few days ago. Am I post now?
Linn raises an eyebrow at this assertion, but starts making sandwiches.
Linn: Do you want that vegemite stuff on yours?
Jaquey: ~ curious ~
Wise Snake: Well your senses may be more acute and so forth, but you won't start feeling the full blown post reactions until you're 3 or 4 months old.
Bum Bum senses her lack of belief in his sincerity, and becomes alarmed.
Bum Bum: Yes, I would.
Bum Bum moves closer to her, seeking reassurance.
Eliza: I was outside, looking for someone.
Eliza denies everything.
Linn hands him his sandwich, and starts to slice cheese for her own.
Linn: ~~ Gen hunger ~~
Bum Bum eats his sandwich while standing 1 inch from Linn.
Wise Snake: You know, Errel really should be having this talk with them. Where is he?
Linn takes a ladylike bite, chewing thoroughly before swallowing.
Jaquey: But I'm older than that now!
Jaquey: I'm 13!
Wise Snake: I meant, 3 or 4 months past changeover.
Linn kind of wishes there was some ham available to go with the cheese.
Bum Bum: What's the matter? [in Linn's ear, having zlinned her longing for ham]
Bum Bum has vegemite breath.
Linn: Oh... I'm just homesick, I suppose.
Linn leans back to avoid the vegemite breath.
Bum Bum sidles along with her.
Bum Bum: You know... we could go back there. You and I.
Nick: I believe Errel took off when the subject turned to postsyndrome.
Linn: Eastcove? I wouldn't think you'd be happy, having to wear retainers all the time.
Nick kinds of wishes he'd done the same.
Melach tries to come up with a question, but can't think of any.
Bum Bum: Well, maybe we could go live in Bender Cove right near the border?
Bum Bum: I could work in the hospital, and you could work in a school.
Linn: And besides, I couldn't teach there without the Young Anti-Tectonists coming after me. They almost murdered me once, and I'd prefer not to give them another opportunity.
Bum Bum sighs.
Bum Bum wishes murder would stop figuring into his life plans.
Wise Snake looks at Melach.
Wise Snake: How about you, do you have any questions?
Melach stammers. "Uh- uhm -- no?"
Melach ~intimidated by adults~
Wise Snake: Huh.
Wise Snake thinks these kids are the least-curious First Year Simes she has ever run across.
Jetty has been sitting all this while, staring glumly at his tentacles.
Wise Snake projects ~reassurance~
Melach relaxes, not knowing quite why.
Wise Snake: Well, I am sure that Hajene Errel... wherever he is ~faint disgust~... will be able to answer any questions you might come up with later. ~reassurance~.
Wise Snake tries to smile kindly at Melach.
Melach squirms. "Will I have my own Gen?"
Wise Snake's smile falters.
Jetty gets caught up in the relaxation.
Wise Snake: Will you what?!
Wise Snake: Er, no, of course not.
Melach: You know... every month?
Wise Snake: No, you'll be given transfer by a channel.
Melach: Oh.
Jetty looks up.
Wise Snake: RenSimes, like you, always take transfer from channels.
Melach: ~~ disappointment - would have been nice to have a friend ~~
Wise Snake: Channels get the selyn from Gens and then they turn around and give it to you.
Jetty: The selyn still comes from Gens, even when a channel gives it to you.
Jetty does not appear happy about this.
Melach: But channels have their own Gens.
Wise Snake thinks, 'save me from the old 'but I want my own Gen' routine.'
Wise Snake does her best to appear ~pleasant and helpful~
Wise Snake: Yes, channels do.
Jetty: At least that's honest parasitism.
Melach: But renSimes don't?
Melach looks at Jetty.
Wise Snake: No.
Wise Snake wonders what planet Melach grew up on.
Wise Snake turns to Jetty.
Wise Snake: You had a comment?
Jetty goes back to staring glumly at his tentacles.
Melach thinks it's not fair. He wanted to grow up and be a channel and help people and have his own Gen....
Jetty: I don't want to live as a parasite, that's all.
Wise Snake: Being a parasite is a state of mind, kid. If you put more back into the system than you take out, you are not a parasite, you are a symbiote.
Wise Snake: But which you are, is up to you.
Jetty: From what you said, the Tecton won't allow me to give anything back to the Gen who's supporting me.
Jetty: I won't even know who it is.
Wise Snake: Well, that doesn't show much imagination.
Wise Snake: The Tecton is a huge system. As long as you are putting something in somewhere, it balances out.
Wise Snake: Or if you don't want to work for the Tecton, maybe you could work in a social services job in a Gen neighborhood.
Wise Snake thinks most people are too lazy to do anything but complain and assumes Jetty is one of those, but you can never tell.
Jetty: But how can I know if the Gen who gave the selyn that's supporting me wanted to, if I don't know who it was? I'd hate to depend on someone who just, say, wanted a job or something.
Jetty: It's the principle of the thing.
Melach thinks Jetty has a point.
Jaquey thinks that Jetty is stupid.
Jaquey: I like channels. I don't mind.
Jaquey smiles at Snake.
Jetty: If someone has to give me life for a month, I can't accept it unless it was a gift freely given.
Melach mutters, "I wanted to be a channel. Now I'm just a dumb renSime. I can't do anything."
Wise Snake rubs her head.
Jetty has spent far too much time reading philosophy, and far too little time as a Sime.
Jetty: It would be immoral.
Wise Snake: Good grief. I have never heard anything quite so poorly thought out.
Wise Snake: [and that's saying a lot, considering all the babble she heard in the gutters of Bender Cove]
Jetty: You would take selyn -- life itself -- from somebody who didn't want to give it to you?
Wise Snake: Kid, you are unbelievably arrogant.
Jetty has never really been introduced to the sort of flexible ethics Snake learned on the streets.
Wise Snake: Did you know that you have just declared all Gens who donate for the money to be inadequate providers for you?
Wise Snake: That is truly vile classism.
Jaquey doesn't understand a word they are saying so goes back to staring at Nick.
Wise Snake: I suppose you would just have them lying out in the street, high-field, while renSimes in need walk past unwilling to stoop to what you term 'parasitism'?
Wise Snake: Or, worse yet, do you presume to call yourself a philanthropist, and pick and choose which needy Gen to bestow yourself upon, after first checking his credentials in the area of gratitude?
Wise Snake: ~disgust~
Melach winces.
Nick notices with approval that Snake has managed to avoid the question of taking donations from unwilling donors.
Jaquey starts to sniffle again
Wise Snake: And you have managed to completely ignore the point I originally made, which is that you can put as much back into the system -- and in whatever 'currency' -- as you desire.
Jaquey didn't like it when people got angry before she could zlin.
Wise Snake is not angry.
Wise Snake is ~~inquisitive/slightly sarcastic/faintly contemptuous~~
Jetty: Hey, I don't care about gratitude; I just want to know that the person who's donating the selyn to support me did so of his or her own free will.
Jetty: That particular person, not just Gens in general.
Jetty: If I steal an apple from a farmer, it doesn't make me less of a thief if I give a nickle to charity.
Wise Snake: You're not talking about stealing. You're talking about the farmer paying the apple as tithe, and then the government distributing the apple to you.
Wise Snake realizes it is asking a bit much to expect a child who just changed over to be up on the economic structure of Sime Territory.
Melach goggles, all this going over his head.
Wise Snake: You pay taxes. Gens pay selyn.
Wise Snake: It's an equal trade.
Jetty: If the farmer didn't want to pay the tithe, and the government took the apple anyway, that makes me an accessory after the fact. Still a thief.
Wise Snake: Kid, until you understand how society works, having this argument with you is not only futile, it's ludicrous.
Wise Snake: I'm sorry... come back and talk about this when you are a little more knowledgeable.
Jetty goes back to staring glumly at his tentacles.
Jetty: ~~ depression ~~
Wise Snake is glad Jetty is Errel's problem.
Wise Snake thinks any kid who wastes that much energy on inventing his own problems and then stoutly defending his own diagnoses has a rough adulthood ahead of him.
Melach thinks about the apples. "Does the government take selyn from Gens who don't want to?"
Wise Snake: Nope.
Wise Snake: If Gens don't want to give selyn, they can go live over in Gen Territory.
Wise Snake: Actually, they can live here too, but everybody would stare at them when they walked down the street.
Wise Snake: Like they had a big, green booger hanging down their nose.
Melach laughs.
Wise Snake smiles slightly.
Jetty looks up at Snake.
Jetty: So, Hajene, can you swear to me that every Gen from whom you've taken selyn wanted to give it?
Jetty thinks this might be a way out of his ethical dilemma.
Wise Snake: I confess I don't understand your definition of "want".
Wise Snake: If you consider any Gen who only did it for money to not "want" to, then, no.
Wise Snake: Because many Gens do sell selyn for cash.
Jetty zlins Snake closely, trying to judge the truth of her responses.
Wise Snake: In fact, the truth of the matter is, most Gens don't think twice about what their selyn is going to be used for.
Wise Snake: They know it goes to Simes, but they don't really give a shen.
Jetty: But they were all willing to give it?
Wise Snake: Every once in a while somebody might request to make a donation specifically in somebody else's name... say, if a relative in-Territory can't afford his taxes....
Wise Snake: Why would they bother coming all the way to a Sime Center if they didn't want to give selyn?
Wise Snake: What are you talking about, people coming in at gunpoint?
Wise Snake: In chains?
Wise Snake: Hunted down in their homes and held down and sucked dry, what are you getting at?
Melach's eyes get wide at the talk of hunting Gens.
Jetty: You didn't answer my question. Have you, personally, or any Tecton channel you know of, ever taken selyn from a Gen who didn't freely choose to give it?
Jetty's tentacles writhe uncontrolled as he quivers with eagerness, waiting for Snake's answer.
Jetty: ~~ hopeful ~~
Wise Snake: Nope.
Wise Snake: ~~utter and total truth~~
Jetty relaxes.
Eliza shifts uncomfortably.
Eliza wonders what Bumanuel would answer if asked the same question.
Jetty: Well, then, maybe it isn't immoral to be a Sime, after all.
Wise Snake: Good grief.
Wise Snake: Kid, let's get this straight here and now. It is not immoral to be anything.
Wise Snake: If anybody ever catches you claiming otherwise, they might kick your butt for you.
Wise Snake: Larity prejudice is no joke.
Wise Snake: There are a lot of good, hard-working Simes out there.
Wise Snake: Maybe Simes are bad news where you come from, but you're going to have to adjust your way of thinking, or at least learn to watch your mouth in public.
Jetty thinks about the way his folks used to talk about Gens as if they were so much vegemite for the table.
Wise Snake: Plus, if you walk around thinking you're less than human because of a few tentacles and a need cycle, you're going to live a really screwed up life.
Nick is glad that Snake's field control allows her to lie to renSimes at will, since the Anti-Tectonists were anything but willing to donate, and he recalls several Gens since they left Bender Cove who were stripped without knowing it.
Wise Snake: I doubt you'd be helping out the Gens around you if you became a psychotic loony wandering the streets muttering about lambs to the slaughter.
Jetty: Maybe not, but I don't want to be my father, either.
Wise Snake blinks.
Wise Snake: Who says you have to be your father?
Wise Snake: Just try to be a normal, well-adjusted nonjunct renSime of the 30's, OK?
Jetty: Umm....
Jetty: All right.
Wise Snake: And if you have any questions about what that might be, I am sure Hajene Errel will be able to help you out with that information.
Nick is doubting that more and more.
Wise Snake: If you have any more specific questions, I can try to answer those for you as well.
Jetty considers.
Jetty: Well, while we're on the subject of Gens...
Jetty: What is donating like for them, anyway?
Jaquey doesn't want to open her mouth cause she will look stupid next to Jetty.
Jetty has never been allowed to talk to a real Gen long enough to find out.
Eliza: Donation isn't much like anything. Transfer is good.
Eliza: Just having your field taken down by a channel, you really don't feel anything, well, you shouldn't.
Wise Snake: Yeah. Many Simes, because transfer is so important to them, don't realize just how ho-hum donating is for Gens.
Wise Snake: It's kind of like, well, when you go to the doctor's and he hits your knee with that little hammer.
Wise Snake: Something happens by magic but you don't feel how or why... and it's done.
Jetty imagines a hammer impacting on Gen flesh, and blanches.
Wise Snake realizes Jetty is an idiot.
Eliza blinks, having never been hit with a hammer. She doesn't think she would like that at all.
Wise Snake realizes she is surrounded by idiots.
Wise Snake sighs.
Wise Snake: Hasn't anybody ever tested your reflexes using a little rubber hammer?
Jetty shakes his head.
Wise Snake: Save me from the culturally illiterate. [under her breath]
Jetty: Why would hitting someone with a hammer help their reflexes?
Eliza shakes her head too.
Jetty: Unless you're testing to see if they can run away in time?
Wise Snake: I didn't say 'help', I said 'test'.
Wise Snake wonders plaintively if nobody has any intelligent questions for her.
Wise Snake: Look... it was an analogy.
Wise Snake: I'll think of a different one.
Wise Snake: Have you ever had dandruff?
Jetty: No, my mother made me wash my hair three times a week.
Jetty: But Jaquey has it.
Eliza was about to admit to having had lice once, but decided not to in time.
Jaquey: I do not!
Jaquey: ~ embarrassed ~
Wise Snake: Eliza, why don't you talk to the kiddies for a while. I have to go for a walk.
Wise Snake would hate to slap such innocent young things out of simple frustration.
Nick stands quickly, not eager to be left behind.
Wise Snake gets up and walks out the front door.
Nick stays glued to her side until they are safely out of the building.
Eliza: Shall we go get something to eat? You have been sitting still so long it will do you good to move around a bit.
Nick: Is there some rule that everyone in a Sime Center lobby is stark raving mad?
Jetty is as easily distracted as any First Year Sime, and jumps to his feet.
Wise Snake: I have never seen First Year Simes so stupid and incurious.
Jetty: Sure! I want....
Wise Snake: Do you think it is something in the water around here?
Jetty's voice trails off as he realizes that his favorite foods are now poisonous to him.
Nick frowns.
Nick: Perhaps. I've never seen a channel less interested in working than Errel. Not even Bum Bum, really.
Wise Snake: Maybe Fise. But he had a neurological condition.
Jetty: Well, I'm sure there will be something.
Wise Snake: I am not so sure about that Donor of his, either.
Eliza leads them into the kitchen.
Nick: And Errel's healthy? I mean, aside from the concussion?
Linn and Bum Bum are just finishing their sandwiches.
Bum Bum is still standing about 1/2" away from Linn.
Wise Snake: Well, I wasn't paying that much attention.
Eliza hesitates at the door of the kitchen, a big, industrial sized room, which unfortunately contains Bumanuel and Linn.
Eliza: Oh, hello. I just brought the kids down for something to eat.
Nick: Oh? What's the matter with Sosu Bralz?
Bum Bum, who had just decided to put some "moves" on Linn, grinds his teeth, then smiles.
Bum Bum: That would be nice, Eliza.
Bum Bum: Don't you think so, Linn?
Bum Bum: ~~waaah!~~
Linn: Of course. There's sandwiches, if you want to make them, and fruit in the bowl there.
Wise Snake: I haven't seen a Donor with a worse attention span since leaving Bender Cove.
Eliza look at Bumanuel, uncertain that inflicting him on the kids is a good idea.
Nick: ~~ surprise ~~
Wise Snake: And I am not convinced that I ever saw her do anything resembling trained field control.
Nick: Worse than Linn and Eliza?
Wise Snake: Umm... well, maybe not that bad. But pretty bad.
Wise Snake: At least they try.
Wise Snake: She didn't even seem to realize she was supposed to be doing anything.
Eliza gives up as the kids push past her to raid the cupboards.
Nick is struck by Eliza... er, by an idea.
Eliza: Now be careful what you eat!
Nick: Do you think...?
Nick: No, that would be too much of a coincidence.
Wise Snake looks at Nick.
Wise Snake: What?
Bum Bum slips his hand into Linn's, wrapping his tentacles around.
Bum Bum: What do you say we... slip out to the back porch for a little while?
Nick: Could they be as... unofficial... as we are? Passing as Tecton to get a nice, comfortable place to work?
Eliza: Make sure you only have foods that are for Simes. No Melach, that says "Gen" on the label, see?
Linn winces as her toes are trampled.
Linn: Perhaps we should.
Eliza: Yes Jetty - you can have that, well, maybe not the whole box at once, well okay then.
Wise Snake: Humh.
Eliza sighs and wishes she was sitting somewhere quiet with her "Way of the Nager" book.
Wise Snake: Well, the odds are against it, but I suppose it's possible.
Wise Snake: Do you suppose neither of them works at all and those client records we found were all bogus?
Wise Snake: That might explain why we found so many people requiring Sime Center services on the road.
Nick considers.
Nick: Errel's secondary system isn't in dormancy, is it?
Wise Snake: No.
Wise Snake: Not so you'd notice, anyway. [qualifies]
Nick: Well, then, he must do some work, to avoid entran.
Bum Bum slips out the back door, drawing Linn with him.
Linn sighs as the noise is shut off by the door.
Wise Snake: Do you suppose that that temporary team that rotates in has been doing most of the transfers and donations?
Linn: It's easy to forget how much... energy... youngsters have, when you haven't been around them for a while.
Nick: Hmm, it would be there on the records. Even if they doctored the information on who performed the functionals, they couldn't do much with the actual dates on which service was provided.
Wise Snake: Yeah. Plus the handwriting would be all wrong.
Bum Bum sits down with her on a small swing on the back porch.
Bum Bum: Does that energy... wear you out, or exhilarate you?
Bum Bum zlins her to find out.
Linn nudges the floor with one foot, setting the swing into motion.
Linn: Both.
Bum Bum smiles.
Linn: It's addictive, you know. Teaching.
Bum Bum: Is it?
Bum Bum picks up her hand and kisses it, tenderly.
Bum Bum: Because you love to shape their minds, or because they are like children of your own?
Linn: I can't tell you how many times I swore in the spring that I'd never enter a classroom again.
Linn: But by the time the summer was over, I was more than ready to go back.
Nick: Perhaps we should check over the records more closely?
Bum Bum takes her other hand and kisses them both, caressing her forearms and the undersides of the palms with gentle tentacles.
Wise Snake: Yeah, let's.
Wise Snake: It shouldn't take long, there are only about 200 files.
Nick: Shenned Tecton paperwork.
Nick follows Snake into the lobby, however, well aware of the importance of the question.
Wise Snake sees that the lobby is deserted save for Tanzarra and her young Gen audience.
Wise Snake ignores them and goes over to the files, starts pulling them out.
Linn allows Bum Bum's caresses, remembering what Snake had told her about how channels see their Companions.
Nick accepts part of the stack and starts going through it.
Bum Bum allows his touch to travel softly up her arms, to her shoulders, then raises his eyes to look fully into hers.
Linn: Children... They're the future, not yet shaped by the past or the presence.
Bum Bum: ~~~~I deeply care for you as a person~~~~
Bum Bum: [in the manly sense]
Jaquey kneels up on a stool by the window and watches the two on the porch.
Bum Bum: They mean a lot to you, don't they?
Jaquey is glad an opportunity came so soon.
Linn: I do miss teaching.
Eliza makes herself a cup of trin and sits at the table to watch the kids eat.
Bum Bum's palms cup Linn's face.
Bum Bum studies her eyes, really looking at them.
Linn looks at Bum Bum calmly, but without any particular sexual desire.
Bum Bum strokes her hair, then sighs and sits back.
Bum Bum: ~disappointed~
Bum Bum wishes they were in a big city instead of the sticks... he's much more used to dealing with hookers, strumpets, wenches and harlots than prim schoolteacherly types.
Linn: Is something wrong, Bum Bum?
Linn: ~~ support ~~
Bum Bum: I just... [looks at her furtively]
Jaquey munches on her sandwich, enrapt by the scene outside.
Bum Bum: I was hoping you'd give me a chance to show you how much I care about you.
Bum Bum: You know... before it's too late.
Bum Bum: ...in the month.
Linn sighs.
Bum Bum manages to look slightly embarrassed, although shen knows he has no actual shame in that area.
Linn: Bum Bum, I like you well enough, but you're not....
Linn tries to find a tactful way to say, "you're not Verile."
Linn: Well, let's just say that I already have an... attachment.
Bum Bum's eyes widen.
Bum Bum tries to imagine who it could possibly be.
Bum Bum: Not Nick!
Linn: No, of course not. What gave you that idea?
Bum Bum: Er... he's the only other male in the party?
Bum Bum: I mean, except for... er....
Linn laughs.
Linn: Griff's still very much a child, Bum Bum.
Linn: And he's far too interested in... er, "guts".
Bum Bum: Well if it isn't them, who is it?
Bum Bum is very much jealous.
Linn: A lady never kisses and tells.
Linn: ~~ primly proper ~~
Bum Bum: What!!
Bum Bum: ~upset~
Linn: It would be rude.
Linn: ~~ soothing ~~
Bum Bum: But I'm your channel!
Bum Bum: You can't even tell me?
Bum Bum calms down somewhat with Linn's efforts.
Linn: No, not unless there's a good reason. And I'm afraid curiosity -- or jealousy -- doesn't qualify.
Bum Bum: But I....
Bum Bum: ~helpless~
Bum Bum: Maybe I'm too late, then.
Bum Bum: ~despair~
Linn: Bum Bum, you don't have to be my lover to be my channel... or my friend.
Bum Bum looks up at her in obvious hope.
Bum Bum: Do you really mean that?
Linn isn't 100% sure he's optimal in those roles, either, but depressed channels aren't fun to work with.
Linn: Of course I do.
Bum Bum zlins for truth.
Linn keeps firmly in mind that the question was hypothetical.
Linn: ~~ truth ~~
Bum Bum zlins a qualified truth.
Bum Bum: Oh.
Bum Bum thinks that knowing she wants him to believe it is better than some of the alternatives.
Linn smiles at Bum Bum.
Bum Bum tries to look more cheerful.
Bum Bum: Well, you can't blame me for trying. [attempt at humor]
Linn is willing to give Bum Bum a chance, as channel and friend.
Linn: Of course not.
Linn figures guys are guys; the only difference with the Sime ones is that for two weeks of each month, they think with their laterals instead.
Bum Bum: I guess this wasn't anywhere near as educational as some might have hoped.
Bum Bum indicates the window where Jaquey has been watching.
Linn glances towards their audience.
Linn: I'm sure she'll pick it up eventually; she seems a willing student.
Bum Bum: Shall we go for a walk down that little lane?
Bum Bum indicates a country lane leading into a field of towering grass and mixed wildflowers.
Linn: Why not? We could both use the fresh air.
Bum Bum stands and offers Linn his arm.
Linn brings the swing to a halt and stands.
Linn rests a cool hand on Bum Bum's arm.
Bum Bum and Linn walk off down the lane and disappear from sight.
Jaquey pulls her head back from the window, dissatisfied.
see note 1
Wise Snake goes off in search of Errel.
Errel is checking the forms for the man with the gun shot wound.
Errel: My my my. This won't do, not at all!
Errel checks that the wound is healing on schedule and returns to refile the erroneous form.
Wise Snake: Ah... there you are.
Wise Snake, who had been coming from the direction of the file cabinets, catches Errel.
Wise Snake: Might I have a word with you for a moment?
Errel cringes away, before remembering who he is and pulling himself up to his full 5'3".
Errel: Certainly, come into my office. Errr no, my office is full. Well, what was it you wanted?
Errel: ~ officious ~
Wise Snake zlins Errel to determine how much of a workout his Secondary has been getting lately.
Wise Snake, being a Farris, is either unaware that zlinning people that deeply openly is considered rude, or else assumes it doesn't apply to her.
Errel: ~ not really entran - just a tad stale ~
Errel glares at her. "When you are quite finished!"
Wise Snake: Unmmh.
Wise Snake: Yes, about your clientele.
Eliza sends the kids outside to augment about a bit and cleans up the kitchen after them.
Wise Snake: The numbers seem a bit... low.
Errel: ~ slumps ~
Errel: Tell me about it. I think I was sent here as punishment or something.
Errel: We have a population of over 700 but less than 10% use the Center!
Errel: And I have not been told to find out why not.
Errel: And we don't have a large junct ~ distaste ~ population.
Wise Snake is not surprised; juncts are all but unheard of.
Errel: I have no idea what's happening. I've only been here two weeks, no one will talk to me.
Tanzarra thinks that the kids have learned enough for one session and sends them off.
Errel: I had thought, for awhile, that you and your group might be the reason.
Wise Snake: Us?
Wise Snake: ~perplexed~
Wise Snake: I brought everybody I found to you.
Wise Snake: Most of them were just wandering around aimlessly not getting anything done with their injuries, etc.
Errel: Until I saw the wear and tear on your horses. Yes, that was another point in your favor.
Errel sighs.
Errel: No doubt it will all come clear, eventually.
Wise Snake: You say you've only been here two weeks?
Tanzarra goes to see how Eliza went with the Simes.
Errel: Two weeks, 5 days, 4 hours and [stops and thinks] 35 minutes.
Errel: And that is two weeks, 5 days, 4 hours and 35 minutes too long, let me tell you.
Eliza finishes the dishes and stacks them away.
Wise Snake: How much do you know about the previous channel?
Errel: Carmikel? Not much. He was only here for a little while also.
Tanzarra enters the kitchen to see Eliza finishing up the dishes.
Wise Snake: Ah.
Tanzarra: How did it go then?
Errel: This place seems to have a quick turn over. They never leave us here long enough to do any good. ~glumly ~
Wise Snake: Well, one of the simpler possibilities is that the people travel out of the area for their basic channelling services.
Eliza: Zarra, sit down, I'll get you some tea.
Eliza: ~ support ~
Wise Snake: I happen to know that Carmikel was last stationed within an easy ride of here.
Eliza: Oh they are lively. I've sent them outside to wear off some of that energy.
Errel: He was?
Tanzarra: Yes, tea would be nice.
Eliza pours out some tea and puts it on the table.
Wise Snake: Yes. I just saw him in, er, [tries to remember the name of the shenned town]
Eliza looks to see how Tanzarra handled working with the new gens by herself.
Wise Snake: Well anyway.
Tanzarra: Mmm, this smells good.
Tanzarra sips at her tea.
Eliza: Yes, it's not bad. Better then the stuff we had at Vortez Lake.
Terl stands at the doorway and watches the young Simes racing around and envies them.
Errel: Did you want me for anything else then?
Errel: ~ impatient to be done with the lot of them ~
Wise Snake: None of the people we ran into along the road seemed adverse to going to this Sime Center. Maybe a simple educational campaign is all that's required.
Wise Snake zlins Errel carefully.
Tanzarra: I'm sure I wasn't as inquisitive as those kids were when I was their age.
Wise Snake: Well, there is also the matter of your Donor.
Errel: Yes yes, thank you for your interest. My Donor? What's wrong with her? ~ alarmed ~
Wise Snake: Do you mean, aside from the fact that she would appear to be totally incompetent?
Wise Snake: Is she even Tecton trained?
Eliza: How were the Gens?
Errel: ~ glum ~
Errel: I think she is punishment for something I did too.
Errel: Yes, she is Tecton trained - about 40 years ago!
Wise Snake looks around at the dismal lobby.
Wise Snake: Just what did you do to deserve all this?
Errel: I think she has forgotten everything.
Errel leans against a wall to support it.
Tanzarra: They were fine.
Errel: Well, lets put it this way. Never ever go near the Controller's wife when you are post.
Wise Snake winces.
Tanzarra: Terl's still a little upset that he's not Sime, but he got on well with some of the others.
Wise Snake: The District Controller?
Errel nods.
Wise Snake: I assume you didn't know who she was?
Errel: I swear I never touched her!
Wise Snake can't imagine anybody crossing Arat on purpose. 2
Errel: I just sort of... and she zlinned it....
Wise Snake shakes her head.
Wise Snake: And here you are.
Errel: And here I am.
Errel sighs.
Wise Snake: Well, I don't envy you the position.
Wise Snake: Hopefully you can make something of it.
Errel: At least it's quiet... most of the time.
Wise Snake resolves not to get entangled in this the way she did in Vortez Lake.
Wise Snake: Ummmh.
Errel: If only there wasn't so much shendoni paperwork!
Wise Snake: Yes. Well, I think we'll be leaving now.
Errel: When did you say you were leaving?
Errel: Oh good.
Errel: I mean, oh, ummm good.
Wise Snake firmly sets aside the alluring mystery of why nobody is going to this Sime Center when it's so close.
Wise Snake shrugs.
Wise Snake goes to collect the others.
Wise Snake: Eliza, Tanzarra, I think we'll hit the road while we're still ahead of the game.
Eliza puts a hand supportively on Tanzarra's shoulder.
Tanzarra: So soon?
Eliza: We aren't staying?
Eliza: ~ disappointed ~
Wise Snake looks around.
Wise Snake: There isn't any work here. And if we stuck around to figure out why, we could end up stuck here as long as we were in Vortez Lake... or worse.
Wise Snake: Possibly with no work at all.
Wise Snake personally is not keen on death by entran complications any time in the next week.
Eliza: Would you like some tea first? I just made it.
Wise Snake looks at the tea.
Wise Snake: All right.
Eliza: ~ nice tea ~
Wise Snake reluctantly sits.
Eliza pours Snake a mug of cha.
Tanzarra: Well at least we won't have as many people with us this time.
Eliza: We still taking those twins to the Household?
Terl thinks he might just enjoy being here instead of home after all.
Wise Snake: Oh yeah, it'll take us a day or so to recover our backtrack, then we will continue on to the Householding.
Eliza: Do you think we might stay at the Householding for awhile? ~ wistful ~
Wise Snake glances at Eliza.
Wise Snake: Maybe... let's see what it's like first, though, OK?
Eliza: Yes, Snake.
Wise Snake knows from experience that some Householdings are gnarly.
Tanzarra finishes her tea and takes the cup to the sink to rinse it.
Wise Snake sips her tea cautiously.
Eliza: We'll go get the horses ready then?
Neffy comes bounding into the kitchen.
Wise Snake: All right.
Neffy: Oh sorry! Just need a drink of water!
Neffy is all red in the face, sweaty and puffed.
Wise Snake winces at her language.
Tanzarra: Well, hello Neffy.
Tanzarra smiles at her use of the word.
Neffy bounces over to the sink and gets some water.
Wise Snake: We'll be leaving in a few minutes, Neffy. Can you and your brother meet us at the stables?
Wise Snake looks around.
Neffy's face drops.
Neffy: Already?
Wise Snake: Has anybody seen Linn and Bum Bum?
Neffy: We are playing....
Eliza: Yes, they went out the back a while ago.
Wise Snake: Yes, Neffy. This was just a little rest stop. You'll be able to play as much as you want when you get to Naros.
Tanzarra: I can go look for them if you like?
Wise Snake thinks that may or may not be true, but oh well.
Wise Snake glances at Tanzarra.
Wise Snake: Sure. Thank you.
Neffy was having so much fun playing with the other kids. She thinks she is going to like being gen after all. It makes one soooo popular!
Eliza gets up to go with Zarra.
Neffy: I'll tell Nully then.
Wise Snake: Great. Thanks.
Neffy doesn't think that Nully will be pleased. He seems to be the "boss" and is enjoying it.
Tanzarra goes with Eliza to fetch Bum Bum and Linn.
Tanzarra: You know Eliza, this is getting to be a habit.
Wise Snake collects Nick and heads to the stables to prepare.
Neffy leaves a little more sedately then she entered.
Eliza: What is?
Wise Snake has already completely refreshed her medical kit (so far as it can be) and Tanzarra's and Bum Bum's as well, and filled her pockets with a few useful pharmaceuticals Nick doesn't know about.
Tanzarra: Me chasing after Bumanuel.
Eliza gasps, then realises that Tanzarra didn't mean that the way it sounded, but actually in a literal sense.
Tanzarra looks quizzically at Eliza.
Tanzarra: What?
Eliza: I thought you meant, like you know, chasing after him.
Eliza giggles.
Tanzarra: Oh, Well not like the first time I met him, no.
Eliza: What!
Tanzarra: When he was kidnapping you?
Tanzarra thinks surely she couldn't forget that.
Eliza: Oh I see! No, I didn't mean that! I meant like in - well romantically!
Tanzarra: ~~Ewwwww ~~
Tanzarra shudders.
Eliza giggles again.
Tanzarra: Uhh, no, no.
Tanzarra: Stop that.
Eliza: Well, he can be kind of cute when he is all cleaned up!
Eliza: Like the first time I met him. He saved me from a traffic accident and bought me tea and scones.
Eliza: He was wearing this sort of suit outfit [actually he looked like a pimp but Eliza didn't know that] and looked sort of nice.
Tanzarra is thinking that this is more information than she requires, but listens quietly.
Eliza: Maybe you should think of him a bit more like that.
Eliza read in a book about coital depravation.
Tanzarra: Uh well I don't know about that.
Eliza wonders if it's her job, as a companion, to make sure that Tanzarra doesn't die of coital depravation.
Tanzarra hasn't thought much like that about anyone for quite some time.
Eliza will have to read that chapter again.
Eliza realises that Bumanuel might be in danger too - so that will kill two birds with one stone.
Eliza: ~ neat ~
Eliza will have to talk to him about it.
Tanzarra tries to zlin what Eliza is so chuffed about.
Eliza: ~ it's a secret ~
Tanzarra: What are you so pleased about?
Eliza: What? Oh nothing.
Eliza: I wonder where they have gone to.
Tanzarra: Mmmm.
Eliza wonders if maybe Linn is stopping Bumanuel from dying of CD.
Eliza hopes not.
Tanzarra frowns at Eliza.
Tanzarra: What is on your mind?
Eliza giggles at the thought of it.
Eliza: I hope we aren't going to interrupt - anything!
Tanzarra thinks that maybe Eliza is jealous of Linn being with Bum Bum.
Tanzarra: Well, we''ll find out when we find them.
Eliza: Can you zlin him around?
Tanzarra: Not yet, but I'm sure they aren't too far away.
Eliza: He is post, you realize.
Tanzarra: Yes I realize that.
Tanzarra isn't sure that she wants to find them now.
Eliza: I wonder if that is why Snake wanted us to go get them?
Eliza: You know - to stop them....
Tanzarra: I don't know.
Tanzarra: Let's just find them and not worry too much about what they may or may not be up to.
Eliza: OK.
Eliza: Hey look! An apple tree - and it has apples on it!
Eliza runs over towards it.
Tanzarra follows at an easy pace.
Tanzarra: Don't take too long, I don't think Snake will appreciate having to wait while we pick apples.
Eliza: I'll just get some to take with us.
Eliza shimmies up the tree.
Branch creaks alarmingly
Tanzarra: ~~ panics ~~
Tanzarra: Get down now!
Eliza walks out along a branch, reaching up to pick some forgotten apples.
Eliza: In a minute!
Tanzarra: NOW!
Eliza picks a apple and throws it to Tanzarra.
Eliza: Here, I'll throw them down, you catch them.
Tanzarra catches the apple and tosses it aside while staying underneath Eliza.
Eliza picks another and throws it in the channel's general direction.
Eliza: Hey! Zlin over there. I think I can see them.
Tanzarra: Will you get down now!
Eliza is relieved to see that they seem to be fully clothed.
Tanzarra can't concentrate on anything else while Eliza is in the tree.
Bum Bum leaves Linn behind as he hurries toward Eliza and Tanzarra, zlinning Tanzarra's panic.
Tanzarra: Get down before the branch breaks.
Bum Bum knows what would happen to him if he let either of them get into danger while he knew it was happening.
Eliza throws down a few more then hangs off the branch.
Bum Bum augments into the clearing.
Eliza lets go of the branch and drops to the ground.
Tanzarra: ~~ frantic with worry ~~
Bum Bum zlins a panicking Tanzarra, an oblivious Eliza, and a very weak branch.
Bum Bum leaps at Eliza.
Eliza: What's the matter Zarra?
Eliza brushes her hands together to get the bark off them.
Tanzarra breaks out in a sweat as she reaches for Eliza.
Eliza screams as something leaps at her at high speed.
Bum Bum catches the branch as it almost falls on her.
Eliza: Shen!
Bum Bum continues his leap into a nearby shrubbery and disappears from view.
Bum Bum: [along with the apple bough]
Tanzarra grabs Eliza's arm and screams. "Soli!"
Eliza falls forward into Tanzarra's arms.
Eliza: What the hell was that!
Tanzarra is in too much confusion to say anything and just holds onto Eliza.
Bum Bum: No, no, I'm all right.
Bum Bum: ~sarcasm~
Bum Bum's muffled voice can be heard from somewhere inside a big pile of brush.
Eliza: Bumanuel?
Eliza wiggles to get out of Tanzarra's grip.
Eliza: Zarra, let me go! Bumanuel might be hurt!
Bum Bum: [there is the sound of rustling and Bum Bum emerges from the shrubbery rear-end first]
Tanzarra zlins Bum Bum and snaps out of it and races to where he is buried by the branch.
Eliza: Are you okay Bumanuel? What did you do that for?
Tanzarra: Are you all right?
Bum Bum: Yes, I think so.
Bum Bum is gratified by their concern.
Eliza grabs him by the seat of his pants and pulls him out.
Bum Bum: Aigh!
Bum Bum is dragged the rest of the way out.
Bum Bum: Ah... thank you, Eliza.
Bum Bum stands up and brushes himself off.
Eliza helps him brush off.
Bum Bum looks like he's been dragged backwards through a hedge, but is otherwise all right.
Eliza: Are you OK? Are you mad?
Tanzarra zlins him to make sure he is all right.
Bum Bum: ~~scratches and bruises, but nothing serious... also a hell of an adrenaline rush~~
Bum Bum: Mad? Me? No.
Bum Bum glances at Tanzarra.
Eliza: You could have been hurt.
Bum Bum doesn't like what he zlins.
Bum Bum: You'd better ask her.
Eliza is amazed that he would risk himself for her after they had had transfer.
Eliza: ~ gratefully surprised ~
Bum Bum: Eliza....
Bum Bum points at Tanzarra.
Bum Bum: You're welcome, but,
Tanzarra is gradually calming down after her panic.
Tanzarra: I'm sorry Bumanuel, I hope my field didn't effect you too much.
Bum Bum is amazed they are showing so much concern for him.
Bum Bum: It's nothing, really.
Bum Bum: I'm more worried about you. You were pretty freaked out there.
Bum Bum: And didn't you call her Soli?
Tanzarra: I did?
Tanzarra thinks back and realizes she did.
Eliza: Yes, you have done that several times actually.
Eliza: I didn't want to mention it.
Bum Bum: Probably don't want that little tidbit to get back to Snake's ears.
Tanzarra: Oh.
Eliza: Why not?
Eliza: ~ confused ~
Tanzarra: I'm sorry.
Eliza brushes a few apple leaves out of her hair.
Bum Bum: She'll leave you on channel's transfer until you're old and gray.
Bum Bum is speaking from exaggerated personal experience.
Bum Bum: Speaking of which....
Bum Bum looks around nervously.
Bum Bum: I have to go fetch Linn.
Bum Bum: I ran off without saying anything when I zlinned you....
Eliza: Oh! Yes, I wanted to ask you something too.
Tanzarra: Bumanuel, Snake wants to leave and is preparing the horses. And no, I will probably mention it to Snake.
Bum Bum looks at them.
Eliza: About colltel, coitol, coitel? Depravation. Did I say it right?
Tanzarra has no idea what Snake will say about it, though.
Bum Bum: Coital Depravation??
Bum Bum has never heard of it but it sounds like something a kinky guy like him could catch.
Eliza: Yes.
Bum Bum: Don't you mean Coital Deprivation?
Eliza: Is it a worry?
Bum Bum: For me?!!
Eliza: Do I?
Eliza: ~ confused ~
Bum Bum: Of course not!
Eliza: Well, yes, and Tanzarra.
Bum Bum: Er... [glances to Tanzarra]
Tanzarra shakes her head.
Tanzarra: No, it's a condition that you wouldn't want.
Bum Bum: Rest assured, I get plenty of exercise in that area. At least when we are not out in the sticks.
Eliza: I read that channels get it when they don't get .. errr. coital... errrr ... intercourse.
Eliza blushes.
Bum Bum: If you so desire, I could arrange for several dozen ladies in as many towns, who could attest to the truth of my words.
Tanzarra blushes as well.
Bum Bum: But I am grateful for your concern.
Bum Bum bows slightly.
Eliza: I was thinking more about Tanzarra.
Eliza mumbles.
Bum Bum: Ah.
Tanzarra: I don't think that is at all necessary, I think Eliza was just concerned with your wellbeing.
Tanzarra looks at Eliza and really blushes.
Bum Bum: And yours as well, it seems.
Bum Bum: [straightens]
Eliza starts to think that being a Companion is hard work.
Eliza: [what with worrying if they are getting enough sleep, enough food, enough....]
Tanzarra: Umm... Um. Can we get going now?
Bum Bum considers Tanzarra objectively.
Eliza digs a hole in the ground with a toe.
Bum Bum decides that he could take her or leave her.
Bum Bum: I have to go find Linn, she's probably in a panic by now.
Eliza would like to see that, she has never seen Linn panic.
Tanzarra: All right, we'll meet you at the barn.
Eliza: Oh, okay. Well, think about what I said?
Bum Bum: Errr... sure.
Bum Bum turns and walks back in the direction he'd leaped from.
Eliza follows Tanzarra to the stables.
Tanzarra turns and heads back to the barn, trying to work out what had just happened with Eliza in the tree and then talk of Coital Deprivation.
Tanzarra remembers the last time she was that close to an apple tree and shudders.
Notes:
1) Some time, perhaps a half hour, passes between these two scenes. [return]
2) Arat Farris, a character from Kaas Baichtal's unpublished fan fiction "Undertow". Mentioned here with permission. [return]