Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #82: The Father of Our Householding (9/13/98)
Ruby has given up waiting for the Tecton to pick her up. It seems no one wants her.
Emerald knocks at Ruby's bedroom door with hot milk toast.
Emerald: Ruby? Ruby, you can't stay in bed again all day today! Ruby?
Ruby ignores her mother in the hopes that she will just go away.
Wise Snake rides in the front gates, looking fried after a long night of cat-burgling houses in the town.
Wise Snake is ecstatic though... she is without entran symptoms for the first time in over a week.
Wise Snake returns the borrowed horse to the stable and gives him into the hands of one of the stable workers.
Emerald sighs, leaves the tray outside the door and heads back to the sewing room.
Wise Snake treks across the Householding toward the guest cottage, hoping Nick isn't awake yet.
Ruby rolls over and attempts to die in her sleep.
Wise Snake zlins the hint of a miserable nager nearby.
Wise Snake wonders if this person requires any medical assistance.
Wise Snake has not had much luck picking up serious work within the Householding, but at this point is crazy enough to grasp at anything.
Wise Snake heads in that direction.
Wise Snake follows the teasing bits of nager until she locates its source... a Gen in a second-story room of one of the larger houses.
Wise Snake recognizes Ruby's nager.
Wise Snake stands looking up at the window.
Wise Snake raises her hands to zlin but is unable to determine whether there is actually anything physically wrong with the Donor, though the house's interference.
Wise Snake inspects the house for suitable railings, pipes, gutters, vines, etc. for climbing.
Emerald starts working on the new outfit that Riyyh ordered.
Wise Snake decides the heck with climbing up the outside like a thief, after all she's a guest here.
Wise Snake goes up and signals at the front door.
Emerald jumps, narrowly missing pricking her finger with a needle.
Emerald: Yes! Coming!
Emerald scurries to the front door and opens it.
Wise Snake smoothes back her hair.
Emerald: Yes? Can I help you?
Emerald realises that this must be one of the strangers that everyone is talking about.
Emerald: [that is, when they aren't talking about Ruby leaving and the lack of an heir for Riyyh]
Wise Snake appears to be a mangy, semi-insane, cut, scraped and bruised, dusty from climbing in other people's attics, white-eyed and black-haired, channel type.
Emerald: Oh dear, were you looking for the infirmary?
Emerald wonders what dreadful disfiguring disease this person has, and whether it's contagious.
Wise Snake is so obsessed with getting more work that she has trouble getting her tongue unstuck.
Emerald backs nervously away and wonders if it's a mental disorder.
Wise Snake finally says, "May I see Ruby, please?"
Emerald hesitates.
Emerald: I'm afraid that my daughter is somewhat disposed at the moment. If you would like to - come in - and have a seat I'll see if she will see you.
Emerald indicates a rather hard hall stand chair just inside the door.
Emerald has heard that one should be polite to Farris's, but she has also heard... other, stranger things.
Wise Snake looks at the chair.
Wise Snake: Thank you.
Wise Snake starts fidgeting impatiently.
Emerald runs, errr, hurries elegantly up the stairs back to Ruby's door.
Emerald: Ruby? Ruby - there is someone here for you. Ruby? It's that Farris channel person. Ruby?
Ruby sighs heavily.
Wise Snake walks past the hard chair into the living room.
Ruby: What does she want?
Wise Snake locates a nice, soft couch and lounges on it.
Wise Snake hasn't had a wink of sleep, of course.
Emerald: I don't know, dear - she wants to talk to you. Shall I tell her to go away?
Ruby considers it.
Ruby: No, better not. I'll see her. Tell her I'll be down in a second.
Emerald: All right, dear.
Emerald heads back down the stairs
Emerald: She will be down... [sees that there is no Farris sitting on the hall stand chair]
Emerald checks the porch and what she can see of the street.
Emerald: Oh, she must have decided not to wait.
Wise Snake digs through her pockets and inspects some things she picked up while in town, that Nick wouldn't know about yet.
Emerald decides not to tell Ruby yet. It will get the girl out of her room at least!
Emerald shuts the door and heads back to the sewing room through the lounge room.
Emerald: ~~ SHRIEK!!!! ~~ "SHRIEK!!!!!!!!"
Emerald almost drops dead from fright as she sees a strange figure on her lounge.
Wise Snake jumps up like a scalded cat (OK she moves like Emerald sounds)
Emerald: Oh my goodness!
Wise Snake: ~panic~
Ruby: Mother!!!!
Ruby: ~ shock/ fear ~
Wise Snake sees it's only Emerald and collapses back onto the couch, clutching her chest.
Ruby pulls open the bedroom door and flies down the stairs to the lounge.
Ruby runs into the lounge room, wearing only the skimpiest of night attire, and over to her mother's side.
Emerald falls back into another chair and fans her face, saying "oh, my goodness" over and over again.
Ruby: Mother! Mother!
Ruby whirls onto Snake.
Ruby: What did you do to my mother!
Ruby: ~ threat, outrage ~
Wise Snake finally manages to recover from the effect Emerald's scream and nager had on her heart and nager.
Wise Snake: What did I do to her?
Wise Snake: Shedoni.
Wise Snake pushes herself up.
Wise Snake: I'm going to bed.
Emerald: Oh Oh Oh. I'm all right.
Wise Snake makes her way toward the front door.
Emerald: It's all right, dear. Just a shock.
Ruby looks confused.
Ruby: Fine. I didn't ask you to come here after all. You asked to see me!
Ruby: [to Emerald] I'll get you some tea, Mother, just you rest there.
Wise Snake: Only because I thought you might require assistance.
Wise Snake: Now, I don't want to know.
Wise Snake locates the front door and drags it open.
Ruby: Require assistance? What on earth would I require assistance for?
Ruby issues a strong nageric command, the sort that she was use to using on Riyyh to make him do what she wanted him to do.
Ruby: [just because it has suited her to be a scatterbrain for the last 10 or so years doesn't mean that she never learnt anything at all]
Wise Snake, hit from behind by Ruby's command, loses her grip on the doorknob and falls flat on her face on the porch.
Wise Snake: Aargh!
Ruby blinks. It never had that effect on Riyyh.
Ruby: My goodness, are you all right?
Ruby rushes over and helps Snake to her feet.
Wise Snake blinks several times.
Wise Snake lets Ruby help her up, mostly because she doesn't realize it's happening.
Ruby: Mum, come help me get her to a chair!
Emerald goes over and tentatively takes Snake's other arm.
Ruby guides Snake back onto the lounge.
Wise Snake: I didn't realize it was going to be this sort of morning or I never would have got out of bed. [disconnectedly]
Wise Snake of course had never even seen her bed that night, but that's beside the point.
Ruby offers ~soothing support ~
Ruby: What happened?
Wise Snake's teeth rattle as Ruby tries to mesh with her field.
Wise Snake: I... I'm all right.
Wise Snake feels her forehead to make sure it's still there.
Wise Snake: Yes, I'm quite all right... you may disengage now.
Ruby: Yes, obviously. That's why you look like something the dog dragged in and collapsed on the porch.
Ruby is trying to get a feel for the channel's field.
Wise Snake: I'm afraid I wasn't expecting your... [realizes "attack" may be impolite but doesn't know what exactly that was supposed to be]... fieldwork.
Ruby: Why don't you relax? You are as taut as a bow string.
Ruby feels relieved to work again. She hadn't realized how much she missed it.
Wise Snake: I'm not surprised.
Ruby: When did you sleep last? When did you eat? When did you wash?
Wise Snake: Yesterday probably. Look... I'm fine.
Ruby: You haven't been taking care of yourself have you?
Ruby rubs Snake's shoulders.
Wise Snake squirms as if Ruby is rubbing her all over with a cheese grater... which she sort of is, nagerically.
Wise Snake sighs.
Wise Snake: Actually, I was.
Wise Snake: I got in a full night of work, which has done me wonders.
Ruby: You need a wash, and some clean clothing, and a hair cut, and something to eat, and some sleep.
Ruby checks the bruising and concentrates on it.
Wise Snake takes on a plaintive look as Ruby's nager intensifies.
Ruby: Mum, can you get Hajene Farris here something nice to wear?
Emerald beams at them both and hurries off to find something pretty.
Wise Snake: Er, weren't you supposed to be leaving Naros? [gasps]
Wise Snake of course has no idea how much trouble she is in with the clothes thing.
Ruby: Ummhmmm.
Ruby is concentrating, but answers around that.
Ruby: No one has turned up to claim me yet, so I'm still here.
Wise Snake: This morning?
Wise Snake: Ahhh....
Wise Snake: Do you think you could... ugggh.
Ruby: Now, come with me and I'll show you where the bathroom is.
Wise Snake: Oh!
Ruby stands up, dragging Snake with her.
Wise Snake finds herself eager to get into the bathroom where Ruby's nager presumably won't be.
Wise Snake follows.
Wise Snake is glad the rules for dragging a Farris safely by the arm aren't that much different from the rules for dragging any other Sime safely by the arm, and Ruby apparently knows how.
Ruby takes Snake into the pink and fluffy bathroom which smells like roses and leads her inside.
Wise Snake sneezes.
Wise Snake: Oh shen....
Ruby turns on the bath and adds some oily looking smelly stuff which foams
Wise Snake sees the oily stuff and blanches.
Wise Snake: You know, maybe I shouldn't....
Ruby stops and looks at Snake.
Ruby: What's wrong?
Wise Snake stares wildly at the bathroom's small, high-set window.
Wise Snake: I'm allergic to everything in here.
Wise Snake starts breaking out in bright red spots.
Wise Snake sneezes again, and something runs out of her nose.
Wise Snake: I have to get out of here!
Ruby blinks and looks at her suspiciously
Wise Snake makes a run for it.
Ruby: ~ stop ~
Wise Snake collapses into the tub.
Wise Snake: [GA-SPLOOSH]
Wise Snake: Help!!
Ruby grabs the neckline of Snake's clothing and pulls her up.
Wise Snake clutches Ruby's arm.
Ruby: You could at least get undressed first!
Wise Snake: ~panic~
Ruby proceeds to remove Snake's wet clothing
Wise Snake starts ripping off her contaminated clothes as fast as she can.
Wise Snake tries to get past Ruby, groping frantically for the knobs of the sink.
Ruby: Now, if you are allergic to the bath oil, you don't have to use it.
Wise Snake now has not only the small red spots, but also big pink lumps and some sort of sunburn like rash.
Ruby reaches past and turns on the shower and pushes a slippery Snake under the jet.
Wise Snake: Ack!!
Ruby: Let's wash all the stuff you are allergic to off.
Wise Snake tries to get thoroughly soaked by the shower water, something which she has little experience at (at least purposely)
Ruby proceeds to hose Snake down.
Ruby: You know, you should see Tictoc about that.
Ruby starts to rub at Snake's hair, doing the best she can without shampoo and getting the little she was wearing thoroughly drenched in the process
Wise Snake: Nick, I promise I'll never leave you anywhere again! [forlorn wail]
Wise Snake clings to the towel rack like a lifeline.
Ruby: There you go. Much better. I'll have to find out what soaps you aren't allergic to.
Ruby hasn't been so cheerful for a long time.
Wise Snake: F-f-f-farris safe [shivering]
Ruby: Let's get you dry.
Emerald walks in with a particularly lovely blue dress with cheerful white flowers with yellow centers.
Emerald: Here we go dear. I think this will fit beautifully.
Ruby fluffs Snake dry with a towel.
Emerald also has some pretty pink underwear for Snake.
Wise Snake's hair turns into a huge black fountain of hair a la 1980's glam heavy metal star.
Wise Snake appears to be in shock and fails to notice the nice dress.
Ruby rubs Snake's hair dry.
Ruby: I think we should either cut this to a shorter, more becoming style, or plait it up out of the way. It really doesn't do anything for you like this.
Ruby: Shall we cut it for you?
Wise Snake shakes her head wordlessly, making a "n" mouth.
Emerald: Oh it would be a pity to cut it! Maybe we could perm it into a style?
Wise Snake's eyes show their whites at the word "perm" and start darting around looking for the exit.
Ruby proceeds to dress Snake, with Emeralds help.
Ruby: Now sit down here in front of the mirror and I'll tie up your hair.
Ruby pushes Snake onto the bathroom chair.
Wise Snake huddles on the chair as if being still will make her less of a target.
Ruby opens a drawer and gets out a comb and some pins and a length of blue ribbon the same color as the dress.
Ruby: Now, while I do your hair why don't you tell me what you wanted to see me about?
Ruby checks the bruises and finds that they are almost invisible now that Snake is squeaky-clean.
Ruby starts to comb the hair gently, being careful not to pull it.
Emerald hovers in the background, then decides to go put the kettle on.
Wise Snake gradually becomes aware that the reflection in front of her is actually of her.
Wise Snake stares at it in increasingly horrified fascination.
Ruby pulls the hair tightly back from the forehead and captures it all in a band at the back.
Ruby proceeds to put in pins wherever stray hair escapes.
Riyyh approaches Emerald and Ruby's house with considerable trepidation.
Ruby: One here, and one here, and one here.
Ruby puts in the ribbon and ties it in a pretty bow.
Riyyh is carrying a small bouquet of flowers.
Riyyh sighs a nervous little sigh.
Riyyh's nerves have been wrecked for days now.
Riyyh looks around, in the entirely useless hope that nobody is witnessing this.
Ruby: There! Now, isn't that better!
Ruby thinks that this Farris channel is actually rather pretty, now that you can see she is female.
Ruby: I wish I had some Farris safe cosmetics. Oh well.
Ruby fluffs out the back of Snake's hair some more. [not that it needs encouraging]
Riyyh swallows his pride and signals.
Wise Snake stares at herself in the mirror, looking white as a sheet.
Wise Snake finally breaks the stare, and looks away.
Wise Snake: I... ah... I have to go.
Wise Snake: Do you think you could... avoid... hitting me with your nager again?
Wise Snake eases up off the chair, very slowly.
Ruby: That depends, are you going to avoid doing anything hasty?
Ruby looks honestly worried.
Ruby: I don't want to hurt you, you know.
Ruby: ~ concern ~
Ruby: I'm sure that if you just relaxed more we could mesh nicely. But you are fighting me all the time.
Ruby: Makes it very difficult!
Wise Snake: I - I - I'm not trying to fight you.
Wise Snake controls her voice.
Wise Snake: I won't do anything hasty.
Wise Snake: I'll just... very smoothly, walk this way.
Wise Snake eases towards the door of the bathroom.
Ruby: You have to go?
Ruby: ~ disappointed ~
Ruby: You can keep the dress if you like.
Riyyh signals again, the flowers and his spirits seeming to droop noticeably with each passing moment.
Emerald heads back to the front door.
Emerald: Yes! Coming coming. [opens door] Oh, it's you.
Wise Snake: I... I'm sorry, I came by just to see if you are all right.
Riyyh cringes.
Emerald sniffs disdainfully.
Emerald: I mean, welcome Sectuib.
Riyyh: Hello, Emerald. I trust you are well?
Emerald: As well as can be expected, thank you Sectuib. Is this a business or a social call?
Riyyh: I... I would like to speak to Ruby, please.
Riyyh is the very image of submissive apology.
Emerald: Ruby is busy with another channel at the moment, I'm afraid.
Riyyh's eyes widen, although he should know better than to react to such obvious baiting.
Emerald: Yes, Hajene Farris seems to have taken quite a liking to her. They are up in the shower now I believe.
Wise Snake manages to get out of the bathroom and then starts walking calmly and not frantically (or hastily) toward the head of the stairs.
Riyyh: Hajene Farris?
Riyyh sighs.
Riyyh knows Ruby has no hope of landing that particular channel.
Emerald: Would you like to wait or leave a message?
Emerald nager shows plainly which she would prefer him to do.
Riyyh: I will wait, thank you.
Riyyh cringes at her nageric implication.
Emerald sniffs and indicates the hall stand chair.
Emerald: Please have a seat.
Riyyh sinks down onto it gratefully.
Riyyh: Thank you.
Emerald will forgive her Sectuib - one day - maybe after he is dead.
Emerald heads back into the kitchen to finish preparing lunch for Ruby and Hajene Farris.
Ruby follows Snake in heavy support.
Wise Snake manages to keep her balance and her feet despite this, but just barely.
Wise Snake keeps her eyes fixed on the newell post and grips the railing as she walks down the rest of the stairs.
Riyyh zlins a familiar nager and looks up.
Riyyh: ~~hope~~
Riyyh is not looking at Snake.
Ruby sees Riyyh at the bottom of the stairs and falters for a moment.
Ruby: Riyyh!
Wise Snake takes her chance and bolts for the front door.
Ruby returns her support to Snake.
Riyyh: Ruby, darling! Please, I must speak with you, I beg you.
Riyyh clutches the flowers.
Ruby looks from one to the other.
Ruby: ~ uncertainty ~
Wise Snake snatches at the door handle and runs out the door.
Ruby: You must? Is it some sort of compulsion?
Wise Snake augments to put a good chunk of air between their nagers.
Riyyh: Ruby, dearest, please. It is of the utmost importance that I speak to you of this.
Riyyh: It is... regarding your... your ultimatum.
Riyyh looks down, radiating shame.
Ruby: I'm not sure that still holds actually.
Ruby examines her nails.
Riyyh: Please let me at least explain why I... why I failed to accept your offer?
Riyyh: I owe you that much, at least.
Ruby: I owe you?
Ruby looks up in shock.
Ruby: I can't see that I owe you anything Riyyh! All my life I have devoted to your care!
Riyyh does his best not to cringe.
Ruby: I OWE YOU?
Ruby: You have to be kidding?
Riyyh: I said I owe you. [whispers]
Ruby: You did?
Ruby: Oh.
Ruby: Well, yes - you do.
Ruby: Go ahead.
Riyyh looks up at Ruby, his face showing how hard their separation has hit him.
Riyyh: When you asked me to marry you, you didn't know everything about my past.
Riyyh: I... I have been asked the same question before.
Riyyh: Sometimes even by women who were... [hesitates]... who were already married.
Riyyh: ~embarrassed~
Riyyh's jaw hardens.
Riyyh: Actually, a lot of times.
Ruby: I don't care about your past. Or I didn't.
Ruby carefully and deliberately keeps her nager away from him.
Ruby sniffs "That is really none of my affair."
Riyyh: One of them was your mother.
Ruby goes red.
Ruby: That's none of my affair either.
Riyyh: And... er... I'm afraid I'm your father.
Ruby: That's none of my WHAT??????!!!!!!!!
Ruby: Mother!!!!!!!!
Riyyh: And your grandfather. [adds]
Ruby: MOTHER!!!!!!!!
Ruby: ~ ARRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH ~
Emerald runs back into the hallway.
Riyyh endures it stoically; after all it doesn't feel any worse than going up and signalling at that door.
Emerald: What! What! What have you done to my daughter?
Ruby: MOTHER!
Ruby: ~ shock ~
Ruby: How could you?
Ruby: How could he? Did Daddy know?
Riyyh stands, looking slightly shamefaced.
Riyyh: [but unbearably cute as always]
Emerald: How could I what? Did Daddy know what?
Emerald: ~ confused ~
Ruby: That that that.....
Ruby: Oh!
Ruby turns and runs sobbing to her bedroom.
Emerald: What! What have you done?
Riyyh: I told her.
Emerald turns on Riyyh like an avenging very small mountain.
Riyyh: I'm sorry, I had to.
Riyyh backs off.
Emerald: Told her what?
Riyyh: Really, Emerald, she is old enough to understand. And she deserved to know the truth.
Riyyh uses his best cajoling voice in self-defense.
Emerald: What is truth? What have you told her!
Riyyh: Well, do you know how she was born 3 weeks late?
Riyyh grimaces.
Riyyh: It was actually 2 weeks early.
Emerald: Don't be an idiot
Riyyh: And, ah,
Riyyh obediently shuts up.
Emerald: She was actually right on time.
Riyyh: All right, Emerald.
Emerald blushes.
Emerald: Is that what you thought?
Emerald: That you are Ruby's father?
Emerald: Why didn't you come and talk to me about this before?
Riyyh: I didn't think it would do anything but cause trouble.
Riyyh actually thought it would cause a lot of other ladies to reconsider who their own kids' fathers were.
Riyyh: Especially considering your moth-
Riyyh decides he'd better steer clear of that.
Riyyh: That is,
Riyyh: I'm sorry, I actually thought you knew.
Riyyh: I... [hesitates]... well, I thought maybe that was part of why you wanted her to be interested in me.
Emerald: Riyyh, you aren't her father. I'm sorry.
Emerald: If you must know, Bob's brother Math is her father.
Riyyh: OK, Emerald.
Emerald blushes.
Emerald: But she doesn't know that, and neither did Bob.
Emerald: I think that Math suspected though.
Riyyh wonders who all Emerald was sleeping with besides Riyyh and Math.
Riyyh: Well, that is a relief. I hadn't wanted to be both her father and her grandfather.
Emerald sighs.
Emerald: Is that what was stopping you marrying her? You poor man.
Riyyh thinks, if only all the others could be resolved so easily.
Emerald: What do you mean grandfather!
Emerald: ~ incensed ~
Riyyh: Well, one must draw the line... ~uh-oh~
Riyyh backs farther away from her, waving his tentacles in a soothing manner.
Riyyh: Emerald, Emerald darling. Please, don't worry yourself.
Riyyh: What's past is past.
Emerald jabs him in the chest with a pointed fingernail.
Emerald: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, GRANDFATHER!
Riyyh's expression changes to that one might wear when being stung by a sudden sandstorm.
Riyyh: [sort of a windswept grimace]
Riyyh: Well, I er, that is,
Emerald: Yes?
Riyyh: You didn't know?
Riyyh tries to look too innocent and cute to maim.
Emerald: You mean....
Emerald: No, it can't be true!
Emerald looks horrified.
Riyyh: Well, you don't have to believe... er....
Riyyh still thinks he's Ruby's father as well, but he's certainly not going to push either issue.
Emerald gets her untrained nager together and does like Ruby taught her.
Emerald: ~ WACK ~
Riyyh staggers back, wearing a look of indescribable surprise.
Riyyh goes hypo to protect himself if another attack comes.
Emerald slaps him across the face.
Emerald recognises hypo when she sees it.
Riyyh gasps for breath.
Riyyh: Emerald!
Emerald: That does it! I'm leaving Naros!
Riyyh: Please, no.
Riyyh: Listen to what you're saying.
Emerald: You lecher! You pervert! You despicable old old man!
Riyyh wishes he hadn't been listening to what she's saying.
Emerald storms out to the porch.
Riyyh: Emerald, please.
Riyyh follows her.
Emerald: OUR SECTUIB IS A PERVERT!!!!!!
Riyyh: Emerald, I beg you, please, you're creating a scene.
Emerald storms back inside and up the stairs.
Riyyh nearly gets run over by Emerald.
Emerald: Ruby?! Pack your bags again - we are leaving!
Riyyh hurries after her.
Riyyh: Emmy... Emmy please. Does this change things so much? We are still all the same people....
Riyyh has unconsciously reverted back to the nickname he used for her back when they were, um,
Emerald shoves him aside and goes into her bedroom and starts pulling clothing out of draws and shoving them into a bag.
Riyyh comes up against a wall and stays there for a moment, unable to believe how horribly wrong his life is going.
Riyyh slowly goes into her room.
Riyyh: Emerald... please. Please let me talk to you.
Riyyh: I'm begging you.
Ruby is quite agreeable to packing and leaving. She doesn't think she could take the shame.
Riyyh tries to speak to her as if she's actually listening to him.
Riyyh: Don't leave now. These are such terrible times.
Emerald fills that bag.
Emerald: I'll send back for the rest.
Riyyh: We all have to hang together, against the outside world.
Emerald: You have made it impossible to stay.
Riyyh: You don't know what it's like out there, Emerald.
Riyyh: Trust me, you wouldn't like it.
Emerald: How can I honor my pledge to you now?
Riyyh's eyes fill with tears at those words.
Riyyh tries to find something like dignity.
Emerald: How can I trust you?
Riyyh: Let me repay it.
Riyyh: Let me prove myself to you once again.
Emerald: I'll go to Bob's family. From there - I don't know.
Emerald: But at least my child and grandchildren will be safe from you!
Emerald: You you you LECH!
Riyyh flinches.
Riyyh: But the outside, Emerald?
Riyyh: You saw what it did to those people visiting us!
Emerald: What other choice have I got? You have already sent off my one and only child.
Riyyh: I'll take her back.
Riyyh: Emerald please, I'll write the Tecton, I'll do whatever it takes.
Riyyh: Don't leave us now!
Emerald: Please Riyyh, just let us go.
Riyyh: Please... please, just... just wait a little while.
Riyyh: Think it over.
Riyyh has unconsciously adopted a begging posture to go with his words.
Emerald: I'll think about it. But I'll think about it after I get to Bob's family.
Emerald: Ruby?! Come on, we are going!
Emerald pushes past Riyyh as she heads towards the stair, hitting him soundly with her bag as she passes and not caring in the least.
Riyyh grabs his arm where the bag hit him and looks after her, stunned by everything that has happened.
Ruby comes out of her room with a bag in each hand and two under her arms. [she hadn't unpacked]
Ruby: Where are we going?
Emerald: To your [hesitates] father's family.
Riyyh looks at Ruby, and feels dead sure, to his core, that Emerald is wrong, that he is Ruby's father.
Riyyh wonders what in the world he had been thinking, 28 years ago.
Riyyh: Ruby... please stay. [whispers]
Riyyh: You don't have to go.
Ruby doesn't even look at him as she leaves the house.
Riyyh stands there looking at what, at this moment, looks like the wreckage of his Householding, or what could easily turn into it.
Mytag whistles up the pathway as he follows peoples instructions as to where he can find Riyyh.
Riyyh looks down at his hands and realizes they are shaking.
Riyyh only now feels the pain from the nageric and physical abuse he just took.
Riyyh: [but it's nothing to the pain of the truth that had just been revealed]
Mytag misses seeing Aunty Emerald and Cousin Ruby taking off at speed in the other direction by only minutes.
Mytag: ~ happy/ relaxed ~
Riyyh turns his hands into fists and starts decisively down the stairs.
Riyyh wipes his eyes and heads for the front door.
Mytag sees Riyyh coming out of Emeralds house and looking stressed. Much as he had expected to find him on coming out of Emerald's house.
Riyyh looks like his whole life is passing before his eyes.
Riyyh: [it is, actually]
Riyyh: [well, at least the adult portion]
Riyyh: ~~haunted/tormented~~
Riyyh: Mytag. [hoarsely]
Riyyh: Shen, I need you.
Riyyh falls into Mytag's arms.
Mytag: Well, that's nice. I'm pleased to see you too.
Mytag lends Riyyh his support both physically and nagerically.
Mytag: Come sit down over here. [leads him to a porch swing]
Mytag: Piss off you lot! [to a group of kids who have gathered to stare]
Riyyh clings to Mytag as if he is about to be swept off the edge of the earth.
Riyyh: It's all over... it's ended.
Riyyh: Three hundred years... what have I done!
Mytag: I'm sure it's not that bad. ~soothing positive ~
Mytag takes Riyyh arms in transfer position, feeling for his pulse as he does.
Riyyh's tentacles grip Mytag desperately.
Riyyh searches Mytag's eyes.
Mytag smiles at him reassuringly.
Riyyh: They say there are no secrets in Naros. But there are... there are! ~haunted~
Mytag's eyes look disturbingly like Ruby's eyes
Riyyh wrenches his eyes away from the reminder, with a shudder.
Mytag: Shuush now, you can tell me all about it later.
Riyyh: Oh, no.
Riyyh realizes he can't tell anybody. Not a single soul.
Mytag: Don't worry about it now.
Mytag is rather worried about Riyyh's physical condition.
Riyyh breaks into a sweat as he realizes if he suppresses this from getting out, he will be breaking his oath as Sectuib.
Mytag: I want to get you to the infirmary. I want Tictoc to check your physical condition.
Riyyh: Yes... yes!
Mytag: Don't worry - I'm not going to leave you alone.
Riyyh: I was just on my way to see her.
Riyyh: I must see her.
Mytag: Can you walk? Do you want me to carry you?
Riyyh: I can walk.
Mytag: OK. Step carefully now, hold my arm.
Riyyh clutches Mytag's arm.
Mytag: ~ support strength ~
Riyyh clings also to Mytag's nager, fearing that it, too, may be lost to him all too soon.
Mytag helps Riyyh across the compound.
Tictoc: There now, that wasn't so bad was it?
Tictoc gives the child a lolly pop and smiles reassuringly at the Mother.
Tictoc: He will be fine, just fine. It's just a mild throat infection, nothing at all to worry about. Bring him back to see me again in three days, unless it gets worse before that. And it shouldn't ~ reassuring ~
Mytag helps Riyyh across the compound towards the infirmary, knowing that the rumours will be flying very shortly.
Riyyh: Shen... oh shen. [under his breath]
Riyyh: This is going to be so big.
Riyyh: No, I have to stay calm.
Riyyh: Stay in control.
Riyyh: That's the only way this is going to work, is if I keep a straight head.
Riyyh takes a deep breath.
Mytag is concerned by Riyyh's mumbling to himself.
Mytag: It will be fine, just fine.
Riyyh's hands and tentacles are cold and clammy.
Riyyh: Yes, yes, of course Mytag.
Riyyh: [habitual response]
Mytag takes him into the infirmary.
Mytag: Get Tictoc - don't just stand there gawking man!
Tictoc jumps as the door slams open and one of her assistances informs her breathlessly that the Sectuib is here with his new companion and looks dreadful - just dreadful!
Tictoc rushes out to where Mytag and Riyyh as making slow process.
Tictoc: Riyyh! By all the gods what happened to you!
Riyyh: Private... we have to get somewhere private.
Tictoc sweeps him up off his feet and carries him into the examination room, there to plonk him down on the bed.
Tictoc takes him into full contact and zlins him.
Mytag stands by close to Riyyh.
Tictoc breaks contact and hurries over to the cabinet to return with a rather large tablet.
Tictoc: Here, put this under your tongue.
Riyyh: Tictoc... I....
Tictoc slips it into his mouth.
Tictoc: Don't talk!
Riyyh lets her insert it.
Tictoc: Just let that dissolve.
Riyyh lets his head fall back.
Riyyh: ~misery~
Tictoc turns to Mytag.
Tictoc: What happened?
Mytag: I'm not sure, he went to talk to Ruby, thought it would be better if he went on his own, you know how he is.
Mytag: I went over to get him, figured he had had enough time to errrr anyway, there he was - like this.
Mytag had really timed it on the basis of "how much of Aunty Emerald's anger can a channel take"
Mytag worries that he may have mistimed it badly
Tictoc: Well his field is in disarray - you can work on that. Physically his blood pressure is way up and he seems to be slightly concussed. Any idea how that would have happened?
Mytag shakes his head. He can't really see Ruby decking Riyyh with anything. She isn't the violent type.
Tictoc: Riyyh? You can talk now, but don't get stressed OK? You are safe here.
Riyyh looks tormented.
Riyyh: Tictoc... Mytag... you are my only hope. I beg of you, please listen to what I say and don't let it pass beyond these walls.
Riyyh: They say that Naros has no secrets, but it's not true.
Tictoc: Hold on then - let me lock the door and close the window.
Tictoc goes over and does that.
Tictoc: Right - we are secure. You can trust us as your doctor and your therapist.
Mytag nods.
Tictoc: ~ support ~
Riyyh: I... Tictoc, about five years ago, before you became the chief of the medical center, I had old Gelif sterilize me. I swear to you this is true, you can test me, you can do anything.
Tictoc: What!
Tictoc: ~ shock ~
Tictoc: [there goes the breeding plans]
Riyyh: But... no wait, please.
Riyyh: Let me tell you the rest, let me tell you now.
Riyyh thinks, or he'll never be able to force himself to do it.
Riyyh: You have no idea how hard this is for me.
Mytag: ~ surprise / support ~
Riyyh: But I am not childless.
Riyyh: I have several children within the Householding.
Riyyh: Their fathers don't know.
Tictoc keeps her face blank.
Tictoc: Oh, I see.
Riyyh: I had to... I had to stop it, I had to end it. That is why.. I asked Gelif....
Mytag nods, he can see how that could happen once or twice.
Riyyh: I wasn't strong enough to turn them down, you see.
Riyyh: I couldn't say no.
Riyyh: ~~deep shame~~
Tictoc: That's rather drastic isn't it? Why didn't you just ah....
Tictoc: Why didn't you marry then?
Riyyh: For years I tried to... shen, all of them??
Riyyh: I'm already their Sectuib.
Tictoc: Couldn't you have married one - and then just errr stopped?
Riyyh closes his eyes, but his nager still betrays his pain.
Riyyh: I... you don't understand, they came to me, they begged me. I couldn't help myself.
Tictoc nods.
Tictoc: Go on.
Riyyh: I needed to be desired.
Riyyh: Shedoni.
Riyyh: Today, two of them found out.
Tictoc: Two of them?
Mytag: Two of them?
Riyyh passes a shaking hand over his brow.
Mytag: Which two?
Riyyh: Emerald and Ruby.
Mytag: ~ curious/ support ~
Riyyh: I'm father to them both.
Mytag: Emerald???!!!!
Mytag: Ruby!!!???
Mytag: ~ horror / wavering support ~
Riyyh goes white with shock.
Tictoc: But that means... oh no!
Riyyh: I know. It is awful, horrible.
Riyyh: ~~self-condemnation~~
Tictoc: How could you put Emerald at risk like that!
Riyyh: She begged me.
Riyyh: He was gone, he was at Capital, remember?
Tictoc: She was your daughter!
Riyyh: For weeks and weeks... and she was desperately lonely.
Riyyh: I couldn't help it! [cries out]
Riyyh: She needed me.
Riyyh: ~anguish~
Mytag: You are talking about Aunty Emerald here aren't you?
Riyyh: She was so beautiful, and so lonely.
Mytag: ~ disbelief / sort of support ~
Tictoc pulls herself back to professionalism.
Riyyh: And she was so loyal to him
Riyyh: Yes, that is what made my heart ache for her.
Tictoc: Did you think that you were improving the species by line breeding or something?
Tictoc: ~ curious ~
Riyyh: Shen, no!
Tictoc: I see.
Tictoc: You had never heard of condoms then?
Riyyh: Of course I have! But they only work a percentage of the time.
Tictoc: Perhaps it was Droit Setuib or something?
Tictoc thinks that they work a good deal better if you actually put them on but refrains from saying anything.
Riyyh thinks Tictoc needn't have worried about his fertility; his lifetime average is stupendously high.
Tictoc: I'll have to get you to tell me who the others are.
Tictoc: I'll need to update their records.
Riyyh: Shen, Tictoc, it's everybody.
Riyyh covers his face with his hands.
Tictoc: I'll get a pen. What do you mean everybody?
Riyyh: ~utter self-abasement~
Riyyh: You... Mytag... your son... everybody. [very quiet voice]
Tictoc: Riyyh, you can't know that.
Tictoc: There are other males around you know.
Tictoc: ~ trying to be reasonable ~
Mytag blinks.
Mytag: Me?
Mytag: ~ shock / trying to support something ~
Riyyh curls over onto his side, trying to curl up into a nonexistent speck.
Mytag: Errrr.
Mytag: ~ stunned ~
Mytag: I have to sit down.
Mytag sits down suddenly.
Tictoc augments to place a chair under Mytag.
Tictoc zlins Mytag to make sure he is going to be okay.
Tictoc: Riyyh, you have no proof that you have fathered every child in Naros in the last 40 years.
Tictoc thinks it's more likely to be a delusion. That as "Sectuib" he also has to be "father"
Riyyh: Neither does anybody else... but if Ruby and Emerald start talking before they leave the walls, all shen is going to break loose.
Tictoc: It's neither reasonable or feasible.
Riyyh pushes himself up, unsteadily.
Riyyh: Tictoc, you have to help me.
Riyyh: ~desperately~
Tictoc: I will. You have to lay down. Mytag, help me.
Riyyh: You know what will happen if people get wind of this... we'll be destroyed.
Tictoc pushes him back on the bed.
Riyyh: Three hundred years of... [grunt]
Riyyh is pushed down against the bed.
Riyyh: Please, listen to me.
Riyyh: I know what I did was wrong.
Riyyh: But it can't be undone now.
Mytag supports him soothingly, pretending that he is a patient and not [choke] his father.
Tictoc: I'm going to give you something to make you sleep.
Riyyh: Oh no... no, I have to think clearly.
Tictoc approaches Riyyh with a tablet and some water.
Tictoc: You will think clearer after you have slept.
Riyyh: It'll be too late then.
Riyyh: ~desperation~
Riyyh: Please.
Tictoc: Take this.
Tictoc: Riyyh, you can either take it voluntarily - or....
Riyyh reaches up with his hand to stop Tictoc's hand with the pill.
Tictoc: It also comes as a suppository.
Tictoc: Mytag....
Mytag: Take it, Riyyh.
Mytag reinforces that nagerically.
Mytag: You know that Tictoc will make you.
Riyyh feels tears of helplessness rise.
Riyyh: Mytag....
Riyyh lets go of Tictoc's hand.
Tictoc hold the tablet to Riyyh's mouth.
Tictoc: Open up.
Riyyh lets her put it in.
Mytag: ~ good Sime ~
Riyyh: ~pain~
Tictoc: Here's some water.
Riyyh lets her give it to him.
Riyyh: It's all over. [whispers]
Tictoc: Naros has survived wars, floods, famine, and disease. It will survive this, Sectuib.
Riyyh's eyes close.
Mytag: Is it true?
Tictoc: I doubt it. It's more likely a delusional need to be the father to his Household.
Tictoc: Oh, I don't doubt that some of it is true.
Tictoc: But I doubt that he is Emerald's father, he was hardly old enough when she was conceived. Although I'd have to check that.
Hero walks right in, since the door wasn't locked.
Hero: Oh!
Hero: I didn't realize it was occupied.
Tictoc: He certainly isn't Morse's father, I was already pregnant with him when I errrr, we....
Hero's eyes grow wide as she sees Riyyh lying seemingly unconscious, and hears Tictoc's last words.
Tictoc: Hero, what can I do for you?
Tictoc was certain that she had locked that door.
Hero: Oh I um I um I....
Tictoc tries not to get flustered.
Hero has light brown hair, like Riyyh did many years ago.
Hero grins, embarrassed.
Hero: Wolfa asked me to send this down.
Mytag moves over to support Tictoc.
Tictoc: I see.
Hero offers Tictoc a parcel.
Tictoc puts her hand out for the parcel.
Hero: Oh, and do you have a moment?
Tictoc had never noticed before how like Hero's hair Wolfa's is.
Hero keeps her voice down so the Sectuib isn't disturbed.
Tictoc: Umm? Oh. Yes! Certainly! Of course.
Tictoc: Perhaps we should move to another room.
Hero glances at the table.
Hero: Oh! Sure.
Tictoc: Mytag, [looks from Riyyh to Mytag] I guess you better stay, no come with me, no stay.
Tictoc: Oh shen, come with me, I'll need you I think.
Tictoc: I'll send someone in to sit with him.
Mytag didn't want to stay with him at the moment anyway.
Hero follows Tictoc and Mytag.
Hero: It's about Nully and Neffy.
Hero: My cousins?
Tictoc drags Hero into another examination room.
Tictoc: Yes?
Tictoc examined the twins when they arrived of course and found nothing wrong with them.
Hero: My dad thinks he may be a Third and she may be Donor material.
Hero: He said... er.. [thinks back] "They damn well better be after all the trouble they've been".
Hero: And something about their mother being a whore.
Hero looks acutely embarrassed.
Hero however knows how to "score points" in the gossip game, even if the others in the room are her superiors.
Hero's dad is supposed to be Nubby, as far as anyone knows.
Hero is too young to be familiar with the circumstances of the twins' mother leaving Naros.
Tiktok: I'm sure I would have noticed, Hero, if Nully had been a channel.
Hero: Oh.
Hero: Well, just passing on the message.
Hero smiles brightly.
Hero: Anything you want me to take over to admin?
Tictoc seems a little remote and otherwise occupied.
Hero glances at Mytag.
Tictoc: Ummm, ask Kres on the way out will you?
Hero: OK.
Mytag just looks glum.
Hero turns and bounces out.
Mytag waits until she is gone.
Mytag: She looks amazingly like Riyyh doesn't she?
Hero stops at Kres's desk and asks why the Sectuib is unconscious on a table with Mytag and Tictoc looking like they just saw ghosts.
Mytag: Really nothing like Nubby at all.
Tictoc: I noticed that. Not that it's proof of course. I mean, light brown hair is rather common, 70% of our people have light brown....
Tictoc fades off into silence.
Kres pokes his head in.
Kres: Everything OK in here?
Tictoc: Not that that proves anything though.
Kres: ~concerned~
Kres has lovely gray eyes, something everybody comments on.
Tictoc: The Sectuib is ill, Kres. Can you get someone high field to go sit with him until I return?
Kres: Ah... very well.
Kres: ~pleased that his gossip-tidbit has been confirmed by a 2nd source~
Tictoc: He will be staying for observation for a week or so.
Kres: Very well.
Kres turns and scurries off to tell all his friends.
Tictoc: Mytag, I guess you are running the ship for awhile.
Mytag: ~ shock ~ "Me????"
Tictoc: You are 1st Companion in Naros at present.
Tictoc: Don't worry about it. Most of the time I'll want you here with Riyyh.
Tictoc: You just have to sign anything Wolfa gives you. She really runs this place anyway.
Mytag still zlins as worried.
Tictoc: Look, we have to hold this together and not let the place fall apart.
Tictoc: Without Ruby, you are the most competent Companion we have. If people zlin that you are calm, they will be calm.
Wise Snake barges into the infirmary's front entry, still looking remarkably clean but with her hair freed of Ruby's snares.
Tictoc: Understand?
Wise Snake: Where is she... where is she??
Mytag nods and arranges his nager to something approaching calm.
Wise Snake: ~bundle of Farris nerves... something to do with losing all her new drugs in Ruby's surprise bath and then Nick not letting her have any more of their old ones~~
Wise Snake follows the pointing fingers until she has barged in on Tictoc and Mytag.
Wise Snake is clutching a copy of the schedule.
Tictoc is shocked as Snake's presence makes itself known, something akin to a steam train making itself known by sneaking up on you.
Wise Snake: Hajene Tictoc, Sosu Mytag.
Wise Snake turns to Tictoc.
Wise Snake: This... this...!
Wise Snake points at the schedule and fights for calm words.
Wise Snake is operating against quite a handicap.
Wise Snake counts to eighteen and starts over.
Wise Snake: Hello, how are you doing?
Wise Snake tries to smile.
Tictoc: Please, have a seat.
Tictoc: How can I help you, Hajene Farris?
Mytag fights for calm.
Wise Snake sits down immediately, not because she wants to but because her mind instinctively interprets the invitation as one more obstacle to overcome in her quest.
Wise Snake: Yes, about this sch.... [pauses]
Wise Snake zlins both Tictoc and Mytag.
Wise Snake: What's wrong!!
Tictoc: ~ professional, calm ~
Tictoc hesitates and decides to tell the guest the official story.
Tictoc: I'm afraid that Sectuib Riyyh is ill.
Mytag nods.
Tictoc: I hope that will not affect your stay with us.
Wise Snake's pale eyes take on a frightening glow that is somewhere between greed, desperation and joy.
Tictoc: Now, how can I help you?
Wise Snake: I am... terribly sorry to hear that.
Wise Snake: Uh... of course, if you require my services in any healing...?
Tictoc nods. "Entran?"
Wise Snake: Yes. [admits]
Wise Snake: And this schedule....
Wise Snake: This is not what your Sectuib promised.
Wise Snake: I got almost nothing.
Tictoc: Obviously as a Farris you are more used to a high workload.
Wise Snake may spend her nights breaking into people's houses and healing them in their sleep, but she is shenned if she'll sit around all day doing nothing.
Wise Snake: Yes, yes and I realize you don't get that much work in here, but isn't there anything you can do for me?
Wise Snake: I'll do anything.
Wise Snake: It doesn't even have to be aboveboard.
Wise Snake's nager contains just a hint of fanatical desperation.
Tictoc: I realise that compared to a busy city Sime Center we may seem quiet... but I assure you that we do get work here.
Wise Snake obviously hopes that this is leadup to an offer of more work.
Wise Snake: Great, great...?
Tictoc: However, as you are no longer working in a City Sime Center I would suggest that instead of making more work for you to keep entran at bay that we lessen the amount of work needed to produce the same effect.
Wise Snake is extremely hyperactive and this is only going to get worse if Nick keeps withholding the drugs.
Wise Snake: What!!
Wise Snake: I mean... oh?
Wise Snake fidgets.
Wise Snake: Can I take a look at the Sectuib?
Wise Snake: Maybe I can help.
Wise Snake: ~voracious~
Wise Snake: He did sort of try to save my life the other day.
Tictoc: No, not at the moment. I have just put him to sleep.
Tictoc: However, I would appreciate your help with his case - later.
Wise Snake takes this disappointment in stride; she'll get her paws on him eventually, in the middle of the night if necessary.
Tictoc takes the schedule and goes over it with a pen.
Wise Snake never seems to stop moving.
Tictoc: In the mean time this, although not up to the level you are probably used to, will help.
Tictoc: I don't want you doing more than this, and I'll give you some tablets to help until we get you stabilized.
Tictoc hesitates.
Tictoc: Perhaps it would be better if you came here for your medication?
Wise Snake snatches back the schedule and reads it avidly.
Wise Snake: Whatever, if you gave them to me Nick would take them and throw them away anyway.
Tictoc goes over to a cabinet and unlocks it. She removes two tablets from a box and relocks the cabinet.
Tictoc: Here, please take one of these now and the other before you go to bed tonight.
Wise Snake: What is it?
Tictoc: Just a mild tranquilizer and pain reliever.
Wise Snake: Yes, but what's in it?
Wise Snake doesn't want to die today, thank you.
Wise Snake: Let me see the ingredients.
Tictoc: It's Farris safe, Hajene Farris. Please believe that I do know what I'm doing in terms of my profession.
Wise Snake looks at Tictoc.
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Tictoc waits patiently.
Wise Snake swallows one of the pills dry and puts the other one in her pocket.
Tictoc: Was there anything else?
Wise Snake: No, no, thank you.
Mytag sits in silent, almost absentminded, support.
Wise Snake: I'll be back in 8 minutes for Thul, Arniss, Teva and [looks at the paper again] Sheva's transfers.
Wise Snake leaves as suddenly as she entered.
Tictoc: If you would pre....
Tictoc: That woman worries me.
Mytag nods.
Mytag: I know, she has that effect on many people. She's a good channel though.
Tictoc: I hope so.
Tictoc: ~ thoughtful ~
Tictoc: You know....
Mytag: What?
Tictoc: Nothing - just thinking.
Tictoc: You had better go and tell Wolfa what's happening.
Tictoc: Although I imagine that she has heard all about it by now!
Mytag stands up.
Mytag: When do you expect him to wake?
Tictoc: Not in under 4 hours.
Mytag: I'll come back then.
Mytag leaves to tell Wolfa and find out what he has to do.
Wise Snake frets, paces, fidgets and paces her way through the longest 8 minutes, out on the green behind the medical building.
Tictoc gets up and goes to check on Riyyh before heading off to the transfer lounge to monitor Hajene Farris's work.
Riyyh is lying where they left him, looking old and discarded.
Wise Snake feels like she has 1000 ideas, actions and visions trying to explode out of her all at once.
Wise Snake has always tries to suppress this, and shape it, and use it in a constructive fashion, but with Nick's meddling everything has gone back to how it was when she first changed over.
Tictoc is considering her case. Damn the Tecton, working channels until they are so use to it that it's physically impossible to stop. It's going to take months of careful managing to get her down to where she can do a reasonable amount of work without entran complications.
Wise Snake: Shen, this is ridiculous.
Wise Snake barges back into the infirmary, 1/2 minute early.
Tictoc: Hajene Farris.
Wise Snake looks around for the renSimes.
Tictoc: Let me show you our transfer area.
Wise Snake concedes it will be necessary to jump through a few more hoops before getting to the work.
Wise Snake follows Tictoc to the transfer area.
Thul walks in, smiling and relaxed.
Wise Snake's body surges with a barely restrained lemme-attim as she zlins a renSime in need.
Wise Snake: Hello, Thul?
Wise Snake advances on him, plainly eager to serve him.
Wise Snake: I'm Hajene Farris. I'll be serving your transfer today. How are you?
Wise Snake: ~~promise~~
Thul looks at Tictoc nervously.
Tictoc smiles reassuringly
Wise Snake suppresses a powerful urge to procure his full attention with a flick of her field.
Wise Snake coaches herself to not jump him.
Tictoc: Hajene Farris is going to be helping while she is staying. I'm afraid that our Sectuib is a bit under the weather at the moment.
Thul flicks back his hair in a charming manner.
Thul: That's nice of you Hajene Farris.
Thul is a little shy of actually having transfer with a Farris.
Wise Snake: Please, it's my pleasure.
Wise Snake ushers him to the transfer lounge.
Wise Snake decides if there's any paperwork, Tictoc will inform her later.
Thul: ~ needy ~
Wise Snake: ~~sharp, burning enticement~~
Thul: ~ needy and nervous about transfer with a stranger ~
Tictoc watches how Snake handles Thul
Thul gasps at the strong enticement.
Wise Snake holds out her hands and allows the ~~deep, savage ache~~ within her manifest itself as ~~deep, savage Gen need~~
Tictoc hesitates, but lets it go.
Thul reaches for the selyn.
Wise Snake greets his touch with ~~spark of electric pleasure~~
Thul: ~ hesitates ~
Wise Snake: ~~yearning/enticement~~
Thul starts to draw quickly, as if he is afraid that someone will jump in and stop him.
Wise Snake: ~~powerful pleasure~~
Wise Snake makes it seem as if it is his draw which is causing the pleasure, teasing it, coaxing it, soaring....
Thul tapers off just as quickly, sated.
Tictoc nods to Thul's Gen sister, who has been waiting for him outside.
Wise Snake wonders why there is no paperwork as she bids Thul adieu.
Wise Snake looks the Gen over and smiles.
Wise Snake: Hello.
Wise Snake: I'm Hajene Farris, I'll be taking your donation today.
Tictoc: Thank you Hajene Farris. If I may just mention a few things before we go onto the next?
Wise Snake: Er... of course.
Wise Snake chafes at the obstacles, but coaches herself to run them or she won't get the prize at the end.
Tictoc: Arniss, if you will just wait outside for a few moments please?
Arniss: Sure, no problem.
Wise Snake's tentacles lick about as the Gen leaves.
Arniss heads out to the lobby to chat with Kres.
Wise Snake tears her eyes away from the work and looks back up at Tictoc.
Tictoc: As you may have heard, Naros is one of the foremost disjunction centers in the area.
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Wise Snake has been hearing about this from Nick and Linn.
Tictoc: We have a large number of junct and disjunct and disjuncting renSimes living here both temporarily and permanently.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake had been hearing about that from Mytag.
Tictoc: I'm sorry I didn't mention this to you before. Fortunately Thul is nonjunct.
Wise Snake fights to suppress any indication that she is insulted by the suggestion she can't tell the difference.
Tictoc: It is much preferable to just offer a strong selyn field rather then a Gen field.
Tictoc: If you offer a field that is Gen flavoured, as it were, it makes the disjunction more difficult - and can lead to rejunct a disjunct Sime.
Tictoc: Of course, with nonjuncts it's a safe practice. Just not one that we follow here.
Wise Snake almost pops a blood vessel, but manages to avoid snapping at Tictoc by a hair's breadth.
Wise Snake: Of course.
Wise Snake: [breathing heavily]
Wise Snake: I will remember.
Tictoc smiles at her.
Wise Snake looks a little crazy.
Tictoc: I'll fetch Arniss for you shall I?
Wise Snake: Yes.
Tictoc is a bit worried about the way the tablet doesn't seem to be working.
Arniss returns to the room with Tictoc.
Tictoc: Arniss, this is Hajene Farris whom I was telling you about.
Wise Snake's eyes track Arniss with a barely-veiled hunger.
Tictoc: Hajene, this is Arniss, Thul's sister and a wonderful seamstress.
Arniss blushes.
Wise Snake: It's very nice to meet you.
Arniss: Yes, pleased to meet you Hajene Farris, it's so nice of you to be helping out while out Sectuib is sick.
Wise Snake hopes to be helping out with the Sectuib himself also, but figures she's reached the point of diminishing returns on mentioning that.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: Please, have a seat.
Wise Snake moves to the correct side of the transfer lounge and offers her the other.
Arniss sits down next to her.
Arniss: the chicken stopped laying.
Tictoc nods.
Arniss: Haven't had a single egg in days.
Wise Snake offers Arniss her hands.
Arniss takes them.
Arniss: Only me dad said to tell you, you see.
Arniss: About the hen.
Tictoc keeps a zlin on Snake to see what she will do about the hen.
Wise Snake: Thank you for letting me know.
Wise Snake: Let your father know you told me.
Arniss nods, satisfied.
Wise Snake makes a mental note of it, then turns her mind to what she really is here for.
Arniss leans forward to make 5th contact.
Wise Snake grips Arniss' arms gently but firmly and begins to draw, starting slowly and increasing the speed until she judges it to be at the higher end of Arniss' natural tolerance without feeling anything.
Arniss looks and feels nothing at all like her brother, interestingly enough.
Arniss sighs happily.
Wise Snake releases Arniss when she's taken all that she feels she can get away with and a bit more.
Wise Snake isn't sure what this House's rules are about gleaning every last bit of selyn, but is sure she's about to find out.
Arniss: That's ok then?
Arniss: About the hen I mean.
Wise Snake nods.
Arniss smiles cheerfully.
Arniss gets up and leaves.
Tictoc: Very good.
Tictoc: She always asks about her hen. I'm sorry I forgot to warn you.
Wise Snake: What is it with the hen?
Tictoc: Well, hers was a difficult birth. I think there may have been some brain damage from lack of oxygen. I'm not sure, it was before my time here.
Tictoc: She has a pet hen and she thinks that, as healers, we are here to fix the hen as well.
Tictoc: So we get a full description of the hen's ills and aliments.
Tictoc: She has brought it in, once or twice.
Wise Snake wishes she'd known about the brain damage in advance so she could have zlinned for it.
Wise Snake: I see.
Tictoc: Now the next, perhaps I should warn you about the next.
Tictoc: Teva is a junct heading towards disjunction.
Tictoc: She is 5 months into her disjunction and is doing very well. So far she hasn't been any trouble.
Tictoc: Mytag has been working with her, as well as Riyyh. She expects Riyyh to be here today.
Tictoc: Perhaps I should handle Teva.
Wise Snake simultaneously manages to look insulted and bereft.
Tictoc hesitates.
Tictoc: I'm sure that there is no real need for me to do that.
Tictoc: However, we might just see how Teva feels about it. It's important that they feel confident in channel transfer.
Wise Snake trembles with indignation and manages to keep her mouth shut only by the finest in Farris willpower.
Wise Snake: Of course.
Wise Snake thinks the town had better watch out tonight.
Tictoc calls Teva in.
Teva comes in and looks nervously at Snake.
Teva: You are the Farris channel aren't you?
Wise Snake looks away from Teva.
Wise Snake: Yes.
Wise Snake knows what Naros' gossip is saying about her... the whole shebang basically.
Wise Snake thinks if there's one person in Naros who doesn't know she passed out from horse pills the other day, that person probably hasn't been awake since last week.
Wise Snake turns and looks at Teva, facing the woman's nervousness, knowing looking at her will only make it worse.
Wise Snake: You may choose whether to take your transfer from myself or Tictoc.
Teva: Oh, I don't mind. I mean, you're a channel, she is a channel, what difference does it make?
Teva doesn't add "as long as it's not a Gen" but her nervousness shows it.
Wise Snake happens to think it makes a good deal of difference, but sees no profit in saying so now.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: Fine. Please, have a seat.
Tictoc nods, satisfied.
Wise Snake moves back over to the channel's side for renSime transfers.
Wise Snake: ~~calm, supportive rock-solid high field... selyn source~~
Teva sits down, her nervousness draining away with the comfort of a safe, high selyn field.
Wise Snake thinks this is too boring and would like to spice it up a bit and thinks Teva would probably like that too, but isn't sure how far she can go with Tictoc sitting right there.
Wise Snake smiles at Teva and offers her arms.
Teva zlins the offering, having gone hyper when she sat down.
Teva reaches hungrily for the selyn and quickly draws.
Wise Snake: ~~ calm/comfort/strength/mesmerizing force~~
Tictoc frowns, but keeps her nager neutral.
Wise Snake follows the curve and peak of Teva's draw, returning ~~glory/exultation~~ at the peak.
Teva closes the draw and breaks the contact.
Teva sighs deeply. "That was very nice - thank you."
Wise Snake smiles.
Wise Snake: It was my pleasure.
Teva: That was like - well - great!
Teva is beaming with pleasure.
Wise Snake's smile deepens.
Tictoc smiles at the two of them.
Teva: I think that was the nicest channel transfer I have ever had.
Wise Snake: Why, thank you.
Wise Snake: I hope you have a good month, then.
Teva: Can I have you again next month please?
Wise Snake: Maybe.
Wise Snake makes it a "We don't promise anything, but I won't say no" kind of "maybe".
Tictoc: Errr, Hajene Snake may not be with us next month, Teva. Don't count on it.
Teva: Oh ~ disappointed ~
Wise Snake isn't sure she likes the term "may not be with us".
Teva: All right. Thanks again. I'm going to tell all my friends about you!
Wise Snake nods and smiles.
Wise Snake: Good bye.
Tictoc: Well, seems like you have a fan.
Tictoc: I'd appreciate it if you cut down on the ~ mesmerizing force ~ though.
Wise Snake: Oh?
Tictoc: Maybe just not so strongly?
Tictoc: ~ gentle request ~
Wise Snake: Well, it's not a real force, it's illusory.
Wise Snake sighs.
Wise Snake: OK.
Wise Snake had worked very hard to develop addictive transfer styles while in Bender Cove, to protect her human "turf".
Tictoc: Thank you. Would you like a break? Some tea maybe?
Wise Snake: I don't require one, but...
Tictoc: I think you should have a break.
Wise Snake really wishes she was pounding through several dozen hardcore renSime transfers right now, at the rate of maybe one every 3 minutes.
Tictoc: The idea is to slowly lesson the amount of work you do at a time.
Wise Snake thinks this sounds utterly loony.
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Wise Snake: Fine.
Wise Snake thinks maybe in addition to going into the town, she'll do some of the Householding too.
Tictoc: I also want you to get at least 4 hours sleep a day, preferably in one session.
Wise Snake: Well, Nick usually manages to see to that.
Tictoc: Yes, I'll need to see your Companion as well. When will he be available?
Wise Snake: Oh, anytime.
Wise Snake: He sleeps at night.
Tictoc nods.
Tictoc: Do you have a dependency with him?
Wise Snake: I'm not sure. There hasn't been anybody else capable of giving me transfer available, to try as an alternate.
Wise Snake: He and I are not particularly close matches, but I have been forced to use him for five months in a row now.
Wise Snake thinks nobody exactly had to twist her arm to do it, either.
Wise Snake: I had another, but we had to leave him behind in Bender Cove.
Tictoc: We don't have anyone available here. Ruby might have been a temporary substitute but she will be gone before you are due. If you like I can arrange to have someone sent for. It's possible we could get someone here for you before your next transfer.
Wise Snake: I'm afraid that my requirements are probably more exotic than the average Tecton high-order Donor can accommodate, and the Farris specialists have all had me once. I do not care to repeat any of those.
Tictoc: Then you are happy setting up a dependency?
Wise Snake: Not really.
Wise Snake: What I'd really like to do is learn for sure whether my other Companion is still alive.
Wise Snake is unaware she just said Companion instead of Donor.
Wise Snake: And if he is not, or if I can't find out, then to try to locate a trainable replacement.
Wise Snake: Well look, if I have to rest, can I get that tea?
Wise Snake is made uncomfortable by this line of discussion.
Wise Snake is fidgeting restlessly about without moving from her seat.
Tictoc: You do some relaxation exercises, I'll get the tea.
Tictoc looks at Snake. "You do know some relaxation exercises, don't you?"
Wise Snake: Of course.
Wise Snake makes her nager go totally relaxed.
Wise Snake's body is still hyperactive, however.
Wise Snake's tentacles fiddle with each other on the arm of the lounge.
Wise Snake's mind is still seething with plans, ambitions, and visions.
Wise Snake: ~dead calm... you could sink boats in this~
Wise Snake jumps up and starts roving around the office, pulling open little drawers and cabinets to see what's inside.
Wise Snake instinctively marks Tictoc's position so she can be seated again by the time the other channel returns with the tea.
Wise Snake looks out the window and sees a panoramic view of most of Naros.
Wise Snake stops, staring at it.
Go on to Episode #83: The Crown of the Rabbit-King
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