Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #29: Topics of Some Conversational Awkwardness (10/3/98)
Riyyh is in "his" office doing a bit of correspondence while waiting for Tictoc to show up.
Riyyh has asked Tictoc to swing by his office for a quick chat.
Tictoc signals at the door.
Nick is keeping vigil over Snake in Riyyh's real office, smelling a tad better since Linn persuaded him to take a shower.
Riyyh: Come in.
Tictoc: You wanted to see me, Sectuib?
Riyyh puts the letters aside.
Riyyh: Ah, yes, thank you for coming, Tictoc. I know how busy you are.
Riyyh: ~~right blend of gratitude and geniality~~
Tictoc: No problem. What's up?
Riyyh: Please, have a seat.
Tictoc sits down.
Riyyh: It's about young Eliza.
Tictoc: ~ quickly quelled fear reaction ~
Riyyh is surprised by the reaction and studies Tictoc for a moment.
Tictoc: What about her?
Riyyh: Well, she came to me with some concerns about her relations to her friends, specifically Nick.
Tictoc: Uhhuh.
Tictoc: ~ controlled showfield ~
Riyyh: She is afraid to approach Nick, Hajene Farris and possibly some of others because of what happened.
Nick is not, however, feeling better, since Snake shows no discernible improvement.
Riyyh: Yet, she wants to find out what they are feeling about her. She asked... [clears his throat] Well, she originally asked me if I would speak to Nick for her, but of course that would be impossible.
Tictoc: I'd say so.
Riyyh: However, she seems to trust you and would be very grateful if perhaps you would speak to Nick instead.
Tictoc: So you want me to talk to Nick to see how he feels about the person who saved you by slamming his channel?
Riyyh thinks this is a bit indelicate.
Riyyh: ~caution~
Riyyh: Eliza is in a very difficult position right now. She was forced, by others' inaction and by the danger of the situation, to make a split-second decision.
Riyyh: Perhaps she was not qualified, or prepared, to make that decision perfectly but as matters stand she was the person forced into the situation.
Nick pinches Snake's upper arm once more, hoping to detect a reaction.
Tictoc: That's not being questioned by me, Riyyh. She saved your life.
Riyyh: You and I understand, of course, that one must accept what such a person decides in these types of cases, but the rest of Snake's people may not be either experienced enough, or understanding enough, to think this through.
Tictoc: Exactly.
Tictoc: The sooner we get someone from Zeor, here the better.
Riyyh: What Eliza is afraid of, is that the others will treat this as a malicious act on her part... Tictoc, listen to me.
Tictoc: I'm listening.
Nick slumps when no reaction occurs.
Riyyh: Could you please talk to Nick for me? For Eliza. Not to find out anything, but to smooth the path for her to rejoin her friends again.
Tictoc: Yes, I could do that.
Riyyh: ~relief~
Riyyh: Thank you, Tictoc.
Riyyh: I knew I could count on you.
Riyyh smiles.
Nick goes back to projecting ~~ healing support ~~ at Snake, hoping that it will eventually do some good.
Tictoc: I'll get someone to sit with Hajene Farris while I take Nick out for some food or something. I don't think that it would be advisable to have this conversation in the same room with her.
Riyyh: Whatever you think would be best. [nods]
Tictoc: Have you sent a message off to Zeor yet?
Riyyh: I'm.... I'll get to it.
Riyyh's hands and tentacles clutch each other under the desk.
Tictoc gives Riyyh a long level look.
Riyyh winces at the look.
Tictoc: Right. Well, I'll go see if Nick is in a receptive mood or not.
Riyyh: Thank you for handling this for me, Tictoc.
Tictoc gets up and goes to the door. "No problem, Riyyh. What are children for anyway?"
Tictoc leaves.
Riyyh rubs his jaw.
Tictoc heads around the corner to where Riyyh's real office, now Snake's hospital room, is and finds Eliza sitting in the corridor outside.
Tictoc: Oh good. Eliza, would you mind sitting with Hajene Farris for awhile?
Tictoc smiles reassuringly at her.
Eliza: Me? No! I wouldn't mind at all. But I don't think....
Nick rubs his jaw, which has the beginnings of a nice beard on it.
Eliza look nervously at the closed door.
Tictoc: Well, let's go see shall we?
Tictoc opens the door without signalling. She is, after all, the healer here.
Nick goes over everything he knows about slams and their consequences for the three hundredth time.
Nick hears the door open and turns, using his nager to make sure no disturbance reaches Snake.
Tictoc nods at Nick and smiles (that same reassuring bedside manner smile) then goes to check on her patient.
Nick: There's been no change.
Nick is starting to get a bit discouraged.
Tictoc: That's encouraging.
Tictoc takes Snake's limp body into position for a deep zlin.
Eliza hovers around the door.
Nick adjusts his nager to maximize Tictoc's perceptions.
Tictoc adjusts Snake's arms once again and stands up.
Linn signals outside of Riyyh's temporary office.
Tictoc: Nick, I'd like to talk to you about this situation. I don't think that this is the place to do it. How do you feel about coming to my office for 1/2 hour?
Nick fights down dread as he assumes that this means bad news.
Nick: She's worse?
Riyyh: Yes, come in.
Tictoc: Not at all. Her situation is completely unchanged. Which is, by the way, good news.
Riyyh puts down his pen.
Linn enters the office.
Riyyh: Linn... what a surprise.
Linn: Sectuib Riyyh, might I have a moment of your time?
Riyyh: Of course. Please, have a seat.
Riyyh: Some tea?
Nick: Good news? She should be healing.
Linn: Thank you.
Linn: You always have such nice tea.
Tictoc: She is in a healing state. If anything... negative... had been going to happen, it would have by now.
Linn doesn't stop to think that most of the tea she drank in Bender Cove was either the bulk brand served at the Sime Center or the cheap brand Snake prefers.
Nick: Do you have any idea when she'll come out of it?
Tictoc: I'd really like to talk to you about it - elsewhere.
Riyyh: We grow it here. Would you like a tour of the fields sometime?
Nick: I shouldn't leave Snake.
Riyyh gets up and prepares a cup of tea for Linn.
Tictoc: She is all right, Eliza will stay with her.
Linn: I admit that one field looks much like another to me.
Nick: Eliza??
Nick: ~~ shocked amazement ~~
Tictoc: Yes, she is high field at the moment and cares deeply about Snake.
Tictoc: That would be my recommendation for any Gen looking after a Sime in this situation.
Nick: I'm sure she does, but her control of her field is questionable.
Tictoc: I doubt that anyone is going to pull a knife in these situations [dryly]. And I really do want to discuss this with you where we can't disturb Hajene Farris. Don't you think that would be best?
Riyyh hands the cup of tea to Linn and returns to his seat.
Riyyh: I trust you have been well?
Nick's own control wavers as he considers.
Tictoc balances the fields for him.
Nick: Well, I suppose we could go into the hall. The office is pretty well insulated.
Linn: Well enough. But I did want to ask you about Bum Bum.
Riyyh: Ah, yes. He has been doing a good job in the infirmary, from all accounts.
Riyyh smiles at Linn.
Tictoc smiles and turns to Eliza.
Tictoc: We will be just outside and down the hall a little way if you need us. Call me if there are any changes at all, understand?
Eliza nods dumbly, amazed that Nick agreed to leave her alone with Snake.
Eliza: ~ hope ~
Tictoc leads Nick out of the room and turns left to where there is a bay window a short distance down with a window seat which overlooks the decorative gardens.
Tictoc sits down and makes room for Nick.
Riyyh zlins Linn curiously when she does not go on.
Riyyh: Is everything all right?
Tictoc: I have found out a few details about Hajene Farris', Snake's, medical past. But there are some discrepancies that I wished to talk to you about.
Tictoc: Is she a heavy user of recreational drugs?
Nick: Well, I'm not sure if she takes those horse tranquilizers for recreation, or just survival.
Linn: I'm fine. It's Bum Bum I wanted to talk about.
Riyyh: Okay. [encouragingly]
Riyyh: What would you like to talk about?
Tictoc: Does she often pass out as an effect of the tablets?
Linn: I wanted to know how his last transfer went with you... and if he's talked to you about staying at Naros.
Nick: Only when she takes three of them at once.
Tictoc nods. "What about catatonia. Have you ever witnessed her in a catatonic state?"
Linn: It bothers him to discuss his... condition... with me, I think.
Nick winces.
Nick: Several times.
Tictoc: That is, seemingly awake but unresponsive.
Riyyh: The transfer went very well. [kindly] It was very normal and straightforward.
Tictoc: I see. If you withhold these "medications" from her, does she become violent?
Riyyh: He did ask me a few questions the other day, although he sounded rather undecided at the time. I invited him to come back and speak to me about it again any time he likes.
Riyyh: Have you and he discussed it?
Linn: ~~ relief ~~
Linn: I'm glad. He hasn't enjoyed channel's transfer in the past, though part of that might have been having to take it from Snake.
Nick: Mostly, she runs off and gets more.
Linn: Well, he did mention it the other day.
Linn: I wanted to know if he'd made a decision.
Tictoc: So you had never witnessed her being violent?
Riyyh: Not as far as I know. I'm sorry. [gently]
Riyyh: Perhaps you and he could come discuss it with me together? Do you think he might be more comfortable talking about it that way?
Nick: She has a temper, if that's what you mean.
Tictoc: I witnessed that.
Linn: Perhaps. If Bum Bum wishes to, that is.
Riyyh: Of course.
Linn: It really is his decision what he wants to do with his life, not mine.
Riyyh zlins Linn.
Tictoc: To answer your question from before, I really can't say how long she will be unconscious. As long as she needs is the answer - but only Snake knows how long that will be.
Linn doesn't know herself what she would prefer Bum Bum to do.
Riyyh sighs.
Nick casts a worried eye at the office door.
Riyyh: Of course, however he might benefit from your support and guidance in this anyway.
Nick: I've never seen her looking this bad.
Tictoc: She will wake herself up before she goes into need again I would suspect.
Riyyh: You are, after all, acting as his Companion in day to day matters.
Tictoc thought she looked sort of peaceful and relaxed, the first time she had ever seen her that way.
Linn: Not much of a Companion, I'm afraid.
Linn smiles wryly.
Tictoc: There is the question of what we are going to do when she awakes. She did, after all, make an attempt on the life of the Sectuib of this house.
Nick: Well, she had provocation.
Riyyh: You do what you can. [comfortingly]
Nick: And if you're going to prosecute everyone who's wanted Riyyh's hide over the past few weeks, well, I don't think there would be enough people left to make up a full jury.
Riyyh: That's all any of us can do, is do what we can, and hope our friends can find their way through their troubles with our assistance.
Tictoc: There is a difference between attempted murder and assault. Thanks to one of your own people it is only attempted murder however.
Linn: Still, it's not much for Bum Bum to be staking his life on.
Riyyh wonders what Linn is getting at.
Linn: I couldn't really blame him if he chose to see what you could offer instead.
Riyyh spreads his hands and tentacles.
Tictoc: I think that considering the circumstances we can afford to be lenient.
Riyyh: He is welcome here if he chooses it, of course.
Nick: I'm glad to hear that.
Nick thinks that Naros can afford to be better than lenient, given that Snake's saved their House for them.
Nick also thinks, however, that Snake (once restored to herself) is quite capable of taking appropriate restitution on her way out of town.
Tictoc: Of course, it would never had happened if you had been more frank with her.
Tictoc: Holding back information from your channel wasn't a wise move in retrospect was it?
Linn: Shall I see if he wishes to discuss it, then?
Tictoc: Riyyh offered you a position here not because he wanted to "steal" you, but because you indicated unhappiness with your present position.
Riyyh: Why yes, that sounds like a good idea. [smiles]
Riyyh: Let me know what I can do to make it any easier.
Linn: I will. And... thank you.
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh: I look forward to seeing you both, then.
Nick frowns at Tictoc.
Nick: I don't recall asking for your advice on how to handle my relationship with Snake--or Riyyh.
Tictoc: I don't recall giving advice.
Linn slips out of the office and goes in search of Bum Bum.
Nick: Good, then there's no reason to continue this discussion.
Nick casts another anxious look at the office door.
Riyyh sighs and thinks, "what a nice couple!"
Tictoc: There is no problem in there, Nick. Eliza will come and get us if she needs us.
Nick: Eliza is less than half trained, and she hasn't worked all that much with Snake.
Nick: She could easily overlook a problem until it became dangerous.
Tictoc: She is more then capable of retaining a positive field for Snake, and it's important for her to understand that she isn't being blamed in this.
Nick frowns.
Tictoc: Believe me, if anything is likely to happen in there it will either be dramatic enough for anyone to notice, or happen so quietly that no one will notice.
Nick: What makes you think she isn't being blamed for this?
Tictoc raises her eyebrows and shows surprise on her face [but not in her field as Nick can't zlin anyway]
Nick: This isn't the first time she's panicked and slammed every Sime in sight.
Nick: In fact, I believe that she killed at least one poor Sime.
Nick: Every time, she swears that she'll learn control.
Nick: I'm not sure she's capable of it.
Tictoc: Mytag did mention this. Apparently the Sime she "killed" was attacking her and her channel with a knife at the time.
Tictoc: I'm beginning to wonder if she has a phobia against knives!
Nick: Maybe.
Nick: Whatever the reason, she didn't have to do a fraction of the damage she did, to Snake or her other victims, in order to handle the situation.
Tictoc: As to having no control, although there was a bit of sideways leakage it was pointed directly at the attacker.
Tictoc: She has more control then she knows, I expect. She just doesn't know when and how to use it.
Nick: And until she learns, she's a menace to any Sime, any time something goes wrong.
Tictoc: It's understandable that you feel animosity towards her, I wouldn't let you near your channel if you didn't!
Tictoc: Yes, that is exactly what Mytag said - but about Linn.
Nick: I don't feel animosity towards her...much. But I can't afford to trust her at all, until she becomes trustworthy herself.
Tictoc: Almost word for word.
Tictoc: I think you trust her more then you realise Nick, on a subconscious level. Otherwise why did you leave her alone with Snake now?
Nick: Linn has worked hard and overcome much of her Simephobia. Eliza appears to have made little or no progress on overcoming her habit of slamming Simes.
Tictoc: Personally I'm extremely glad that she did what had to be done. If she hadn't, Riyyh would be dead and so would your channel.
Tictoc: Don't be confused. Snake rushed us. If she had succeeded she would have been slammed anyway, and a damn site harder, from multiple directions.
Tictoc: ~ threatening ~
Tictoc: She wouldn't have survived, we couldn't have let her.
Tictoc: A slamming Gen is dangerous yes, but a knife wielding channel is even more dangerous.
Nick ~~ threatens ~~ back, with all the authority of a Farris-trained Companion.
Nick: I think that's enough on that subject for now.
Tictoc: Don't threaten me here, Nick. You are guests in our Household and you personally have shown no manners since you got here.
Nick: We could have left you to murder your House's... father... yourselves, you know.
Tictoc: You did help us when asked. By that, I mean Hajene Farris helped when asked.
Tictoc: And for that we are grateful.
Tictoc: It doesn't cancel out attempted murder however.
Tictoc: If it were at all possible I would ask you to leave. However, we have an unconscious channel on our hands and Naros will never turn its back on anyone who needs help.
Nick raises an eyebrow at Tictoc.
Nick: You would ask us to leave, when your Sectuib specifically offered us hospitality?
Tictoc: Hospitality isn't usually paid for by a knife in the ribs.
Nick shrugs.
Nick: I am sure that Snake will be very interested in your perspective on hospitality when she wakes up.
Tictoc: I think that's enough for now. I'll let you get back to her.
Tictoc: Keep in mind what I have said.
Nick: Good.
Nick turns and reenters Riyyh's office.
Nick goes over to Snake.
Nick: Let me have her, Eliza.
Nick reaches out with his nager to ~~ support ~~ Snake.
Eliza cautiously relinquishes control to Nick.
Eliza: She hasn't moved.
Nick grunts absentminded approval at Eliza's relinquishment as he checks his channel carefully.
Nick: She hasn't moved much since you slammed her.
Eliza heads towards the door.
Nick: Are you in a hurry to go somewhere?
Eliza: [quietly] No, I was just going to wait outside... I didn't think you would want me in here.
Nick: Well, then, perhaps you'd like to make yourself useful?
Eliza: What do you want me to do?
Nick: Judging from Tictoc's attitude, there could be trouble when Snake is ready to move on..
Nick: I'm not sure that Riyyh has the ability to control his members at the moment.
Eliza: Oh.
Nick: It would be very useful to have more information on the more influential Naros members.
Eliza: What do you mean?
Nick: The Naros members live for gossip.
Eliza: I noticed that.
Nick: And yet, like most of us, they would rather that people didn't know some of the private details of their lives.
Eliza: You want me to spy?
Nick: Don't take any risks; being too nosy could do more harm than good.
Eliza nods.
Nick: But yes, if you happen to hear some interesting tidbits... well, that could be our ticket to safety.
Eliza knows exactly how to get it too.
Nick: And also, pass the word to Linn to make sure we're packed and ready to go at a moment's notice.
Nick: She'll know how to do it subtly.
Linn searches through the administrative building for Bum Bum.
Nick: And stay out of Tictoc's way. She wants Snake in the attrition cage.
Eliza: All right.
Linn pokes her nose into the cafeteria, to see if Bum Bum has dropped by for tea.
Eliza: I'll go now?
Nick nods.
Nick: Good luck.
Eliza slips out.
Nick goes back to Snake's side and returns to hovering.
Bum Bum sits slumped over, staring into the dark, lumpy depths of his tea cup.
Linn spots Bum Bum, and goes over to his table.
Linn: Bum Bum, what's the matter?
Linn: ~~ concern ~~
Linn sits next to Bum Bum and puts a hand on his arm.
Linn: It can't be turnover already, can it?
Bum Bum: Oh... hi Linn.
Bum Bum: ~depressed~
Linn: What's wrong?
Bum Bum: I just don't know what to do.
Linn ~~ supports ~~ Bum Bum.
Linn: About what?
Tictoc signals at Riyyh's door once again.
Riyyh: Yes, come in... [calls out]
Riyyh puts down the pen again.
Riyyh: [with four interruptions this morning, he is doing very well at avoiding writing that letter to Zeor]
Riyyh: ~relief mostly hidden~
Riyyh: Tictoc! Back so soon?
Riyyh zlins her in concern.
Riyyh: What's wrong?
Tictoc walks in. "Well I did what you asked. It wasn't easy and I don't know just how successful I was."
Tictoc: Nick seems to be under the impression that offering someone hospitality means that they are entitled to attempt murder.
Tictoc: He feels that we "owe" them for what happened.
Riyyh's eyebrows raise.
Riyyh: Please... would you like a seat? Some tea?
Riyyh hurries to fetch some tea for Tictoc.
Tictoc: Oh, that would be heaven.
Riyyh puts in some leaves from his special stash, then pours in boiling water from the ever-ready pot.
Bum Bum: About Snake. [admits]
Tictoc: You know, the whole bunch of them seems to be damn dangerous. I think that Mytag might have been right.
Bum Bum: Part of me wants to... you know... end it all.
Linn: But why? Why now, when you have not one, but two chances to live without killing?
Riyyh hands the tea to Tictoc.
Riyyh chooses a chair near her.
Riyyh: ~concern~
Linn is distressed by Bum Bum's sudden, apparently suicidal impulse.
Riyyh considers.
Tanzarra goes in search of Tictoc for more supplies.
Riyyh remembers Mytag's warnings about Linn. Granted, Linn has done nothing wrong at Naros, but the past can't be erased.
Tictoc: Thank you.
Riyyh thinks of Eliza's slam of Snake, and Snake's attempt at murder, and Bum Bum's junctedness.
Riyyh thinks of Griff and winces.
Riyyh: You may be right.
Riyyh: Although, Tanzarra seems harmless enough. [adds, after a moment]
Riyyh: And what has Nick done?
Linn: Bum Bum, you've told me that you don't like having to stay dependent on Snake.
Tictoc: Nick's under the impression that the attempted murder of the Sectuib of the Household where you are being treated as honoured guests is fine.
Bum Bum is very confused by Linn's line of conversation.
Bum Bum: I don't.
Linn: And now you have an offer to stay behind at Naros instead.
Linn: Wouldn't that be better than ending your life?
Bum Bum: Well yes, obviously!
Bum Bum: ~what the hell??????~
Tanzarra goes to Riyyh's office as she can't find Tictoc anywhere else.
Linn: Was Riyyh that bad?
Linn: He told me your transfer went well.
Linn wonders if a bad transfer could be responsible for Bum Bum's current depression.
Bum Bum is becoming even more depressed.
Bum Bum: I feel like I can't talk to you.
Riyyh: Tell me what happened.
Riyyh: ~support~
Riyyh thinks it sounds pretty bad and is glad he didn't try to have the conversation with Nick himself.
Linn: Bum Bum, if you have something to say to me, I promise to listen.
Linn: I can't swear to understand... there are too many things which still confuse me about life in Sime Territory.
Linn: But I will listen.
Bum Bum finds this very painful.
Bum Bum: Linn, I wasn't talking about committing suicide.
Bum Bum: Shen, I wouldn't dream of such a thing.
Bum Bum has maybe thought about it once or twice, during periods of extreme duress, such as during Sapis' poetry recitations, but he considers those incidents a sort of temporary insanity.
Linn: ~~ relief ~~
Bum Bum: I was talking about finishing off Snake.
Linn: ~~ shock ~~
Linn: But why?
Bum Bum: Wouldn't things be better that way?
Linn: For whom?
Linn: Nick would be devastated, Tanzarra might never be able to get over her problems....
Bum Bum: Nick would have a life and a mind of his own. Tanzarra could go back to the Tecton.
Bum Bum: Shen, it would even be better for Snake.
Linn: Would it really?
Linn: She's struggled so hard to live, I can't see her preferring to die.
Bum Bum: Who said anything about preference?
Bum Bum: People don't always prefer what's best for them, especially beforehand.
Linn: Still, that's beside the point. The real question is, why do you want her dead?
Bum Bum shrugs.
Bum Bum: I should think it would be obvious.
Bum Bum: ~depressed~
Linn shakes her head.
Linn: Not to me.
Bum Bum: She's evil.
Bum Bum: And even if she was good, she's my personal enemy.
Bum Bum: And what good is she going to do anybody anyway?
Linn: I've never had a personal enemy, and I'm not sure I really understand what it's like to have one.
Linn: There were once some people--hardly more than children, really--who considered me their personal enemy, though.
Linn: Their hate inspired them to acts which would have appalled them if directed against anybody else.
Linn: Is hating Snake worth it, if it destroys the good in you?
Bum Bum sighs.
Bum Bum: Linn, it's just too hard to talk to you.
Bum Bum: I can't just... tell you my feelings.
Bum Bum: Instead, you argue about them.
Bum Bum: It's as if I'm not allowed to have feelings of my own.
Linn slumps.
Linn: I'm not trying to make things more difficult for you.
Bum Bum flicks something off the surface of his tea.
Linn: But Snake is my friend, one of the few I have left.
Linn: And you're one of the others.
Linn: Can you blame me for trying to stop one friend from planning murder of another?
Bum Bum thinks Linn is assuming a lot with that line "planning murder".
Linn: Whatever the outcome, I'd lose one or both of you.
Linn: And I don't think I could stand that.
Linn clutches Bum Bum's hand.
Bum Bum thinks that it's surprising how life goes on after somebody dies that you thought you couldn't live without.
Linn: Look, Bum Bum, would feel more comfortable discussing this with Riyyh?
Bum Bum: This??
Bum Bum: No!
Bum Bum wonders if Linn has lost her marbles.
Linn: Not your wish that Snake was dead, but how you feel about your possible futures.
Bum Bum is bewildered by the change of subject.
Bum Bum: Oh... that "this".
Linn: Have you decided whether you want to accept Riyyh's offer?
Bum Bum squirms.
Bum Bum: Well I'd rather just be let go to be my own person.
Bum Bum: I don't want to belong to anyone.
Linn: You'd like to go back to Bender Cove?
Bum Bum: Not necessarily....
Bum Bum: I'd like to be free to go where I wish.
Bum Bum: Maybe one of these other towns would be good.
Linn: You enjoy the traveling life?
Bum Bum: No, I'd want to live somewhere.
Bum Bum finds Linn frustrating.
Linn: Alone?
Bum Bum: With you would be better.
Bum Bum: ~sincere~
Linn: Even though you feel you can't talk to me, or have your own feelings when I'm around?
Bum Bum: Well, I still have to stay alive.
Bum Bum: I mean, problems like communication are a lot easier to work out than transfer problems.
Bum Bum: And you mean a lot to me.
Bum Bum: I mean... a lot more than just somebody to tell my feelings to.
Linn blushes delicately.
Bum Bum squeezes her hand.
Linn: That's sweet of you, Bum Bum.
Linn's nager manages to link more closely to Bum Bum's than usual--and without benefit of calculations.
Bum Bum: Do you suppose that... I mean, even though your field got taken down just the normal way this month, that you might want to try giving me transfer next month?
Linn considers.
Linn: Well, Snake did say she thought I was ready.
Linn: And whatever is between the two of you, I don't think she'd tell me that if she didn't mean it.
Bum Bum knows Snake had planned on simulating Bum Bum's draw again this month, except that she ended up being "unavailable" when it came time for Linn's field to be taken down.
Bum Bum: She said that just recently?
Bum Bum: You know, if we just told everybody, I bet they would believe us.
Bum Bum: I mean, who else here would try to tell us what to do?
Bum Bum may be a bit overly-optimistic about the Narosians' ability to mind their own business.
Linn: Well, Snake has also said that our first attempt should be monitored.
Bum Bum grimaces.
Bum Bum: Public transfer is so....
Bum Bum: Well it's like having sex in public, at least how I imagine sex in public would be like.
Linn: Like that prostitute you had the deal with?
Bum Bum's train of thought derails.
Bum Bum: Like what?
Linn: That woman who wanted you to give her clients transfer to put them in the mood.
Linn still finds the thought distasteful.
Bum Bum: How does that follow from what I just said?
Bum Bum: Why do you keep doing that?
Bum Bum: ~frustrated~
Linn: You were talking about a monitored transfer being like sex in public.
Bum Bum: No, I meant... to me, it would feel like how it would feel if I ever had sex in public.
Bum Bum realizes he has made the mistake of talking about his own feelings again.
Bum Bum: Never mind, it's not important.
Bum Bum: If you'd feel better with a monitor, then we should just ask for one.
Bum Bum: I'm sure somebody would be willing.
Linn smiles.
Linn: You know, I never thought I'd actually be looking forward to this, but I am.
Bum Bum looks at Linn in surprise.
Bum Bum: You never th....
Bum Bum zlins Linn.
Linn: ~~ anticipation/somewhat confused ~~
Bum Bum zlins the anticipation and decides to chuck the problematic "You know, I never thought I'd actually be looking forward to this" and take the "but I am" to heart.
Bum Bum smiles.
Bum Bum: So am I.