Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #15: Bloodthirsty (9/17/98)
Wise Snake strides out of the infirmary, into a screaming mob of people.
Nick sticks close to Snake as the juncts guarding the infirmary part to let them through.
Soouvra: Where is he?
Hero: Ohh!!!
Hero flies toward them
Soouvra: He owes me an apology, he does!
Hero: They won't let me in, oh can you guys let me in??
Hero clutches at Nick's arm.
Soouvra elbows several others aside to present her case more personally
Hero is a very young Gen, Donor to Wolfa.
Wise Snake: Excuse me.
Nick: Your concerns will be met. Please let us through.
Wise Snake: ~~ not to be messed with ~~
Hero: Oh, you have to get them to let me in there.
Hero: Please? I am just dying to see if, to, will you let me in?
Hero continues to cling to Nick.
Shefra throws a basketload of eggs at the door, barely missing Snake, Nick and Linn with the rain of projectiles.
Soouvra: Just when is he planning to come out, anyway?
Nick skids on raw egg.
Nick 's hands flail, hitting Hero.
Wise Snake: Sectuib Riyyh will be making a public address in the Assembly hall later today. [loudly enough for everyone around them to hear, barely]
Wise Snake: How about if you go home and wait until then.
Hero: Ow!!
Hero manages to avoid broadcasting her pain and surprise to all the juncts, but only barely.
Hero: Ohmigod!!
Hero clings to Nick, trying to keep him from falling over, even though she's half his size.
Nick sways dangerously.
Wise Snake: Why don't you go home and wait for it. [shouts]
Soouvra: Public address?
Wise Snake: ~~~~You're all being ridiculous, let's be adults here, go home~~~~~
Soouvra: Some things should be said in private, at least among decent people.
Wise Snake: Well, consider the circumstances.
Wise Snake: This involves all of you.
Wise Snake thinks, regrettably.
Soouvra: Yes, let's!
Soouvra: My daughter has three dozen half sister and half brothers!
Wise Snake keeps walking, as she sees that people are starting to cluster around them and she hopes to draw the people away from the infirmary and toward the admin building where somebody had better be feverishly setting up her new office.
Soouvra: How's she going to find a husband, that's what I want to know!
Wise Snake: Only three dozen?
Wise Snake: You're doing pretty good, then.
Soouvra considers.
Soouvra: No, probably more than that.
Wise Snake: Come with me, it's much quieter over in the admin building, I can barely hear you.
Wise Snake: [shouting]
Hero: What's going on in there? [asks Nick]
Hero: Is he OK?
Soouvra: The two-timing lorsh owes me an explanation.
Hero has a massive crush on the Sectuib.
Nick: I'm sure you'll hear all about it when he addresses the House later on.
Hero: Yeah, but,
Nick: You will be informed as soon as the arrangements have been made.
Hero: But my channel is his assistant!!
Hero: I mean, she's like his right hand.
Soouvra clutches at Snake.
Hero considers that if Riyyh had used his own right hand, he wouldn't be in so much trouble.
Soouvra: It's a disgrace, that's what it is.
Wise Snake: Yes, he does, and that's the reason for the public address.
Wise Snake: He's got to explain to everybody.
Wise Snake tries to avoid being grabbed in a sensitive spot.
Wise Snake: ~~~please unhand me, I am very important and not very stable~~~
Nick looks behind him, and notes that the crowd has followed him and Snake away from the door.
Wise Snake: You know, maybe you should write down some questions you might want to ask, so that when people ask questions you'll be ready?
Soouvra: Oh, I know what questions I want him to answer.
Soouvra: ~~ grim ~~
Wise Snake: I'm sure everybody else will want to know the same answers.
Wise Snake: In fact, why don't you tell me.
Wise Snake: Do you have time for that now?
Soouvra: You bet your Donor I do.
Wise Snake is already scratched up and her clothes tattered from people's hands grabbing at her.
Wise Snake: Great. Er, [stops and turns around at the door of the admin building]
Wise Snake: All right, listen up everybody. [yelling loud enough to be heard, with nageric reinforcement]
Wise Snake: I'll be taking complaints, and noting down your concerns and problems, so if you can all be a little patient, I'll get to each of you as soon as possible.
Footley: Who the hell are you!!!
Nick checks the crowd out, trying to determine if they're falling for Snake's officious manner.
Tenro: Where have you been, Footie, hiding under a rock?
Mob shout and shove each other in general annoyance.
Soouvra: Hajene Snake is far too busy to waste time bringing the likes of you up to date.
Soouvra displays a proper Narosian attitude for those who don't bother to keep themselves informed.
Wise Snake: I promise I'll try to do this as efficiently as poss... now, take it easy on each other here. You guys aren't the enemy, right?
Nick is not sure of that.
Wise Snake: I'm going to take ah, this lady right here in first, and then the next person, and so on, so just hold your horses and we'll get everything handled.
Wise Snake: Where's Linn?
Wise Snake looks about in concern.
Wise Snake lost track of her somewhere near the junct front line.
Anthy: See here, that man seduced my wife. Three times, minimum.
Fetny: He gave me his baby, only he didn't tell me he done it all those other times too!!!
Nick uses his Gen height to advantage.
Nick: Ah, she's over there.
Nick's eyes widen.
Nick: And she's covered with raw eggs and rotten rutabaga.
Nick: ~~ uh-oh ~~
Linn finds herself pushed back and forth, unable to push through or escape the crowd.
Linn: Please, just let me.... Excuse me, would you.... Ow!
Wise Snake: Nick, would you please take this lady in and find some sort of office or whatever to do this in? I'll be right there.
Nick: All right.
Zoltz: Hey, wait your turn townie!
Zoltz: Just because you rode in with her doesn't mean you rate special attention!
Nick escorts Soouvra towards the admin building, breathing easier as the rest of the crowd follows Snake.
Zoltz stops and gives Linn a closer look, realizing she must have tumbled to Riyyh's attention pretty quickly if she already has a grievance against him after such a short stay.
Linn: All I want is to get out of this crowd! Now let me by.
Wise Snake: There's a Gen in the back, she's my assistant, would somebody please let her in? This will go much more smoothly.
Linn looks like a raw rutabaga omelet.
Deliare: Come here honey, I'll help you through.
Deliare wraps his tentacles around Linn's arm.
Deliare: [grimacing at the squelching sensation]
Linn: What?
Linn takes a moment to process Deliare's offer.
Linn: Oh, thank you.
Deliare pushes and shoves through to the front of the crowd.
Deliare: I hope this means I'm next. [to Snake]
Nick makes his escape into the admin building with Soouvra, and looks around for whoever's in charge.
Linn is panting after being dragged through the mob.
Wise Snake zlins Linn, as best as possible in mob conditions and with no Companion to shield her.
Wise Snake: [can we say, sensory overload?]
Nick settles for grabbing the nearest two renSimes and ~~ordering~~ them to prepare Snake's new office immediately.
Linn has various bruises and well-trampled toes, but is otherwise reasonably okay.
Nick then directs Soouvra to start a line by the office door, and ducks back outside in search of Snake.
Wise Snake: Linn, do you think you can handle taking down these people's names and bringing them in to me one at a time?
Linn looks at the crowd.
Linn: Well, if I stand at the door I can manage, if they don't rush me.
Nick makes his way back to Snake's side.
Wise Snake: Linn, you know how to keep a calm nager. Just do that, and the ones nearest you will keep their heads.
Linn: The Gens too?
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Linn hadn't heard that Gens were susceptible to nageric tricks.
Wise Snake sighs, having forgotten that Linn wouldn't be able to simply fend those off physically.
Wise Snake: OK I'll find somebody to help you with those.
Wise Snake: Hey.. you. [to Deliare]
Wise Snake: Thanks a lot for helping me out, I really appreciate it. Hey, can you help Linn here keep all these people in order? Great.
Wise Snake disappears inside.
Deliare: Huh!?
Deliare lifts a finger, sees Snake is already gone, then looks at Linn in disbelief and annoyance.
Linn: I'm to be taking names so that Snake can talking to everybody in order.
Deliare: ~irate~
Linn: But I can't do that if I'm mobbed.
Deliare: Yeah well, I didn't sign up for...
Linn does the best she can to offer a soothing nager without calculations, which would have been too complicated in such a cluttered ambient anyway.
Deliare mutters the end of the sentence.
Deliare: I guess it won't murder me.
Deliare: [concedes]
Nick breaths a sigh of relief as the door closes behind them.
Nick: That was pretty bad.
Nick: ~~ soothing/calm/centered ~~
Wise Snake strides down the hall.
Wise Snake: Where are we going?
Nick indicates to the door guarded by Soouvra.
Wise Snake leans on Nick's helpful nager.
Wise Snake: Great.
Soouvra: There you are!
Wise Snake goes into the office and, ignoring its other contents, flops down at the desk.
Wise Snake: Please, have a seat.
Wise Snake: Now, I understand you have a grievance against Sectuib Riyyh.
Soouvra sits in front of the desk officiously.
Soouvra: ~~ righteous wrath ~~
Soouvra: I certainly do!
Wise Snake carefully doesn't zlin any more than she has to.
Soouvra: He told me that I was special, one of kind, and that he just had to make an exception and spend time with me.
Wise Snake: Ummmh.
Soouvra: He even got me pregnant, and made me swear not to tell how it happened!
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Wise Snake zlins the lie.
Wise Snake: Errr, well,
Soouvra: He promised me nobody would ever know, particularly not my husband.
Wise Snake nods. "I see."
Soouvra: Now Anthy won't even believe the other two kids are his!
Wise Snake notes Soouvra has skipped over the bit about how she and Riyyh ended up getting onto the subject of sex in the first place.
Wise Snake: Well, it should be possible to determine parentage by examining the children and Anthy.
Wise Snake hopes Soouvra isn't leaving out any pertinent details, like any other possible fathers.
Wise Snake: Once the other two are confirmed as his, he may be more reasonable.
Soouvra: And now I learn that he was busy seducing half the house at the same time he was telling me I was so special!
Wise Snake: Yes, I can see how that would be upsetting.
Soouvra is willing to concede that even Riyyh wouldn't go seducing the men.
Soouvra: He owes me an apology, he does!
Soouvra: In person!
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: I agree.
Soouvra: And he's got to get some new men in, quick.
Wise Snake takes notes.
Wise Snake: Another good idea.
Soouvra: My daughter's of an age to marry, and most of the boys her age are her brothers!
Wise Snake: Yes, a serious concern.
Soouvra: Unless...
Soouvra zlins Nick speculatively.
Wise Snake looks up.
Wise Snake: Ummmh.
Soouvra: I don't suppose you'd be interested in marrying your Companion to her, would you?
Wise Snake: Let's not get ahead of ourselves, here.
Wise Snake: All right, what I'd like to do is set up an appointment for you and Riyyh to get together in person some time in the next week.
Wise Snake: Actually, I think it would be better if it's you, Riyyh, Anthy and your three children all together.
Nick tries to keep his reaction to that suggestion to himself.
Wise Snake: At that meeting, he will make you that personal apology.
Soouvra: Anthy? Put him in the same room as Riyyh, and I'd never get a word in... or an apology.
Wise Snake: Well, I'm going to have a talk with Anthy first, just like I'm talking with you.
Wise Snake: And, it will be in a few days, so he will hopefully have had some time to wind down a little.
Soouvra: ~~ skeptical ~~
Soouvra: It takes a lot to get my Anthy mad, but once something does... well, he stays mad.
Wise Snake: All right. I'll work on him.
Wise Snake: In the meantime, let me describe to you what the plan is for Naros' future.
Wise Snake: Yes, there is work in motion to get some new blood into the Householding.
Wise Snake: The House will be opening its doors temporarily to settlers with proven farming ability, from other Householdings.
Soouvra is all ears, anticipating being the first with the news.
Soouvra: Young and unmarried?
Wise Snake: Yes.
Wise Snake: Naros will also be trading some entire families, with younger children, so that the next generation will be served as well.
Soouvra nods.
Soouvra: And what about Riyyh?
Soouvra: He won't be able to lead the House after this.
Wise Snake: Also, Sectuib Riyyh will be naming an heir within the next month, an heir who is not of his blood.
Wise Snake: Well, the intention is to make an orderly transition to a new leadership.
Soouvra: And how's he going to find one? Go outside the House, to someone who knows nothing of Naros and cares less?
Wise Snake: There are several channels from other Householdings under consideration.
Wise Snake: All of them are solid potential Sectuib material.
Wise Snake: And single. [adds]
Soouvra: But they don't know Naros.
Soouvra: They haven't been raised according to its values.
Soouvra then considers that Riyyh was raised with Naros values, which triggered the crisis in the first place.
Wise Snake: That is true, but they will learn, and the importance of both strong leadership and new blood is great enough to balance it.
Wise Snake: However, I will note your concerns.
Soouvra: You do that.
Wise Snake: It is important that the heir be flexible and adaptable.
Wise Snake thinks, either that or charismatic enough to bend the entire House to their own way of doing things.
Soouvra: And when you talk to my Anthy, tell him he'd better not come home until he's prepared to be reasonable.
Wise Snake doesn't wince... barely.
Wise Snake: Let's see.
Wise Snake: I would like to make two appointments, actually. The one for you all to speak to Riyyh, and also, before that, I would like to speak to you and Anthy together. After I've spoken to him alone.
Wise Snake: Can we arrange that?
Wise Snake picks up a tablet of paper lying nearby.
Soouvra: I suppose so.
Wise Snake: I think it would be better if the two of you are on speaking terms.
Soouvra: ~~ grudging ~~
Wise Snake: ~encouraging~
Soouvra is not about to go on speaking terms to her husband without an apology.
Wise Snake: All right. How about... [names dates and times]
Soouvra is also not about to apologize, feeling herself more wronged than wronging.
Wise Snake: I'm sorry, we haven't met. Can I get your name?
Wise Snake has already pencilled in 'Anthy'.
Soouvra: It's Soouvra.
Wise Snake writes it down.
Wise Snake: Thank you for letting me know your concerns, Soouvra. I encourage you to go home and wait for the Assembly, which will be announced by the usual bells.
Wise Snake: And tell anyone you know, who also has a grievance, to please stop by and see me.
Soouvra's mood brightens at the thought of being able to spread such eagerly awaited "news".
Soouvra remembers her pledge and quickly gets to her feet.
Soouvra: I'll go along, then.
Wise Snake nods.
Soouvra gets to her feet and bustles from the office, brimming with eagerness to gossip.
Wise Snake finishes writing up Soouvra's visit and turns to a clean page.
Deliare is fending off pushing, squirming Gens who are trying to use their nagers to get to the head of the line.
Deliare: Oh come on, wait your turn!!
Deliare thinks if he had practiced what he preached, he'd be in the back of the line but at least he wouldn't have been roped into babysitting duty.
Nick raises an eyebrow.
Wise Snake: Well, that didn't go so badly.
Nick: Are they all going to be like that?
Wise Snake: I imagine so.
Wise Snake shakes her head.
Wise Snake: I wonder if he's good at anything else, besides seduction?
Wise Snake: Presumably he's a pretty good channel, or he'd never have become Sectuib.
Nick: Well, there's not all that much work here, so they don't require that good a channel.
Wise Snake: Disjunction is difficult. [thoughtfully]
Wise Snake: They do specialize in disjunction.
Deliare sees Soouvra come out.
Deliare: OK who's next? [to Linn]
Linn checks her list.
Deliare struggles to hear her over the shouts of the pushing and shoving crowd.
Nick: Well, disjunction can be nasty...but from what I've read, the hard part is to convince the patient not to give up, rather than any technical skill.
Linn: Umm... this says Zartek.
Linn: Zartek, are you here?
Zartek: Damn straight I am!
Zartek elbows, instep-stomps, and shin-barks his way to the fore of the crowd.
Nick: Riyyh is very good at persuasion, or he wouldn't have gotten himself into this mess.
Zartek is a big rangy renSime with a mean expression.
Zartek: Lemme in there.
Linn leads Zartek to the office and signals in front of the door.
Wise Snake: Enter!
Zartek lunges into the room.
Zartek: ~~angry~~
Zartek: I have a bone to pick with you!!
Zartek obviously was born in Gen Territory with language like that.
Wise Snake: ~~calm, rational~~
Wise Snake: I'm sorry for the delay. But I'd be glad to hear you out, now that you're here. Please have a seat.
Wise Snake: ~~ calm, rational, and NOT willing to take any guff ~~
Nick checks Zartek for ossified material.
Nick: ~~ utter calm, sympathy ~~
Zartek looks confused, as his brain tries to shift gears from rage to rational and suffers a clutch jam.
Zartek sits down.
Zartek: That little rat wrecked my marriage!
Zartek: My first wife left me because of him!
Nick: You are no longer married, then?
Zartek: No, he's had my second wife too!!
Zartek: [angry]
Zartek: I got three kids I thought were my own, and he's fathered at least two of 'em.
Zartek: I got one adopted boy too and he looks just like him, the slimy s-- weasel!
Zartek: How am I ever gonna look at my kids again without feeling like I been punched in the jaw?
Nick is a bit confused, since he associates weasels with Snake, not Riyyh.
Nick: So your grievance with Riyyh is that it's made you uncomfortable around your children?
Wise Snake holds her tongue and waits to see how Zartek answers Nick's question.,
Zartek: Shen no!
Zartek: What right does he have to go stickin' his pecker where it doesn't belong!
Zartek: He not only had my wives, he had my adopted boy's ma as well!!
Nick: So the children aren't the issue?
Zartek flares ~~rage~~ at Nick's question.
Zartek: What in hell are you babbling about! Of course they matter!
Zartek: What do you think I don't care I feel a stab in the gut ever time one of them says hi?
Wise Snake: Uh... ~~soothing~~
Nick: Why don't you say hi back, then?
Wise Snake: Yes, I unders... [stops in surprise as Nick keeps going]
Nick: After all, you're the one who's raised them, not Riyyh.
Nick: They need a father, and you're the only one they're going to get.
Zartek flails as Nick's hurting words and Snake's soothing nager do a double half gainer with a twist inside his brain.
Nick: Isn't that more important than Riyyh's misbehavior?
Zartek: What right do you have to judge me!!!!
Wise Snake flinches.
Nick: None at all.
Wise Snake: Ah.... sir, please, calm down, you'll have to excuse Nick. ~~~CALM~~~
Nick thinks, unless Riyyh got to Snake as well.
Zartek: What's he getting at? [to Snake, pointing suspiciously at Nick]
Zartek: And where does he get off?
Nick: I'm just trying to determine your priorities, so that our report on the member's concerns will be as accurate as possible.
Wise Snake presses her fingers briefly to her forehead.
Wise Snake: Ah..
Nick usually gets off when Snake is post, but doesn't see what that has to do with anything.
Wise Snake makes her "cool it Nick!!" signals more obvious, hoping Nick will finally take the hint.
Nick frowns, but subsides.
Zartek: I didn't come here to be insulted by some half-assed excuse for a Donor.
Zartek: I love my boys, and don't you deny it unless you want a mouth full of fist.
Zartek: [hopping mad]
Nick is ~~ indignant ~~ at being called half-assed, when the cut of his pants should have made it obvious that he isn't.
Wise Snake: Nick, if you can't show some respect, please step outside. [sharply]
Wise Snake: Otherwise, please keep your attention on me.
Wise Snake thinks this is going to be a really long day.
Nick's nager falls into perfect, Tecton standard support, allowing no hint of his personality to come through.
Nick: ~~ generic Gen support ~~
Wise Snake's shoulders slump as Nick exchanges disobedience for punishment.
Wise Snake: Thank you. [strained]
Zartek follows all this to the extent that a renSime can pick it up.
Zartek's eyes dart back and forth suspiciously.
Zartek: So what are you gonna do about what's his face!
Nick leans back against the wall, leaving Snake to deal with Zartek.
Mostan sits on the bank of a stream.
Mostan looks pensive and throws pebbles into the babbling brook.
Nick waits to hear what Snake has to suggest.
Wise Snake sighs.
Eliza: Hello Mos....
Mostan is sure it is babbling that water does. Or is that waves in the ocean?
Wise Snake: All right. It's pretty clear you have a legitimate grievance against Sectuib Riyyh.
Eliza walks up behind him.
Wise Snake: How are your relations with your wife at the moment?
Wise Snake wishes she hadn't used the word "relations" as soon as it's out of her mouth.
Zartek sticks his jaw out.
Zartek: She ain't sayin' nothin'.
Nick tries to remember whether the man actually has any relations living with his wife at the moment.
Zartek: I asked her was Jimmy-Joe his son, and she shut up like a clam. But he's got those nancy little gray eyes of 'is. I know it's him.
Mostan slowly turns.
Wise Snake zlins Zartek.
Mostan looks at a set of knees that he recognizes.
Eliza stays very still, nager quiet, waiting to see if all would be as before.
Nick checks Zartek for eye color.
Zartek's hair and eyes are black.
Mostan lets his gaze rise up.
Eliza: I... I... I....
Nick is glad that Zartek isn't likely to be one of Riyyh's earlier byblows; trying to explain to him that his kids and stepkids are actually his brothers would have been awkward, to say the least.
Wise Snake: Well, ah, it should be possible to determine the children's actual parentage by examining them and all possible parents.
Mostan looks into Eliza's eyes. "liza?"
Eliza: Yes Mos, it's me.
Eliza: I know I must look different, I probably zlin different too - but it's me.
Mostan: You just... vanished.
Mostan: I thought that they had come and....
Nick wonders if a mass campaign to determine the true parentage of every Narosite younger than Riyyh is really such a good idea.
Eliza: I had to go. Snake had to go and I had to go with her.
Wise Snake: As for the future, let me assure you that work is already under way to bring some families with new blood into the Householding, and also to find an unrelated heir from another Householding to succeed Riyyh himself.
Eliza: I tried to get word to you - but it wasn't easy, and Snake wouldn't let me send messages and by the time that we were far enough away for it to be safe, well....
Mostan: It wasn't that lawyer?
Eliza: Lawyer? What lawyer? ~ confused ~
Zartek: Yeah, well, how soon is that?
Mostan: The letter from Out-T. You zlinned so nervous about it....
Eliza: About the farm? I can't go back there. Mos, they still kill changeovers there!
Nick tries to estimate the time required for a House-wide genealogical study.
Zartek: He's my Sectuib and all, but I ain't going to stand for no two-faced, silver-tongued, siren-eyed, girly for a Sectuib any more you understand?
Wise Snake blinks.
Mostan: I was worried you wanted to go home....
Eliza: Oh Mostan, I'm sorry.
Eliza: I didn't mean to hurt you for anything!
Nick is glad that Zartek doesn't consider Snake a viable candidate for Sectuib.
Wise Snake realizes he was talking about Riyyh.
Mostan turns and puts arms around his knees. "I'm all right. I'm fine." ~~ lie ~~
Wise Snake: Ah... yes, I understand.
Nick doesn't consider becoming an instant First Companion is worth a steady diet of rutabagas.
Eliza: ~ heart melts ~
Eliza: I understand. I'm not surprised that you don't want to see me. I'll go, leave you alone.
Mostan struggles with his pride that doesn't want her to go.
Wise Snake: Well, come to the public address he's giving this afternoon, in the main assembly hall. And, here, let me sign you up for a time slot for meeting with Riyyh for a personal apology. You do want a personal apology?
Zartek: Errr...
Eliza starts to walk off slowly.
Wise Snake: No?
Zartek: I don't know if it's such a good idea that he and I be in the same room together. [confesses]
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Mostan turns, making a unintelligible sound.
Zartek: ~embarrassed and wondering why, he has a perfect right to feel that way~
Wise Snake: All right then, would you at least bring your wife in so the three of us can have a talk together? I mean, if things don't ease up between the two of you?
Zartek: I guess so.
Zartek: [doubtful]
Mostan pushes himself to his feet.
Wise Snake gives him the time and makes a note of the appointment.
Wise Snake: I hope you will go home until the assembly, just to keep the confusion in the public areas to a minimum?
Wise Snake: And uh, if you see anyone you think should talk to me, could you send them this way?
Eliza stops and turns back, hopeful.
Mostan drops his showfield. ~~ need ~~
Eliza: Did you say something?
Zartek thinks he'll be sure to send her way anyone who he thinks should be first insulted by an outsider's Donor, and then given slick talk and slicker nager by the outsider herself.
Zartek: OK.
Eliza shivers.
Nick opens the door for Zartek.
Zartek leaves.
Wise Snake shakes her head after Zartek is gone.
Eliza: Mos?
Eliza: Are you all right?
Linn notes the office's latest visitor has left.
Mostan: Ye --- No.
Linn: I believe...Yletka is next?
Eliza: What's wrong?
Yletka looks like death warmed over.
Linn pats Yletka on the shoulder.
Linn: Come, now. You'll feel much better when you've talked to Snake.
Mostan: I ...'ve never been all right.
Yletka nods numbly, not believing it, but it's easier to agree.
Mostan: Not since ....
Linn escorts Yletka to Snake's office and signals.
Wise Snake turns to a fresh sheet.
Wise Snake: Come in.
Nick inspects the latest arrival.
Wise Snake: Hello.
Wise Snake: ~calm/rational/considerate~
Yletka is a rensime of middle age and build, obviously not a farming type, more like a milliner type.
Yletka: It's all true then? What they are all saying?
Wise Snake: Please, have a seat.
Wise Snake: Well, it is true that a number of the residents of the Householding were fathered by Sectuib Riyyh, yes.
Eliza waits, not daring to go to him.
Yletka falls into a seat.
Wise Snake likes the looseness of the term "a number", as it is not as inflammatory as "all"
Yletka: So we live a lie. Our Sectuib is not what we thought.
Yletka starts to sob.
Yletka: [how very unmanly - but then, the poor guy only had transfer this morning]
Wise Snake: ~~calm, supportive attentiveness~~
Yletka: What will this mean to Naros?
Wise Snake: It is indeed a difficult situation.
Mostan: I thought you didn't want ....
Yletka: What will the neighbours say?
Mostan: anymore.
Wise Snake: The Householding faces two main... er, [at the mention of the neighbors] ...three main challenges now.
Eliza: I ... don't know....
Eliza: So much has changed. I've seen so much, been through so much.
Eliza: Everything is different.
Nick expects that the neighbors will have a marvelous time discussing the news--at least, those who don't have brown-haired, grey-eyed children.
Eliza: ~ uncertain ~
Eliza: I don't know if it could be the same. ~ honest ~
Eliza: What we had - it was very much part of who we were at the time....
Eliza: Back in Bender Cove.
Wise Snake: The first thing Naros must do is to get back on track as a Householding, and that means stopping the violence, the vandalism, and healing the breach between the members.
Mostan looks oddly relieved and disappointed.
Wise Snake: After all, you are all pledged to the same House. You all belong to the same House. Your... additional... similarities should not be able to stand in the way of that, if everybody works to overcome the problems.
Eliza: Can we be friends and see what happens?
Eliza: ~ nervous ~
Eliza's field unconsciously meshes with Mostan's.
Mostan: ~~ uncertain ~~
Mostan: I suppose.
Nick thinks charitably that Snake never did spend a lot of time dealing with family, and probably has some misconceptions about how they usually work.
Yletka nods, sobbing.
Mostan starts to rest on her field without realizing it.
Yletka: Then it's not over? There is hope for the future?
Wise Snake: Yes, there is a very good chance Naros will pull through this, if everybody works together.
Wise Snake: The second challenge you must face is to rebuild the Household in such a way that is is genetically and societally viable once again.
Wise Snake: That means allowing the people who are too upset to stay to move away, and to allow some new people to settle here from outside, people who have both usable skills and also the clean genetics Naros requires.
Mostan: All right.
Wise Snake: People for the people of today and tomorrow to marry and have children with.
Mostan comes over to Eliza.
Wise Snake thinks it's ironic that after all this, Naros will probably be inbred again within 2 or 3 generations.
Nick mentally adds a high tolerance for rutabagas as a third requirement.
Eliza holds out her hand, smiling.
Yletka perks up abit.
Yletka: New people?
Yletka: [meaning, new sexual partners?]
Mostan takes her hand with his, keeping his tentacles in.
Yletka: ~ interested ~
Wise Snake: Yes.
Wise Snake: And the third challenge will be to recover from this publicly. However, unless the members of Naros can restrain themselves from announcing these troubles far and wide, it will probably be many years before your neighbors forget about this.
Eliza: ~ friendship ~
Wise Snake thinks lack of restraint on gossiping is a foregone conclusion.
Mostan: So, is Snake still her old self?
Yletka: So when will the new people be arriving?
Eliza considers this carefully.
Eliza: I guess so. She seems to like moving around a lot.
Eliza: She is always in a hurry to move onto the next place. It's pretty wearing at times.
Wise Snake: Well, throughout the next two weeks, I and Sectuib Riyyh will be meeting with the various members and families and determining what each will do.
Mostan: She trying to keep ahead of the Tecton? Keep them from asking why she has two Donors?
Wise Snake: When we have determined who will be leaving the Householding, then we will know how many spaces are available, and the search will begin for settlers and trades.
Nick wonders if omitting all mention of rutabagas would aid the recruitment effort.
Wise Snake: I would think the first of them would arrive within three weeks to a month.
Yletka: Two weeks hey? Damn.
Yletka: Oh well. There is always next month.
Wise Snake: Ah... ah yes.
Wise Snake: Well, there is no reason why... [stops]
Wise Snake had been about to say, "there's no reason why you couldn't sleep with a half-sister so long as you wore protection".
Wise Snake: There is always next month. [agrees]
Eliza: The Tecton? No, I don't think it's the Tecton.
Eliza: But I'm not Snake's Donor, only Nick is.
Nick is glad that Snake decided not to solve Yletka's dilemma personally, and his nager starts to thaw.
Yletka looks considerably brighter then when he walked in.
Yletka remembers Linn, outside.
Mostan: What about that big sleepy-eyed Gen she had? The one who was always eating?
Wise Snake: Also, as the tests are performed, it should become known who is actually not related to Riyyh at all.
Wise Snake thinks, if anybody.
Eliza: Oh! Rapol! Yes, he didn't come with us.
Eliza: I don't know what happened to him.
Mostan starts walking, tugging Eliza along with him.
Eliza: Where we going?
Mostan: Something odd about him I could never place.
Eliza trips over a tree root trying to keep up.
Linn is looking harried as she tries to figure out who's next.
Linn: Umm....
Linn: Is Sethan there?
Eliza always thought that Rapol was over sexed and under exercised, but doesn't think it polite to say so.
Mostan augments to catch Eliza around the waist.
Eliza: It's ok Mos! I only tripped....
Eliza tries not to feel anything of his arms around her.
Yletka: Well I must say that you have made me feel much better about everything.
Yletka: I thank you over and over again for your coming to our Household's assistance in this, our time of need.
Linn looks around to see if anybody responded to the name.
Sethan looks up. "Yes?"
Wise Snake: Thank you. I appreciate being able to make a difference.
Linn: Hajene Snake will see you now.
Yletka smiles.
Wise Snake: [mostly because she'll be able to leave sooner that way]
Yletka: Thank you for your personal time as well.
Mostan puts Eliza back on her feet and snatches his hands away. "Sorry."
Wise Snake smiles back, carefully so she doesn't scare the bejeezus out of the guy.
Yletka: Oh, and thank you for your thoughtful hold on the ambient.
Wise Snake: Please come again if you have any further concerns.
Wise Snake: Of course.
Wise Snake nods.
Nick thinks that Snake would probably appreciate the thanks more if Yletka was, indeed, in need and requiring her help with it.
Yletka: Thank you also for your medical help in the infirmary.
Wise Snake: Er... ah, yes. You're welcome.
Sethan gets up and walks a bit oddly over to Linn. "Who?"
Yletka: I must say thank you also for your personal help with our Sectuib's physical well being.
Wise Snake: Well, I,
Linn: Are you Sethan?
Sethan is an elderly renSime with a trace of an out-T accent.
Yletka: Also for the help of your people.
Sethan: Yes.
Yletka: They are hard workers, I must say.
Sethan remembers his manners. "Pleased to meet you."
Wise Snake: ~~firm reassurance and thanks~~
Linn: Snake is ready to see you now.
Wise Snake: Thank you. Everything will be fine.
Sethan holds out his hand.
Wise Snake: You'll see.
Wise Snake: Trust we'll get everything handled.
Yletka: Would you have any objection if I asked the little lady out front if she would like a break? She looked like she could use a good.... a break.
Wise Snake: ~~huh?~~
Wise Snake covers her surprise.
Linn shakes hands automatically with Sethan.
Linn: And you.
Linn: Come with me, now.
Wise Snake: Well, you can ask, but I can't make any promises about her answer.
Wise Snake can actually fairly reliably promise that Linn will say no, but....
Sethan follows.
Linn leads the way to the office, and frowns when she discovers Yletka still standing in the doorway.
Eliza: ~ disappointed ~
Eliza tries, not too hard, to hide her disappointment that he let go of her so quickly.
Mostan pauses, zlinning Eliza.
Linn: Excuse me, but Hajene Snake's next appointment is here.
Yletka: Thank you! Thank you again.
Yletka smiles at Linn.
Yletka: You are doing a wonderful job there!
Yletka: You zlin rather poorly - tired and thirsty, I'm sure you could do with some nice trin right now.
Linn gestures Yletka away from the door.
Yletka: Would you be interested in taking a break and letting me supply you with what you need?
Wise Snake shoves her black mane back from her forehead (temporarily only, alas) and blows out her breath.
Yletka puts a slight stress on the word "need".
Wise Snake: Shedoni. [mutters under her breath]
Wise Snake tries to get Sethan's attention.
Wise Snake: Please, come in.
Wise Snake: ~welcome~
Linn: If you don't mind stepping away from the door? Sethan here is waiting.
Eliza: ~ confused ~
Sethan sees it's Yletka is there and realizes it may take a while for her to run down.
Linn: ~~ growing impatience with Yletka's failure to move ~~
Sethan turns to Wise Snake.
Wise Snake: You may want to close that door. [adds]
Sethan walks over, walking a bit oddly.
Sethan looks at her. "True."
Yletka: Of course of course [moves out of the way]
Wise Snake gestures for Sethan to have a seat.
Eliza: Mos...?
Sethan goes back and closes the door carefully.
Eliza: Have you been happy here?
Yletka waits for Linn
Wise Snake surreptitiously zlins Sethan to determine if he has any medical difficulties.
Yletka: About my offer....
Mostan sighs. "No."
Eliza: Oh.
Mostan: This place is the pens.
Mostan: Everyone is so friendly and loving and earnestly Householder.
Eliza: ~ unhappy ~
Linn: Excuse me, but I'm trying to keep an unruly crowd from turning into a mob. I'm afraid I don't have time to take just now.
Wise Snake: Now, how can I help you?
Eliza: You don't like that?
Linn: ~~ polite but very firm ~~
Yletka: ~ disappointment ~
Yletka: It's no job for a Gen like you. Why don't you get some help?
Sethan: ~~ elderly disjunct renSime ~~
Sethan: ~~ arthritis in remission ~~
Eliza notices that Mostan's laterals seem to be having some trouble staying confined and that there is definite pressure on them from his ronaplin glands.
Eliza: Do you have a Companion here?
Linn: I have some.
Linn starts back down the hall.
Yletka trots along after her.
Mostan: I'm a city boy. I like the hustle and bustle. And the art here is what you'd expect.
Yletka: Then surely you can take a break, you zlin worn out.
Eliza: ~ confusion ~ The art?
Mostan: You should like it though. It's a farming community, after all.
Linn: And let that mob storm Snake's office? Or the infirmary?
Povkhia happens by where Mostan and Eliza are, does a double-take, then turns back to study Mostan.
Eliza: It's nothing like home, if that is what you meant.
Yletka puts his hands on her shoulders.
Povkhia is a female Gen, maybe in her early 20's.
Yletka: Such small shoulders to take the weight of the world.
Povkhia approaches the two of them.
Eliza: I mean, everyone here is happy. Or at least, they were when we arrived....
Eliza has noticed that people generally seem to be happy before Snake and crew arrive, only to go through strong emotional changes soon after.
Linn reaches up and removes Yletka's hands from her shoulders.
Povkhia: Excuse me. ~nervously~
Linn: For the last time, the answer is "no".
Linn: I can't take a break now.
Yletka: Oh, I see. Not into Householders?
Sethan: I want to see Sec - Riyyh
Wise Snake: I can arrange for that. [nods]
Linn: Not into ignoring my job.
Wise Snake: As you can imagine, pretty much everybody wants to see him at the moment. I can arrange for a time, though.
Mostan turns to Povkhia, snatching his tentacles in. "What?"
Yletka: Then maybe I'll see you later.
Povkhia smiles nervously.
Povkhia adds an apologetic little smile in Eliza's direction before turning back to Mostan again.
Povkhia: I've... I've seen you around here before.
Povkhia: But I never got up the nerve to say hi.
Linn nods distantly, and checks her list for the next name.
Eliza isn't sure what to do.
Mostan: Oh. Hello. I'm Hajene Mostan.
Wise Snake turns to a clean sheet of paper on the pad.
Mostan smiles and zlins Povkhia.
Povkhia: ~definitely very interested~
Sethan: I want to talk with him about "sharing".
Wise Snake: Reasonable enough, under the circumstances.
Eliza lets her nager go as quiet as she can.
Sethan: It seems he meant a lot more about that than I thought.
Povkhia: You know, I, I know things have been kind of crazy around here lately.
Nick thinks that that's an odd way to describe it.
Mostan looks puzzled. "They have? I hadn't noticed."
Wise Snake: Err...
Wise Snake: Might I ask in what way you've been personally affected by all this?
Povkhia laughs, extraordinarily appreciative of what she believes to be humor on his part.
Povkhia: Oh my!
Sethan: I want to keep my grandchildren from going junct.
Povkhia: You are a breath of fresh air, aren't you!
Povkhia smiles again.
Sethan: Or should I say... his grandchildren? ~~ Anger ~~
Mostan relaxes and smiles back at here.
Wise Snake winces.
Wise Snake: Ah, yes.
Nick wonders if Sethan's grandchildren are among the outraged husbands ready to kill.
Wise Snake: Where are your grandchildren living now?
Mostan: I've been... busy the last few days. Haven't talked to many people.
Eliza is slightly confused by all this.
Sethan: Out-Territory.
Nick frowns at this troublesome news.
Povkhia: My friends and I were going to get together to design our masks for the mask-dance, tomorrow night. Would you like to come?
Sethan: About 6 hours travel from the nearest Sime Center. Get me?
Povkhia: ~friendly and open~
Eliza always thought Mostan was rather cute, but she would be the first to admit that he isn't really the sort of guy that strange women would just walk up to in the street and start flirting with - which seems to be what's going on here.
Nick: Are any of them channels?
Nick: According to their birth characteristics, or premonitions?
Wise Snake: Uh, Nick?
Wise Snake thinks this line of questioning is just going to add insult to injury.
Sethan looks over at Nick. "You tell me. Do they have any channel ancestors?"
Mostan: Oh. Have you met Eliza?
Mostan gestures.
Povkhia turns to Eliza, just a little too quickly.
Povkhia: Oh!
Povkhia: No, I haven't.
Eliza smiles coldly.
Eliza: Hello.
Povkhia smiles at Eliza, just a little too much. ~uneasy/threatened~
Povkhia: Of course, you are invited too. We're inviting everybody.
Eliza: ~ be threatened - be very threatened ~
Povkhia thinks now that one of the outside women is going to be there, they'll have to invite some boys.
Mostan: Yes, I think I have some time off tomorrow night.
Wise Snake looks at Sethan.
Eliza: I'm not sure. I'll have to check with my channel.
Eliza: I take it that she is invited also?
Wise Snake: I agree that Riyyh is the best person for you to discuss this with.
Wise Snake: I would like to set up an appointment for you to do so.
Wise Snake: First, I must ask, though, how you are feeling about the Sectuib personally.
Sethan: Good. When?
Wise Snake would like to save those kids from being shot or turning junct, but she thinks she wouldn't be properly playing her role as spin doctor if she allowed Riyyh to be murdered.
Povkhia smiles at Mostan, definitely excited.
Povkhia looks back at Eliza.
Sethan: I... I hope he rots, but those kids are more important. They have training, and they can get to the Center in time if they are renSimes, but if they aren't....
Povkhia: Your channel?
Povkhia hopes she's not talking about Snake Farris.
Wise Snake zlins sethan for homicidal rage or the like.
Mostan feels a bit uneasy sensing the tension in the air.
Eliza: Hajene Tanzarra.
Eliza: Working for Hajene Farris.
Sethan: ~~ sullen anger, but worry is more prominent ~~
Eliza: You don't know her, do you Mos?
Wise Snake: All right.
Mostan: I think we've met.
Povkhia: Oh! Hajene Tanzarra is perfectly welcome.
Povkhia thinks they will definitely have to invite boys.
Eliza: ~ surprise ~ You have? Here?
Povkhia starts to feel better about this.
Mostan: Just briefly.
Povkhia looks between them both. ~pleased~
Wise Snake: How about... [pages through her notes, then names a day and time]
Sethan: Fine. Where?
Wise Snake: In his office.
Sethan: Fine. Thank You Hajene ....?
Wise Snake notes down the appointment.
Eliza: I should get back to her.
Wise Snake: Farris.
Wise Snake: You're welcome.
Eliza: ~ guilt at leaving her for so long. ~
Sethan thinks channels always look harried, but this one is overdoing it.
Eliza: It was nice seeing you again Mos. I'll see you later?
Mostan: Hmmm? Oh yes. I'll be around.
Mostan: So what is this 'mask-dance?'
Eliza toddles off.
Povkhia: Oh, didn't you hear? [amazed that anyone could be that uninformed, but committed to appearing flattered and excited about everything he says]
Nick waits until Sethan leaves, then shakes his head.
Nick: It's going to be a long day.
Mostan: No, I'm afraid I missed that meeting.
Mostan grins.
Sethan stalks down the hall, glaring at all and sundry.
Wise Snake: I was just thinking the same thing.
Nick checks the office's amenities.
Nick: How about some tea?
Wise Snake: Ah, yes, thank you.
Wise Snake waits for the next Narosian to appear.
Nick puts the water on and starts thumbing through the tea bags.
Linn exits the ladies' room, glad that she was finally able to get her helper to take over the escorting-to-office.
Riyyh slips in the back way, furtive as a coyote.
Riyyh finds it humiliating to have to sneak into his own office.
Riyyh isn't, however, prepared to believe that just because the rioters have stopped rioting, there aren't any number of people out there eager to add fingerprints to his neck.
Linn spots the fugitive.
Linn: Sectuib Riyyh!
Riyyh jumps like a startled cat.
Riyyh: Ah! Linn.
Riyyh grabs his heart.
Riyyh: You gave me a start.
Riyyh comes closer to Linn.
Linn looks down the hall to make sure that Snake's next appointment doesn't catch sight of them.
Riyyh: Are you all right? You seem... [zlins her post-mob-control condition]
Riyyh notes that Linn has not had a chance to freshen up even yet.
Riyyh is, sadly, in no better condition himself.
Linn tries to put some of the stray pieces of hair back in their customary bun, and is surprised when she succeeds.
Linn has momentarily forgotten the adhesive properties of raw egg.
Riyyh smiles gently.
Riyyh: It has been quite a day, hasn't it?
Riyyh: And it's just begun.
Linn: It has.
Linn: Your members are very displeased with you.
Riyyh: They are now. [admits]
Riyyh: I must prove myself to them again.
Linn wonders if "prove myself" is Riyyh's euphemism for "grovel".
Riyyh is fairly sure that he can do so, with Snake "breaking them in" first, and then being able to get at them one-on-one.
Riyyh: It will be a difficult time, but with work, with all of us cooperating, Naros can win through these troubles.
Riyyh smiles at her, trying for a fine line between reassurance and kindness.
Linn: What do you propose to offer by way of atonement?
Riyyh: There is no atonement for something of this sort.
Riyyh: All that can be done is to heal the pain and move onward.
Riyyh: What is important is that Naros can survive and progress as it did before.
Linn: I wish you luck.
Riyyh's smile takes on a tinge of gratitude.
Riyyh: Thank you. We will require luck, and hard work, and commitment, in the days ahead.
Linn: Snake may be able to keep your loyal members from lynching you out of hand, at least.
Riyyh winces.
Riyyh's hand goes unconsciously to his throat.
Riyyh: I have the utmost of faith in your Hajene Farris. [voice suddenly dry]
Linn: Although I suspect many of the youngsters will prefer to go where they can be reasonably sure of not committing involuntary incest.
Riyyh's eyes turn disappointed at this obvious show of pessimism.
Riyyh: We shall see if solidarity and loyalty can overcome the savagery of a moment's anger.
Riyyh removes his hand from his throat.
Riyyh: Tell Hajene Farris she can find me in my office if she requires me.
Linn: I will do so.
Riyyh turns and walks away down the hall.
Linn returns to the line of outraged Narosites.
Go on to Episode #16: They Didn't Cover This in Donor School
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