Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #18: Indiscretion (9/21/98)
Bum Bum slips into the infirmary room where Tictoc and Mytag have been feverishly working away.
Mytag isn't asleep over his work, he just wishes he was.
Bum Bum zlins carefully to make sure nobody is around but Mytag, then goes up to him.
Bum Bum: Sss... Mytag. [low voice]
Bum Bum: You are Mytag, right?
Mytag: Hmmm? Yes, what can I do for you?
Mytag keeps his head down and tries to work around the annoyance.
Bum Bum zlins Mytag, then backs off uncertainly.
Bum Bum: I just wanted to warn you.
Mytag stops working and looks up.
Bum Bum looks around again, furtively.
Mytag: Warn me? About what?
Bum Bum: I overheard Snake say she was headed this way.
Mytag suspects this might be a sort of blackmail threat, an impression that isn't lessened by Bumanuel's appearance.
Bum Bum: Something about wanting to have a talk with you.
Mytag: Yes?
Mytag: And?
Mytag waits for the punch line.
Bum Bum looks noticeably nervous.
Bum Bum: And, well, I thought you'd want maybe a heads up.
Bum Bum: I know I would.
Bum Bum turns and hurries out.
Mytag scratches his head and wonders what that was all about.
Mytag: Oh well, probably insane from hanging around with that bunch.
Mytag goes back to work.
Wise Snake invades the infirmary, ignoring various people who scatter at her approach.
Wise Snake looks at the schedule board and determines Mytag's location, then heads in that direction with singleminded purpose.
Wise Snake enters the room Mytag is in.
Wise Snake: Ah, Mytag, can I have a word with you?
Wise Snake is in need and full of restless, semi-aggressive energy.
Mytag: Sure Snake, I've been expecting you.
Mytag: ~ calm ~
Mytag: I'll just finish this... there, finished.
Mytag: Now, what can I do for you?
Wise Snake: Ah yes, regarding your transfer with Riyyh.
Mytag: Yes?
Mytag wonders if Snake wants to do it instead.
Wise Snake: [point blank] Can you handle it?
Mytag: Yes.
Wise Snake: Are you sure?
Mytag: Of course. What makes you think otherwise?
Mytag is nothing if not professional.
Wise Snake: Well, from what I've seen the two of you are not on good terms right now.
Wise Snake: Better than maybe some of the other members, but not great.
Mytag: My personal feelings have nothing to do with my transfer assignments.
Wise Snake: Oh?
Wise Snake regards Mytag steadily.
Mytag: You want the job perhaps?
Mytag would be happy to give up that honor to her this time.
Wise Snake: My job will be easier if he's in working condition this next month. Channel's transfer is hardly the answer.
Wise Snake: I would hate to have to give up my own Donor to him.
Wise Snake: So again, can you do it?
Mytag: And you don't trust me to be professional?
Mytag: I have already answered that question. Do you have another one?
Mytag: ~ annoyed ~
Wise Snake studies Mytag
Mytag thought it was bad enough when her upstart Donor tried to tell him his job, taking it from Snake herself is almost as bad.
Wise Snake's eyes narrow slightly at his nager.
Wise Snake: I don't like the way the two of you have been interacting recently.
Wise Snake: I'm fully prepared to interfere in the schedule if necessary.
Mytag: Really? Just as well it's not your problem then, isn't it.
Mytag: You worry about what Riyyh has asked you to worry about. Our transfer isn't on that list.
Mytag: ~ more than annoyed ~
Wise Snake: On the contrary, if Riyyh can't handle these one-on-one meetings with something like his usual charm, there will be a disaster that'll make the rest of this fiasco look like a tea party.
Wise Snake: Personally, I am not interested in seeing that.
Mytag: Riyyh's transfer will be up to Naros standard, which you have to admit is better than Tecton standard. Anything past that is his problem, not mine.
Wise Snake zlins Mytag, not liking the attitude she sees.
Wise Snake: Being distanced from you is not helping him any.
Mytag doesn't like that strangers, particularly these strangers, are needed to help in the present situation.
Wise Snake: You'd better think about what kind of future you want for yourself... if you want to end up back on Tecton rotation, you're cruising right toward that now.
Mytag: He could be here, helping with these, if he wanted.
Mytag: I'm not creating the distance here. I have asked him to stay with me.
Mytag: He is the most stubborn....
Wise Snake: He says you don't like him around when you're doing anything important.
Wise Snake: He says you're angry with him.
Mytag raises his eyebrows.
Wise Snake: Maybe he's wrong, but that's what he's saying.
Mytag: I don't know what gave him that impression.
Wise Snake: Perhaps it's your nager. [darkly]
Mytag: There are personal elements in this situation that you may or may not fully understand.
Wise Snake raises an eyebrow and waits for Mytag to enlighten her.
Mytag: Here at Naros we don't hide behind false images of our fields. "The truth must come out" for us to work through it.
Wise Snake's other eyebrow raises as well.
Wise Snake: Is that so.
Mytag: The Sectuib has a lot of problems at the moment. His transfer with me is not one of them.
Mytag: I don't appreciate your questioning my ability, my professionalism or my loyalty to my Sectuib.
Wise Snake gives him a slit-eyed look. "I'm only going by what is obvious to zlin between you. Be careful, Mytag. If you take out your anger on him, you'll lose everything."
Wise Snake turns and leaves.
Mytag knows who he would like to "take out his anger" on.
Mytag gets back to work. One thing to be pleased with - the end is in sight.
Mytag thinks everyone will feel much better when they know who is who.
Mytag might be mistaken in this
Mytag checks the time, and decides to take a short break and check up on Riyyh.
Eliza reads "The Way of the Nager" and ~ supports ~ the Sectuib of Naros.
Riyyh, who thinks Eliza is reading "Gentle Hearts and Gentle Hands: The Soothing Art of Donoring" which he had given her earlier, is sitting and working on some transfer paperwork.
Eliza resists the temptation to practice some of the technics described therein.
Eliza gives into temptation, just a little bit....
Riyyh, who is deeply engrossed in the logistics of moving as many as a couple of hundred people out of, and into, the Householding with a minimum of friction, fails to realize just exactly what Eliza's nager is doing to his.
Eliza is fascinated that she seems able to mesh with Riyyh's field without his knowledge and marks that as an important section of the book.
Eliza wonders what to do next...
Riyyh makes many small notes on a thick sheaf of paper.
Eliza thinks that there is probably an itch on the Sectuib's knee...
Riyyh doesn't do the accounts for the House, but he usually gives the actual bookkeepers some guidelines so they don't complain more than he finds convenient.
Riyyh reaches down and scratches his knee as he writes in a budgetary total.
Eliza wonders if the Sectuib itches anywhere else.
Riyyh absently scratches his back also, a tentacle reaching up to find a spot directly between his shoulder blades.
Eliza thinks that the Sectuib could probably do with a glass of porstan at the moment. She knows that she would like some.
Riyyh reaches absently for his old porstan glass and almost drinks the warm sludge down at the bottom before realizing that's all it is.
Riyyh holds the glass while he writes in a few notes on the margin of the ledger.
Eliza: Would you like a fresh glass, Sectuib Riyyh?
Riyyh looks up at Eliza, seeming disoriented.
Riyyh: What... oh. Thank you, Eliza.
Riyyh: ~preoccupied~
Eliza: ~ innocent and helpful ~
Riyyh hands Eliza the glass.
Eliza gets up, carefully putting "The Way of the Nager" under a pillow with the other, more boring, book and takes his glass.
Eliza: Where do you keep the porstan?
Riyyh: The cabinet, over there. [indicates with a tentacle]
Eliza walks over and opens it to find a profusion of many different sorts of bottles, many unopened.
Eliza: My goodness, what's all this?
Riyyh: Most of those were gifts.
Riyyh: We do a lot of trade with other Householdings and with local cooperatives.
Eliza picks up a bottle and looks at the label, which seems to be in a language she doesn't know.
Eliza: Is it nice?
Riyyh: They're all safe for both Simes and Gens [assures her] although some affect one larity more than the other.
Eliza holds the bottle up to the light.
Eliza: It looks pretty, can I have some please?
Riyyh: That's a little stiff for office work, but...
Riyyh smiles at her.
Riyyh: Perhaps a small glass would be fine.
Riyyh: It's very sweet, you won't require much.
Riyyh turns back to his desk, closing the ledger and reaching for a pile of inquisitive letters from various VIP's.
Eliza pours two glasses of the bright yellow fluid and carries one over to the channel.
Riyyh looks surprised.
Riyyh: Why, thank you Eliza.
Riyyh accepts the glass.
Eliza goes over and picks up the book from under the pillow and curls up again on the chair with book and glass.
Eliza: [takes a sip] My goodness, it is thick isn't it? And very sweet.
Eliza: [takes another sip]
Riyyh, who wouldn't ordinarily drink the hard stuff when this deep in need, can barely taste either the sugar or the ummmm, active ingredient.
Eliza: It's nice. Thank you.
Riyyh smiles at her, glad to be able to please somebody.
Riyyh: You're welcome.
Riyyh has some more of his.
Riyyh sets down the glass and studies the top letter in earnest.
Eliza reads a bit more and decides that the last experiment worked so well that she can chance another one.
Eliza meshes fields again.
Eliza drinks some more of the thick, sweet fluid.
Riyyh probably would have noticed except that he is very worried about what this letter contains.
Eliza hadn't realized how thirsty she was.
Riyyh reads it again, and realizes he was probably over-reacting the first time around... it isn't really that bad.
Eliza finishes the drink and licks the glass.
Eliza feels rather wonderful.
Riyyh gives it a third read just to make sure, and realizes that not only is the letter not a disaster, it's actually kind of good.
Riyyh smiles in relief.
Riyyh feels a lot better about going through the rest of these now.
Riyyh sets the letter aside to answer later, and picks up the next one.
Eliza is buzzing.
Riyyh blinks at the next letter, unable to focus.
Riyyh feels awfully good, though.
Eliza starts singing softly.
Riyyh looks up, trying to identify the awfully good feeling.
Eliza feels awfully good....
Eliza: ~ waves of pleasure ~
Riyyh's one small stab of apprehension is quickly inundated by waves of insistent pleasure invading his nager.
Eliza smiles at the Sectuib - such a handsome man.
Eliza has always had a thing about older men.
Eliza wonders if he is too old....
Eliza: [not from what she has heard]
Riyyh looks not only older, and handsome, at the moment but also lost and vulnerable and ecstatic.
Eliza: ~ interested ~
Riyyh's thinking part of his brain is struggling to surface in a deep sea of nageric and physical signals.
Riyyh: [it had never been too sturdy to begin with]
Eliza thinks that it would be nice to get to know him better and wishes that he would stop work and come and sit next to her and talk to her.
Riyyh smiles at Eliza and realizes that she is genuinely (if suddenly) interested in him, and that even if this is purely drink-induced, it would be cruel not to at least go over there and sit beside her.
Riyyh's decision-making process may be somewhat off-kilter at the moment.
Eliza: ~ affection ~
Riyyh gets up and glides toward Eliza, sinking down beside her.
Riyyh: Ah, Eliza. [fondly]
Riyyh: I must admit, your nager is quite attractive. As are you.
Riyyh: ~~sincere~~
Eliza puts the book, front down by sheer accident, on her lap.
Eliza: Oh Sectuib Riyyh, thank you. You are a very attractive man.
Eliza: I can understand why all those women... I mean, well....
Eliza smiles at him instead.
Riyyh smiles in pure pleasure at the compliment.
Riyyh: Why thank you, Eliza.
Riyyh: That means the world to me.
Riyyh gathers her hands in his hands and tentacles, revelling in her field.
Riyyh is not so far gone that he'd actually fix on a Second, but her field does feel good.
Eliza wonders if tentacles feel different when you are that old and runs her fingers down his arm and over one of them.
Eliza realises that they don't feel different at all, and continues to stroke his arm and tentacles, concentrating on the feel of them against her hand.
Riyyh shudders and leans toward her, pressing his forehead against her shoulder.
Eliza: You have very attractive tentacles, has anyone ever told you that?
Riyyh: Ahhh... and you, my dear, have very expert hands.
Riyyh's tentacles caress her arms.
Eliza notices that the lateral look lonely, so strokes the lateral sheaths too.
Riyyh's breath sucks in as his laterals lick out involuntarily.
Eliza: ~ welcoming ~
Riyyh: [spattering ronaplin here and there]
Riyyh: Shame on you, Eliza, you tease. [gentle and aroused]
Riyyh turns his head so his mouth is caressing her neck.
Eliza: I'd never tease anyone, Sectuib Riyyh.
Eliza: ~ honest ~
Eliza searches for his lips.
Riyyh's entire body is aflame with need and her nager and her touch.
Riyyh pulls back just short of lip contact.
Eliza: ~ offering ~
Riyyh: Ahh, you are so eager. [whispers]
Eliza: It's been so long...
Riyyh is obviously very attracted by the eagerness.
Eliza: I've been so lonely.
Eliza: [it is uncertain here if Eliza is talking about sex or transfer...]
Eliza: [or both]
Eliza raises his arm to her mouth and gently runs her lips along his tentacles.
Riyyh uses his other hand to gently begin undoing the buttons of her blouse.
Riyyh: Your lips, my dear, are exquisite. But you know that, I am very sure.
Eliza isn't in any state to notice how Riyyh is extremely skilled at undoing buttons with one hand.
Eliza moans with pleasure at his praise, sending vibrations up his tentacles.
Eliza: ~ enticing ~
Riyyh lets Eliza's top garments fall away, and caresses her bosom with his [very experienced] hands and tentacles.
Riyyh closes his eyes and quivers at Eliza's enticement, riding on it, savoring it.
Riyyh could do this all day, he really could.
Eliza moans with pleasure at his touch.
Riyyh does love to make people happy.
Eliza: ~ need to be needed ~
Riyyh finds her mouth with his, making [for brief moments] a full [if alternate] transfer position.
Riyyh allows his need to shine out, to feed her own "need".
Riyyh kisses her [if not passionately, at least with great skill] as his hands and tentacles wend their way down to the fastening at her waist.
Eliza undoes his shirt, with considerable less skill and much more torn cloth and popped buttons, and caresses his chest with her ronaplin-smeared hands and his being with her nager.
Eliza: Do you need me? Do you want me?
Eliza: ~ need to be needed ~
Riyyh: Yes, yes, yes. [nuzzling down her chest past her belly]
Riyyh does enjoy having his shirt clawed off by frenzied females. [males too, but the opportunity doesn't come around that often]
Eliza: ~ offering ~
Riyyh grasps her arms in his hands and tentacles, and demonstrates another alternate transfer position....
Eliza thrusts her selyn against him.
Eliza feels the start of the usual alcohol induced headache coming on and blocks it out.
Riyyh sets about to demonstrate wholeheartedly that Simes in hard need do have their uses.
Eliza: ~ headache ~
Eliza moans, more at the bad timing of the headache then anything else.
Riyyh uses his nager to gently banish Eliza's head ache.
Eliza: ~ gratitude ~
Riyyh: [gently... but firmly... and alas, temporarily]
Wolfa signals at the door and opens it immediately.
Riyyh's hand and tentacles stroke Eliza's sides and thighs, as his....
Wolfa: Riyyh, I was going to just sign these but I thought you would like to see... OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!
Wolfa is rooted to the spot for a moment.
Wolfa drops the papers in her hands.
Wolfa: I'm sorry [backs to the door]
Wolfa: I didn't mean to interrupt you, I mean anything, I mean I don't mean anything!
Riyyh looks up.
Riyyh: Wolfa??
Wolfa quickly exits and shuts the door behind her, hard.
Riyyh looks around, dizzily.
Riyyh: Was... [doesn't zlin anybody]
Eliza feels her headache returning.
Eliza: Riyyh.... ~ begging ~
Eliza: Oh, my head.
Riyyh looks quickly to Eliza.
Riyyh: Of course... of course, my precious.
Riyyh: ~~blocks head ache~~
Riyyh kisses Eliza, slowly and masterfully.
Eliza is draped, mostly naked, over the chair, a copy of "The Way of the Nager" resting against her side.
Eliza: Ohhhh, you are soooo gooood!
Wolfa runs to get Mytag.
Riyyh reaches out with one hand and moves the uncomfortable book out of the way onto the floor.
Eliza kisses him back, passionately.
Riyyh wraps his arms around Eliza, crushing her to him, and gives her some more demonstrations of kissing ability.
Riyyh: Ahh, Eliza, you are too good for me.
Eliza: No, no, take me.
Riyyh: Very well then.
Eliza: ~ desire ~
Riyyh has always been a bit of a pushover.
Riyyh slides back downward again.
Eliza: No no no, I mean, take me! ~ desire for transfer ~
Eliza: Then....
Mytag: So bloody what Wolfa? He is a grown man as he has demonstrated often enough! It's none of our business what he does in his copious spare time!
Wolfa is a bit hurt by Mytag's lack of interest and concern.
Wolfa: Very well then, sorry to have disturbed you.
Wolfa goes off to see if Hajene Farris is interested in what one of her people seems to be up to.
Wolfa signals at the door to the office that hajene Farris has taken over.
Wise Snake is just showing out a family of four, whose two ladies have had 5 children of Riyyh's (besides being his children themselves).
Wise Snake looks after them, thinking that this marital counselling thing is getting really old really fast.
Wise Snake: ~beat~
Wise Snake: Ah, hello Wolfa.
Wolfa steps aside for the departing troup.
Wise Snake doesn't bother trying to pump up any false enthusiasm since Wolfa's not one of the problem cases.
Wolfa: I'm sorry to disturb you Hajene Farris, but the truth of the matter is....
Wise Snake: Yes?
Wolfa: ~ hesitates ~
Wise Snake goes to sit down at her desk.
Wolfa: Well, it concerns the Sectuib and one of your people.
Wise Snake: Have a seat, if you want.
Wise Snake: Yes, go on?
Wolfa: The girl, the Gen, ummm Elspeth?
Wolfa: Well, ummm, I think you should hurry.
Wise Snake scratches her ratty mane.
Wise Snake: Eliza?
Wise Snake: Hurry?
Wise Snake: ~alarm~
Wise Snake: What has she done??
Wolfa: I mean, I don't know that they are going to try transfer....
Wolfa: But it certainly looked like something was about to happen!
Wolfa is more than satisfied by the reaction.
Wise Snake leaps over her desk in a single bound.
Wise Snake: Where!!
Wolfa: In Riy - the Sectuib's office!
Wolfa leaps out of the way
Wise Snake augments out of the office.
Mytag decides that, although what Wolfa said has no bearing on the matter at all, he really should go check up on Riyyh.
Mytag doesn't hurry, he just has to walk fast because of all the work he has to do - honest.
Mytag goes to signal at the door, but figures that, with Riyyh in need, he should well and truly know that he is there anyway.
Mytag mutters under his breath and opens the door.
Mytag: What the shen!
Riyyh appears to have his hands, and mouth, full.
Riyyh zlins Mytag come in behind him.
Mytag's first thought is that Riyyh must have had transfer....
Mytag's second thought was that Wolfa wasn't exaggerating.
Mytag's third thought is that Riyyh better damn well find another fifth contact if they are going to have transfer any time soon.
Riyyh zlins Mytag come in behind him.
Riyyh hastily disengages from Eliza.
Mytag: Riyyh!
Riyyh: Mytag! ~~surprised~~
Mytag notices that not only are Riyyh's ronaplin glands swollen, but there is ronaplin seemingly all over the place.
Mytag: ~ Here for you, enticing, selyn available on tap ~
Riyyh jumps up in a hurry, his shirt hanging off him in shreds.
Mytag: You don't want her Riyyh, she is a Second. Don't do it....
Riyyh: Mytag, I can assure you, it is not necessary, I am perfectly in control.
Riyyh's tentacles [and laterals] wave as he tries to appear convincing.
Mytag moves over close to him
Riyyh does find Mytag's field very interesting, however.
Mytag: ~ your Gen ~
Eliza: Waaa?
Eliza sits up, wondering what happened as her headache returns.
Wise Snake flies into the room at level 10 augmentation, slamming the door nearly off the hinges.
Eliza struggles to get back into her shirt.
Wise Snake: What in bloody shen -
Mytag concentrates entirely on Riyyh.
Mytag: [a hurricane could hit at the moment and not disturb his concentration]
Eliza: Snake? ~ oooohhh my head ~
Wise Snake takes in the scene of a half-naked [and half-satisfied... and half-hung over] Eliza, a half-clothed Riyyh with high intil, and Mytag.
Mytag: It's not too early. ~ enticing ~
Mytag: Not after the month you have had. ~ sympathy, kindness ~
Riyyh: Mytag, really. You're over-reacting, I'm perfectly capable of waiting... [pauses at Mytag's projection of sympathy/kindness]
Mytag: ~ strong selyn offering ~
Riyyh forgets what he was going to say as he goes nearer to Mytag to enjoy the soothing and enticing field.
Wise Snake circles around them to block Eliza's field from having any effect whatsoever on the transfer.
Mytag gently takes Riyyh's arms in transfer position, running his thumbs softly over his lateral sheaths.
Riyyh shivers and falls toward Mytag as the Donor's field and fingers do their magic.
Riyyh: ~~need~~
Mytag: ~ release your need to me ~
Riyyh seizes Mytag's arms with desperate force, seeking a [very conventional] fifth contact.
Mytag returns the 5th contact strongly.
Mytag: ~ desire to give ~
Riyyh draws. ~~hunger/seeking~~
Mytag: ~ offering/giving ~
Mytag tries to push strongly, remembering that Riyyh's draw is somewhat faster then he is used to.
Riyyh allows Mytag to take control after a hesitation.
Mytag feels out the channel's need, siphoning selyn into the empty systems.
Mytag keeps control, offering a soothing, healthy alternative to need and stress.
Riyyh remains open to the incoming selyn
Riyyh: ~~acceptance/fulfillment of need~~
Eliza blinks and tries to hide behind a cushion.
Eliza suspects that she is probably in trouble.
Mytag: ~ satisfaction ~
Wise Snake is frowning ferociously [on her face; her nager remains perfect]
Riyyh passively allows Mytag to end it.
Mytag lets Riyyh break contact when he is ready.
Riyyh's eyes become aware.
Riyyh looks at Mytag, for the moment still clutching his arms.
Riyyh then suddenly lets go, backing away with a distraught expression.
Riyyh turns and flees the office.
Mytag gets pushed backwards, and only catches himself from falling with discipline.
Eliza suddenly feels very exposed.
Wise Snake's face goes still.
Wise Snake looks at Mytag.
Eliza does up buttons as unobtrusively as possible behind the pillow.
Wise Snake: Well? Go after him.
Mytag sits on the desk, feeling drained in more ways then one.
Mytag: Go after him? If he had wanted me with him he wouldn't have run out.
Mytag thinks that this is obvious to anyone.
Wise Snake: He wasn't thinking that clearly, Mytag. Go on.
Mytag: Snake, as I told you, I'd give him a perfectly satisfying transfer, anything other than that is up to him.
Mytag: It doesn't look like he was doing so badly. It might be better if she [indicates Eliza] should go after him.
Wise Snake's eyes light up with a perfect rage, barely controlled.
Wise Snake: Do you have any interest whatsoever in being First Companion in this House?
Mytag doesn't really feel up to handling a Farris in a rage at the moment.
Wise Snake: Because if you don't....
Mytag: If you will excuse me, I have work to do. [and his own shock and post reaction to work through]
Mytag: ~ depressed ~
Mytag walks out, closing the door on her words.
Wise Snake: Good grief.
Wise Snake kicks the "Way of the Nager" across the room.
Wise Snake: Why must I deal with incompetence?? [yells at the heavens]
Eliza wonders where her underpants have gone to.
Wise Snake turns upon Eliza.
Wise Snake: And what in shen were you thinking?
Wise Snake: If you had succeeded in enticing him, he either would have been badly shorted or he would have killed you.
Wise Snake: That's what Naros needs, a junct Sectuib.
Wise Snake picks up the discarded glass and sniffs the remains of the yellow liquid.
Wise Snake: Ucch.
Wise Snake throws the glass into a corner where it breaks.
Eliza: I wasn't thinking anything!
Eliza: ~ honest ~
Wise Snake finally notices Eliza's semi-unclothed state.
Eliza: ~ ouch ~
Wise Snake 's eyes widen.
Eliza looks rather forlorn.
Wise Snake: I hope you realize he couldn't have possibly been sexually aroused while in hard need.
Wise Snake: Look... forget what I said about spending time with him from now on.
Wise Snake: I'll find somebody else.
Wise Snake turns and stalks from the room.
Eliza would sob but it would hurt her head too much.
Eliza decides that maybe another drink of that stuff will make her head feel better. She remembers dimly her father always said that his drinking was medicinal....
Wise Snake gets to the corridor and then turns in the direction of Wolfa's office.
Wise Snake: ~~simmering fury under the surface~~
Wise Snake's temper was never the best anyway, and this close to need it's positively vile.
Wise Snake walks into Wolfa's office.
Wolfa is buried in work, figuring that's the best way to get the image out of her mind.
Wise Snake zlins Wolfa immediately and thoroughly.
Wolfa looks up at cringes at the fury in front of her.
Wolfa: Oh no! He didn't....
Wolfa: ~ worry ~
Wise Snake: Never mind that.
Wise Snake: Go find your Sectuib and make sure he's okay.
Wise Snake: That bloody Mytag let him run off alone and wouldn't go after.
Wolfa gets up all flustered.
Wolfa: Oh oh oh, is he okay?
Wolfa: Where did he go?
Wolfa: What about the Gen - is she... OK?
Wise Snake: Eliza? Yes. ~disgusted~
Wise Snake: Mytag came in and served Riyyh transfer before anything happened.
Wolfa: Oh thank goodness!
Wise Snake's definition of "anything" is a bit narrower than some
Wolfa puts her hand over her heart.
Wolfa: Do you know where he went?
Wise Snake: I don't know where he went. He ran out of the room the moment the transfer was over.
Wise Snake: I don't think he knew where he was going himself.
Wise Snake: Go on, find him. I've got nobody in the office right now.
Wise Snake turns and leaves the room abruptly.
Wolfa runs out to find Riyyh.
Riyyh has found his way out of the admin building and is fleeing blindly down the street toward his house.
Riyyh is so wrapped up in the horror and misery of the last two weeks that he can barely take notice of his surroundings.
Wolfa goes to the door and zlins for Riyyh.
Wolfa can't zlin anything though the haze of the ambient rather uncomfortable feeling.
Wolfa heads for Riyyh's home, although he hardly uses it, on the basis that if he isn't thinking clearly that is where he will go.
Riyyh's house, a large fine house overlooking the Householding and the town below, has been more or less off limits since the trouble began, but he is no condition to remember that now.
Wolfa hurries along, ignoring greetings (and the occasional threat) in her hurry to make sure that the Sectuib is all right.
Riyyh reaches the door and stumbles inside.
Wolfa goes along the path, almost but not quite, at a run, head down so she won't be stopped by anyone.
Wolfa: ~ in a hurry ~
Riyyh rushes to his room, up on the top floor, and flings himself on the bed.
Wolfa stops near Riyyh's house and zlins again, still nothing.
Riyyh: ~~horror/misery/self-loathing~~
Wolfa hurries up the steps to the door, hesitates, then opens it and sticks her head inside.
Wolfa: Riyyh?
Wolfa steps into the hallway and zlins him upstairs.
Wolfa: Ah.
Riyyh hears someone downstairs and hides his head under the pillow.
Wolfa hurries up the stairs to his bedroom door. [she surmises it must be his bedroom, never having been invited there before]
Wolfa: Riyyh? Father?
Wolfa: ~ hesitant ~
Riyyh cries out involuntarily at the word "father".
Riyyh: ~anguish~
Riyyh: [muffled]
Wolfa: ~ sorrow ~
Wolfa: Oh please don't!
Wolfa rushes to him and sits down next to him on the bed. She leans over and holds him.
Wolfa: ~ sympathy ~
Riyyh gives up his clutch on the pillow and grabs onto Wolfa instead.
Wolfa: Oh please Father, don't cry so! I can't stand it when you cry!
Wolfa, not so far from post herself, bursts into tears.
Riyyh sobs on Wolfa's shoulder.
Riyyh: What have I done? What have I done, everything is in ruins!
Riyyh: ~~self-flagellation~~
Riyyh: Ruby and Emerald are gone, Mytag and Tictoc can barely stand to be near me, and the House is being run by outsiders.
Wolfa: No, no! You couldn't help it! You couldn't help being who you are!
Wolfa: You are a loving and caring man! they just don't understand.
Riyyh hugs Wolfa tightly, seeking the approval she brings.
Wolfa: [approval is a bit strong, sympathy and an attempt to understand at least]
Riyyh: [OK... he's seeking the approval he desperately wants]
Wolfa: ~ poor Riyyh ~
Riyyh: But Mytag... and Tictoc... they want me to resign.
Riyyh: And all those people, those angry people....
Riyyh sobs afresh.
Riyyh: I failed them all.
Wolfa: I know, I know ~anguish ~
Riyyh: I'm a terrible Sectuib.
Wolfa pats him on the back
Riyyh: Somebody should take me out and bury me.
Wolfa: No no! We still need you!
Wolfa: What would we be without you!
Riyyh: I should just let that horrible Hajene Farris take over everything.
Wolfa: No, no!!!!
Wolfa: ~ panic ~
Wolfa: You can't do that!
Riyyh: ~~despair~~
Wolfa: Oh please Riyyh!!!
Wolfa thinks that there has to be some way to channel his post reaction into something positive....
Riyyh: But I can't do anything right.
Riyyh: All I'm doing by staying here is helping destroy Naros.
Wolfa: You can! You have! You have looked after us for so many years! You can't give up now, now that we need you so badly!
Wolfa: ~ denial ~
Riyyh: But Wolfa... nobody wants me around.
Wolfa: No! Oh please Riyyh, can't you see how much Naros needs [its father] you?
Wolfa: Of course they do! They are just confused at the moment!
Riyyh hides his face against her hair.
Wolfa: Give them time, please try to give them time.
Riyyh: I can't bear the thought of facing them again.
Riyyh: I didn't want to hurt anybody.
Riyyh: ~~pleading~~
Wolfa: I know I know.
Wolfa: Have you considered.... a holiday?
Riyyh: I can't leave here! ~panic~
Wolfa: Just a brief trip maybe....
Riyyh clutches Wolfa.
Wolfa: When you got back, everything would be forgotten! It would all be back to normal again!
Wolfa is quite entranced by this idea.
Riyyh: If I left now I could never show my face here again... please, Wolfa, do not speak of this!
Riyyh: ~terror~
Wolfa: Oh Riy... Father.
Wolfa doesn't know what to do.
Wolfa wonders what Ruby usually did to help get Riyyh through this.
Wolfa realises that that really isn't a suitable question, considering.
Wolfa understands why Mytag refused this part of the job.
Wolfa: You have to be strong now.
Wolfa: For all of us, your children.
Riyyh tries to get a grip.
Wolfa actually thinks that she is helping
Riyyh: ~desperation~
Wolfa: You have to be the father figure for us, show us the way, lead us onwards....
Riyyh tries to zlin Wolfa for some sign of love, affection or trust.
Wolfa brings herself back to the ground.
Wolfa: ~ affection and sympathy ~
Riyyh fastens onto the affection/sympathy and tries to focus on that.
Riyyh takes a few deep breaths.
Wolfa: Feeling a bit better?
Riyyh is still clinging to Wolfa as if she were the last life buoy in the middle of a great storming ocean.
Riyyh: I... I think so. ~not really~
Wolfa hates being nursemaid. Her unappealing appearance usually leads people to assume that she is very good at the "genuine carer" role, but it's one she isn't particularly fond of.
Riyyh: Can you just... just stay here for a little while?
Riyyh: ~pathetic~
Wolfa: Was there, anyone in, particular... that you wanted to have with you?
Riyyh sighs.
Wolfa: Who me? ~ surprise ~ Of course, if that's what you want.
Riyyh: I... I wanted it to be Mytag. [admits]
Riyyh: ~pain~
Riyyh: I wanted it to be Ruby.
Riyyh: ~pain/truth~
Wolfa: ~ hurt ~
Wolfa: Of course you did.
Wolfa: That's okay, I understand.
Riyyh's heart quails at Wolfa's hurt.
Wolfa: It was evil, evil for Ruby to run off like that!
Riyyh: I'm sorry, Wolfa.
Riyyh start crying again, helplessly.
Wolfa: It's okay Riyyh, I do understand, really I do.
Riyyh: I'm no good, I can't do anybody any good at all.
Wolfa: Of course you can!
Wolfa: Think of all that you have done for Naros! Well, not all, I mean, not that, but everything else!
Riyyh: Nobody wants me any more!
Riyyh: I'm sorry I said Mytag.
Riyyh: Could you... would you stay here with me?
Wolfa: ~ hesitant ~
Wolfa: I'm not sure that would be proper... well all right, if you want me to.
Riyyh: Or... or if you could find somebody else.
Riyyh: I don't want to be alone.
Wolfa heart drops.
Wolfa sniffs, hurt.
Wolfa: What about that Gen, Elsa or whatever her name is?
Wolfa: You seems quite taken with her.
Riyyh's ~misery~ deepens at Wolfa's hurt.
Wolfa thinks, even before he was post!
Riyyh lets go of Wolfa and falls back to the bed.
Riyyh: It's not... Wolfa, I shouldn't have asked that of you.
Riyyh: I'll just... go on, if you don't want to stay, or stay if you do.
Wolfa tries to zlin through the puddle of confusion to what he really wants.
Riyyh curls up and tries to figure out where he went wrong, so many years ago.
Riyyh: ~~depression~~
Wolfa pats his shoulder.
Wolfa: Do you want me to get Eelain?
Wolfa: Ellie? Elias?
Wolfa: Whatever her name is?
Wolfa: Oh dear dear Father...
Wolfa pats him on the back helplessly.
Hero bounces into Tictoc's office.
Hero: Hajene Tictoc! Hajene Tictoc!!
Hero: ~~very excited, ambient in tatters~~
Hero: Wow! Hey Tictoc!
Tictoc: Oh shen, [drops petri dish] Hero! Control yourself!
Hero runs up to the channel.
Hero: What? Oh yeah. ~nice nager~
Tictoc puts a trembling hand to her head.
Hero: Guess what?!
Tictoc: What now.
Hero: Mytag walked into Riyyh's office and caught him making love to Wise Snake's Eliza, and his intil was up! But Mytag gave him transfer and then he ran out of the room! Snake made Wolfa go get him, and she never came back!!
Hero: And Snake threw a fit and screamed at Mytag, and then at Eliza.
Tictoc: Riyyh is all right?
Tictoc: ~ concerned ~
Hero: I went up there just a minute ago and Eliza is passed out on Riyyh's office couch with no pants on and her underwear is on the chandelier.
Hero: And there's ronaplin all over the place!!
Tictoc: But is Riyyh all right?
Hero: Mytag didn't even say a word he just stomped right past me, I think he's over in the other room.
Hero pauses.
Hero: I dunno, Mytag refused to go so Snake sent Wolfa and she hasn't been back yet.
Tictoc: ~ worry ~
Hero doesn't understand why Tictoc is ignoring all her titillating news and going straight for the boring bits.
Hero: I think he drank some of that yellow stuff from Boralis... either that or Eliza had two glasses.
Tictoc: ~ alarm ~
Hero: Last I heard he was running through the streets looking like a ghost was chasing him.
Tictoc: Well you better go tell Hajene Farris to make sure that Eliza is all right. I'll go see if I can find the Sectuib.
Hero: Yes, Tictoc.
Hero: Can I come with?
Tictoc: You can go find Hajene Farris first and then you can help me
Hero: OK!!
Hero: ~~wow~~
Hero bounces out of the room, leaving crazy ripples in the ambient.
Tictoc puts her hand back to her head and cleans up the broken glass at her feet.
Wolfa sits with Riyyh until he stops sobbing.
Riyyh: ~~numb~~
Wolfa: Can I get you anything? Some trin? Something to eat?
Wolfa feels totally useless.
Riyyh has passed through various states of ~despair~ ~loss~ ~pain~ ~fear~ etc. and has finally reached ~numb~ and ~desolate~
Wolfa knows what makes her feel better when she is post, but she can't offer him that. Or... there is the other alternative....
Wolfa: Some chocolate?
Riyyh realizes he is going to have to move again eventually.
Riyyh: Tea would be nice, thank you. [desolate]
Riyyh pushes himself up and sits on the edge of the bed, head in his hands.
Wolfa: Will you be all right while I go down and make it?
Riyyh: Yes... yes, I think so.
Riyyh: Thank you, Wolfa.
Riyyh: ~~saddened~~
Wolfa: Well, all right. You call me if you want me for anything.
Wolfa heads downstairs to make the tea, her heart breaking.
Wolfa puts the water on to boil and looks around for something to write a note on.
Wolfa finds paper and pencil and writes a quick note saying where the Sectuib is and his approximate condition.
Wolfa goes out of the veranda and hails someone walking past.
Hero comes bouncing up to Wolfa.
Hero: Hi!!!
Hero: Is he in here?
Hero: Where's Tictoc?
Hero: ~enthusiastic~
Hero: You want that taken back to the admin?
Hero snatches the note from Wolfa.
Hero turns and runs back up the road like a shooting star.
Wolfa: Hero! No!
Hero stops.
Hero comes back more slowly.
Wolfa vows to go hypo and throttle that mad Gen.
Hero: ~~oops~~
Hero: What do you want me to do, Wolfa?
Wolfa: Stop running around like that! Wait until you are told what I want! Don't make assumptions!
Hero blinks.
Hero blinks.
Hero blinks.
Wolfa: Take that to Tictoc or Hajene Farris, no one else you understand!
Hero: OK Wolfa.
Hero: OK Wolfa.
Wolfa: ~ growl ~
Hero looks wide eyed at the normally nice Wolfa.
Hero: Okay, Wolfa.
Hero turns and walks off.
Hero thinks Wolfa sure is a grouch.
Hero waits until she is out of easy zlinning range of Wolfa and then starts to skip toward the medical center, hoping to intercept Tictoc halfway there.
Wolfa feels bad for snapping at the kid.
Hero is not about to go see Hajene Farris again, no sirree.
Wolfa also feels hopeful that Hero will either grow out of it quickly or be assigned to someone else.
Hero spots Hajene Tictoc up the road.
Hero: Hajene Tictoc! Hajene Tictoc!
Wolfa makes the tea and takes it up to Riyyh.
Hero bounces wildly down the road toward the small [seemingly hunched over] figure of the channel.
Tictoc: Have you found him?
Hero reads the note.
Hero: Yeah!!
Hero hands the note to Tictoc.
Tictoc straightens up wearily.
Tictoc: What's this?
Tictoc reads the note.
Tictoc: Oh...
Tictoc: Wolfa gave this to you herself?
Hero: Yeah.
Hero can't wait until Tictoc is done with her so she can repeat the news to everybody else she knows.
Hero: (that is, everybody)
Tictoc: How did she seem?
Hero looks up and around and in all directions as she tries to remember.
Hero: Kind of grouchy.
Tictoc: Then you should go back and be with her, don't you think?
Tictoc: What did she say?
Hero thinks.
Hero: She told me to stop making assumptions and to wait until I'm told what she wants.
Hero: ~truthfully~
Tictoc: Oh, well, that isn't exactly what I was asking.
Tictoc: What did she say to do with the note?
Hero: To give it to you or [nose wrinkles] Hajene Farris, and nobody else.
Tictoc: Anything else?
Hero: Ummmmmm [thinking really hard]
Hero: Yes. She said I should stop running around on her.
Hero: Er... I mean, stop running around.
Tictoc blinks.
Tictoc: Oh. I see.
Tictoc: Well, I'll take this note to Hajene Farris. You are to go straight, and I mean straight, back to Wolfa and help her you understand?
Tictoc: No talking to anyone, just straight back there.
Tictoc: I'll join you shortly.
Hero: OK!
Hero: ~bounce bounce~
Hero turns and runs wildly back in the direction of Riyyh's house.
Go on to Episode #19: My Brain 'Urts
Return to the Index of Episodes