Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #8: Linn the Terrible (9/7/98)
Riyyh comes up to the door of the cottage.
Riyyh is wearing his Sectuibly robe and looks quite dignified and benign.
Riyyh signals.
Linn: No, Eliza. You really must brush your hair properly, not do a quick job and hope for later.
Linn goes to answer the door.
Linn: Yes?
Riyyh sees it's Linn.
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh: Hello, Linn. I hope you are enjoying your stay here.
Linn: Well, it's been pleasant to sleep on a real bed again.
Riyyh: Is Hajene Farris in?
Eliza looks in the mirror still stunned from being told that Mostan is in Naros.
Riyyh wonders what Linn means about a real bed.
Eliza isn't sure how to feel, so she is numb.
Linn: I finally talked her into washing up; she'll be out in a moment.
Riyyh wonders what Linn means about talking Snake into washing up.
Riyyh: Thank you.
Linn doesn't add "as soon as she thinks she's done the minimum of washing that will keep me quiet".
Linn: Why don't you come in and wait, if you have time?
Riyyh: Thank you.
Riyyh comes in, looking around curiously.
Linn steps back to allow Riyyh to enter.
Riyyh: Hello. [to Eliza]
Linn: I've been meaning to ask you...?
Riyyh looks attentively at Linn.
Riyyh has cultivated a look of attentive interest that wins many people over.
Linn: Is there some reason why your people have been following me around, every time I leave the cottage?
Riyyh frowns.
Riyyh: Have people been following you? [seems discouraged]
Riyyh: I'm terribly sorry.
Eliza puts the bush back down.
Linn: It seems so. They never intrude, but they're always there, watching me.
Riyyh: I'm afraid that we don't get many outsiders, here, and people do tend to be very curious.
Riyyh: [apologetically]
Linn: It's made my channel Bum Bum... nervous.
Riyyh: Once again, I do apologize if you or any others in your party have been made uncomfortable.
Riyyh: I will be sure to let people know you are not to be disturbed.
Riyyh strives to project the perfect level of kind and gentle cooperativeness.
Linn: Thank you.
Linn fully intends to hold Riyyh to that promise.
Linn hears the shower stop.
Linn: There, now. Snake will be out in a moment.
Riyyh fully intends to go have a word with Mytag about what was presumably his decision to have Linn tailed.
Riyyh had been planning to ask Hajene Farris to restrain the possibly dangerous Linn to the cottage, but had been unaware that Linn had already been at large.
Riyyh: Thank you.
Riyyh frowns again as he zlins there is now nobody in the bathroom; however the door still hasn't opened.
Riyyh covers the frown with a pleasant and patient expression.
Nick looks up as the bathroom window opens and reaches up to help Snake through.
Mytag heads back to admin to start work with Riyyh.
Nick: You know, it really is possible to use the door of a bathroom to exit.
Wise Snake jumps.
Wise Snake: Well, ah, it was more convenient to, er....
Wise Snake smoothes back her hair.
Nick: It's very simple. Just turn the handle and walk out.
Wise Snake looks distinctly chagrined.
Nick looks at the wild tangle.
Wise Snake: Yes, but I was hoping to avoid, that is,
Mytag stops and watches as a figure climbs out a window of a cottage, added by someone below.
Mytag wanders over to see just what they are doing.
Nick removes a comb from his shirt pocket and offers it to Snake.
Wise Snake takes it and looks at it like, 'what am I supposed to do with this?'
Mytag: Can I help... ah, it's you, Wise Snake.
Mytag thinks that explains a lot.
Wise Snake looks up, glad for the distraction.
Nick: You might as well comb it out now while it's wet. Easier that way, and you can't avoid Linn forever.
Mytag: The front door offends you?
Wise Snake: Ah, hello Mytag.
Nick takes the comb back.
Wise Snake: No, no, I just didn't want to alarm the company.
Nick: Here, like this.
Mytag: Company?
Nick demonstrates on the nearest hunk of mane.
Nick doesn't want Linn to think that he's shirking his duty to look after his channel.
Wise Snake tenses up and looks horrified as Nick starts hacking at her hair.
Nick does not neglect, however, to place himself casually between Snake and the other Donor.
Mytag: ~ amused ~
Nick: ~~ calm ~~
Mytag: I'm sorry that the accommodation isn't to your liking.
Nick: What makes you think that?
Nick is genuinely surprised at Mytag's conclusion.
Mytag: I'm almost certain that most people do their hair inside these days.
Mytag: Anyway, I must be off to find the Sectuib.
Wise Snake: He's in there.
Wise Snake points at the cottage, then grimaces as Nick tears through a particularly venerable snarl.
Nick: Snake's never been one of the common throng.
Nick: ~~ pride in his channel ~~
Mytag: He is?
Mytag: And you are out here.....
Mytag draws the obvious conclusion.
Mytag: He really isn't a bad type you know - not at all officious.
Nick: You know, if you did this more often, it wouldn't be such a chore.
Mytag: You don't have to avoid him.
Nick: Oh, Linn will keep him entertained.
Wise Snake: It wasn't him I was trying to... ow!
Nick: She's good at that kind of thing.
Wise Snake 's tentacles wave plaintively.
Wise Snake: Fine, fine, I'll go in.
Wise Snake tries to get away from Nick by heading toward the cottage.
Mytag: I'll come with you then.
Mytag tries not to feel alarmed at the mention of a Simephobe alone with his charge.
Wise Snake struggles off in the direction of the front door with Nick clinging to her and combing madly at her crazy hair.
Riyyh now zlins Snake and Nick and Mytag coming around the front side of the house.
Riyyh records this all in his gossip-storage-space for future reference, but thinks it would be rude to mention how odd this all is.
Riyyh notes that Linn is busy in the kitchen.
Riyyh sighs and gets up and goes to the front door, opening it.
Linn works to assemble a tea tray.
Riyyh: Hello. [to Snake, Nick and Mytag as they approach]
Mytag: Morning Riyyh, how did you sleep?
Linn has still not quite made the transition from housekeeper to Companion.
Linn brings the tea things into the main room.
Linn: There's tea here....
Linn sees Snake and immediately inspects The Hair.
Wise Snake grunts as the Sectuib in Naros appears at the front door.
Wise Snake: I think that's enough, Nick. [fending off the comb]
Riyyh: Very well, thank you, Mytag.
Riyyh actually didn't sleep a wink, but he's not about to say that in front of his guests.
Riyyh: And yourself?
Mytag gently and professionally enfolds him in his nager and keeps an eye on Linn.
Nick decides that a simple grunt isn't the most polite greeting for a Sectuib who is loaning one a guest cottage.
Riyyh looks noticeably relieved as Mytag's nager touches his.
Nick: We're very grateful for your hospitality, Sectuib Riyyh.
Riyyh smiles at Nick.
Mytag: Fine fine. I hope our guests had a restful night?
Riyyh starts to respond, but stops as Mytag takes charge... again.
Riyyh wonders if this is a Tecton thing he picked up in Bender Cove.
Riyyh: I certainly hope so.
Riyyh: Hajene Farris, Sosu Nick, did you sleep well?
Nick: Quite well.
Wise Snake looks around, ignoring Riyyh.
Wise Snake: Linn, where is Bum Bum?
Linn passes tea around.
Linn: He left by the back door just before Sectuib Riyyh arrived.
Linn: Said he wanted a little privacy.
Wise Snake: He wanted privacy from you?
Wise Snake frowns; that doesn't sound like Bum Bum.
Mytag: Bum Bum? I don't think I have met him yet.
Linn: He said it was only polite that I greet Sectuib Riyyh, since you were in the shower.
Wise Snake: What?
Wise Snake thinks this is making less and less sense with every passing moment.
Riyyh glances at Mytag.
Wise Snake: Well, go find him. He shouldn't be running around without you. If he wants privacy he can do it indoors.
Linn looks at Riyyh.
Linn: I think you make him nervous.
Riyyh looks genuinely surprised.
Riyyh: I?
Linn: I offered to go with him, but he doesn't like to be watched.
Riyyh laughs a little, obviously taken aback.
Linn: Yes, you. Most other channels make him nervous, I think.
Linn: Particularly Firsts.
Riyyh wishes he didn't keep finding himself in these situations nobody warned him were going to happen.
Mytag: Why would that be?
Riyyh: I see, well, please let dear Hajene Bum Bum know I am perfectly harmless, and would be glad to meet him some day.
Riyyh sighs as Mytag jumps with the question.
Riyyh thinks he hasn't quite been in control ever since the thing with Ruby happened.
Riyyh wonders if the sailboat-shaped paperweight damaged his leadership ability when it gouged into his shoulder.
Riyyh: Oh dear. [to himself, with another sigh]
Linn looks to Snake, unwilling to admit to this stranger that Bum Bum is junct.
Wise Snake meets Linn's eyes.
Wise Snake: Go look after your channel. You should not have let him leave alone.
Wise Snake is not concerned with how this looks to their hosts; she is more concerned with the sort of trouble Bum Bum could get into without Linn, loose in a Householding.
Linn leaves in search of her channel.
Teckla is a junct renSime who has been living at Naros for his disjunction. He is no where near crisis yet and has had 3 totally satisfactory transfers, two with Riyyh.
Riyyh: Ah... oh dear.
Riyyh turns to Snake.
Nick: What's the matter, Sectuib Riyyh?
Riyyh: As eager as I was to learn how you are enjoying your stay here, I did also have some business to discuss." [admits]
Teckla is heading down to the infirmary for his daily checkup with Tictoc when he zlins a Gen heading his way. As he has been instructed he changes direction to avoid her.
Mytag isn't terribly pleased at the sight of Linn leaving by herself.
Wise Snake: Oh?
Nick: Oh?
Linn sees a passing renSime and decides to ask him if he's seen Bum Bum.
Wise Snake had some business to discuss too... for one thing, she would like to get onto their channel rotation and get rid of the not so nice entran she's packing.
Linn: Excuse me...
Wise Snake in fact had had that on her mind when she climbed out of the window.
Teckla: ~ nervous ~
Teckla takes a step back. "Yes?"
Linn closes the distance so that she won't have to raise her voice.
Linn: I'm looking for a channel.
Nick: What business is that?
Teckla tries to keep in mind what Tictoc has said, that Gens aren't dangerous in themselves.
Teckla swallows.
Riyyh: Ah, yes. Well, it is regarding your Sosu Linn.
Riyyh assumed Linn was a Donor because of her large field and the way she handled it.
Nick: Is something wrong, Mytag?
Teckla: You are? [carefully not zlinning]
Linn: Yes. He's about so tall, about five years past changeover...?
Riyyh: Mytag came to me last night and expressed some concerns regarding an incident which occurred at the Bender Cove Sime Center.
Riyyh: He recommended that... [slightly embarrassed, but firm]
Nick looks at Mytag for further details.
Riyyh: He recommended that caution be applied to her interface with the Householding.
Riyyh is getting pretty shenned frustrated by Nick's consistently ignoring him and looking to Mytag.
Mytag lets Riyyh do the talking.
Riyyh however manages to maintain a smooth and friendly, if somewhat apologetic, appearance.
Teckla: I'm sorry - I haven't seen him.
Teckla takes another step backwards.
Riyyh: Would it be at all possible for Linn, who I hold in highest esteem and wish only the best for, to be, er, encouraged to remain within these cabins for the duration of your stay?
Nick thinks that this sort of thing might be easier to settle Gen to Gen, without the channels.
Nick: I'm not sure that's practical, actually. Not if she's to look after Bum Bum properly.
Nick: Speaking of looking after channels...
Teckla: Was that all?
Teckla: ~ longing to flee ~
Nick: We were wondering if you and your staff could use some assistance in your infirmary?
Linn tries to think where Bum Bum might have wandered.
Teckla heads down to the infirmary at double speed.
Linn's knowledge of channel's habits is pretty much limited to Snake's endless quest for work.
Linn decides to check the infirmary, just in case Bum Bum decided to pick up some work.
Linn doesn't think that Naros has a brothel, or she would have tried it first.
Riyyh: Er....
Riyyh isn't used to people brushing off his requests so easily.
Riyyh: I'm terribly sorry. I would be pleased to discuss that with you just as soon as we resolve this issue of Linn.
Nick: Or if the infirmary isn't busy, perhaps you have an opening in your Collectorium or Dispensary?
Nick: ~~ polite firmness ~~
Nick: Linn has a channel to look after, and must be able to go where he goes.
Nick takes a step closer to Riyyh, increasing the influence of his nager that much more.
Mytag: Last time I met her Linn was a Simephobe - now you say she is looking after a channel?
Mytag: A channel that we haven't yet met, at that?
Mytag steps towards Nick threateningly.
Nick: Yes. She's been working with Bum Bum for over a month, now.
Mytag: I also would appreciate it if you learnt some manners.
Nick gives Mytag a "my nager is bigger than your nager, and some other important parts of me are bigger than yours, too" look.
Mytag knows that Nick can out-nager him, but if it comes to that he could probably beat him to a pulp and throw away the pulp.
Mytag: Sectuib, I'd suggest that the next step is to meet this Bum Bum.
Mytag doubts that too.
Wise Snake looks on in some disgust.
Riyyh tries to appeal to the silent Snake.
Riyyh: Can we talk about this reasonably? [pleads]
Linn pokes her head into the infirmary to check for Bum Bum.
Mytag would enjoy discussing this in person with Nick - preferably out of zlinning range.
Nick: What's unreasonable about a Companion being allowed to assist her channel?
Nick: How much help could Mytag be to you if he couldn't leave his rooms?
Nick thinks any channel should know that much.
Mytag: How much help can a Simephobe be to a channel in the first place?
Mytag really wants to meet the elusive Bum Bum.
Nick: Linn is Bum Bum's Companion. The only one he's got, or is likely to get. And she's been doing a fine job of assisting him.
Riyyh: Please... let us not argue. Both of you, please.
Riyyh casts another helpless look in Snake's direction.
Mytag calms down and looks at his Sectuib, shamefaced.
Nick realizes that perhaps he's been a bit hasty.
Nick: Look, I can see that you're concerned about Linn, but she really has made a great deal of progress, or Snake wouldn't be training her as a Donor.
Nick looks to Snake for confirmation.
Wise Snake studies Mytag.
Wise Snake: Just what incident were you referring to?
Riyyh looks like he is about to collapse with relief.
Riyyh sidles toward the couch in the hopes everybody will take the hint and sit down like civilized beings.
Mytag: Back at Bender Cove. I believe she was actually being treated for her phobia there wasn't she?
Mytag: It's a big step from Simephobe to Companion.
Nick gestures for Mytag to support his channel, and makes the ambient ~~ soothing ~~
Wise Snake regards Mytag with that expression she usually reserves for, well, actually she uses it quite a bit on people who are being offensive while also telling the truth.
Mytag ignores Nick as he obviously can't zlin the support he is already and constantly gives Riyyh.
Wise Snake: While it is true that Linn had to overcome some problems to learn to work with channels, it is also true that the circumstances at the Bender Cove Sime Center were rarely what they seemed.
Mytag concedes this point.
Wise Snake: Linn's "Simephobia" was simply the result of having witnessed many First Kills and murders firsthand.
Wise Snake: Her fear was compounded by the fact that the Sime Center staff failed to adequately inform her she had been signed up for Simephobia therapy, which consisted largely of trying to frighten her silly.
Wise Snake: Linn has made great progress. I would suggest you interview her yourself, perhaps with some Simes around to zlin for you, and make a determination based on her current condition rather than that of several months ago.
Mytag sighs and sits down next to Riyyh.
Nick wishes that he had the Farris Charisma, and could be so convincing.
Nick looks at his channel's drying mane, and concedes that there are some disadvantages that come with being a Farris.
Nick: Linn says that you decided she was hysterical on the subject of Simes when she claimed to have been attacked in the Sime Center lobby?
Mytag: Something like that.
Nick: Did it ever occur to you that she was telling the absolute truth? That she actually had been stalked, several times, in the lobby?
Mytag: That really wasn't the concern at the time.
Mytag: Preventing another attack was.
Nick: Look, Snake is right. You should talk to Linn, and see for yourself how much she's changed.
Riyyh offers tentatively, "Do you think you could possibly have her come back here and stay here... with her channel, if you like... until we can speak with her? It shouldn't be any longer than a few hours."
Riyyh: We do disjunctions here and there are junct renSimes.
Riyyh: I hope you can understand our concerns.
Riyyh tries to appear reasonable and open.
Nick: I expect she'll be returning here, once she's found Bum Bum.
Riyyh sighs.
Riyyh: I'm sorry, but I must insist.
Riyyh hates being forced to insist.
Riyyh: It is only for a short time, until we can speak to her.
Riyyh: Please?
Riyyh looks between Nick and Snake.
Nick concedes the decision to Snake.
Wise Snake shrugs.
Wise Snake: Nick, go fetch them.
Wise Snake: It's not that big a deal.
Nick decides that Riyyh and Mytag aren't likely to harm Snake, and that cooperation will be more likely to win Snake a place on the work schedule.
Nick nods and leaves.
Mytag keeps the ambient as smooth as possible considering the awkwardness of the situation.
Riyyh relaxes a little as the uptight Donor leaves.
Riyyh: [not because Nick had been affecting the ambient, but because of the social unpleasantness]
Wise Snake continues to regard Riyyh and Mytag with a semi-detached expression.
Mytag: How are you coping with entran while on the road Snake?
Riyyh: Ah yes, you had mentioned something about getting on our work schedule?
Wise Snake: It hasn't been pleasant. I've picked up work where I've been able to find it.
Wise Snake has simplified the matter rather than describing the weeks of desperation, scrabbling for anything and everything, and even deliberately causing calamities, all in order to stave off dangerous entran.
Mytag waits for Riyyh to offer Snake work.
Riyyh: Well, of course you are welcome to work, although I'm afraid you'll find the quantity available lower than you're used to.
Riyyh: I shall go see to the scheduling at once, then send someone to fetch you with the details. Will that be satisfactory?
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: Great, thanks.
Wise Snake thinks that there has to be some way to get more work... maybe that town down below.
Riyyh: And your other channels, Bum Bum and Tanzarra? [he has learned everybody's names through the rumor mill by now]
Wise Snake: They're fine for now. I'll let you know if that changes, however.
Wise Snake: Thank you.
Mytag: Snake, maybe you should know... Mostan is here, and Eliza knows about it.
Wise Snake looks faintly surprised.
Wise Snake: I see.
Wise Snake: Well, I think she is over wanting to run away with him.
Mytag feels a bit awkward about that.
Wise Snake: But I will have a word with her about it.
Wise Snake: Thank you.
Mytag nods.
Riyyh stands.
Riyyh: Thank you so much for your understanding and cooperation. I will send somebody out with your work schedule, and to show you the infirmary, just as soon as I have the schedule completed.
Mytag stands to follow Riyyh
Wise Snake watches them leave. After the door is closed, she shakes her head.