Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #32: Oh Dear (10/6/98)
Nick finishes giving the unconscious Snake some entran-preventing nageric exercise.
Nick forces his worry behind firm ~~ support ~~
Nick has by now gone beyond the "five o'clock shadow" and "two day's growth" and has the beginnings of a respectable, if untrimmed, beard and mustasche.
Riyyh is in "his" office, studiously writing letters to earnest young would-be Naros settler applicants.
Nick and Snake are both deodorized, however, thanks to Linn's persistance.
Riyyh has gone two or three days without being yelled at or hit, or even given a really dirty look in public, so he is somewhat optimistic that the worst has been past.
Nick is starting to get used to having a fuzzy face, and contemplates keeping the facial hair for a while.
Nick has had a lot of time to contemplate things like facial hair, as he sits hour after hour watching Snake.
Riyyh opens his desk drawer, looking for the packet of photographs.
Riyyh frowns as he realized they must not have made it in the hasty transfer of his working materials from his real office.
Nick checks Snake's reflexes again, just in case.
Nick shakes his head sadly, and settles back in his chair.
Riyyh sighs and re-reads the letter he was working on, then sadly concludes it just wouldn't have the same punch without that delightful picture of himself hugging the fellow's Sectuib.
Nick is starting to get saddle galls from that particular chair.
Riyyh puts down his pen.
Nick wonders if it would be more comfortable to get up and try pacing around the bed for a while.
Riyyh sighs in consternation as he tries to decide how to get the photos out of his office without anybody else seeing them but without running into Nick.
Nick tries it for a bit, then ducks quickly into the bathroom.
Riyyh has had these photos in his desk for years without caring if anybody looked at them, but that was before the fatherhood scandal.
Riyyh decides he will just have to risk it.
Riyyh has been taking the bull by the horns a lot since Snake was put out of commission, and isn't enjoying it any more now than before.
Riyyh wrings his hands a bit more then gets up and hurries out the door before he loses his nerve.
Nick uses the facilites hastily, wishing that Rapol was still around to spell him.
Nick pauses a moment in front of the mirror to inspect his new look.
Nick thinks it makes him look a bit more debonair, or at least, it would if it were trimmed.
Nick makes a mental note to get a trim as soon as he can leave Snake for long enough to find a barber.
Nick is distracted by the thought of Snake, and returns to the office to check whether she happened to wake up in the past 2 minutes.
Nick discovers to his disappointment that she hasn't.
Nick sits on the bed beside Snake, seeking the extra padding to cushion the galls.
Riyyh is not in there yet as he has paused outside the closed door to wring his hands some more.
Riyyh can zlin Nick moving about inside.
Riyyh smoothes back his hair, which has for some reason become damp with sweat at the roots.
Riyyh tells himself that he really shouldn't have anything to fear because he really hasn't done anything wrong.
Riyyh tells himself it's his office, damn it, which of course is no reassurance whatsoever.
Nick picks up a mug of tea he had left on the floor by the bed.
Nick discovers that it's stone cold, and puts it down again.
Riyyh sighs and forces himself to grab the door handle.
Nick heaves himself to his feet and goes to the door, intent of sending someone for fresh tea.
Riyyh leaps back like a scalded cat as Nick comes toward the door.
Nick pulls open the door.
Nick: Hey, could you fetch me some....
Nick: Riyyh!
Riyyh finds himself pressed against the opposite wall of the hallway.
Riyyh: Er... Nick. [weakly]
Riyyh zlins Nick compulsively to find out if Nick hates him.
Nick: ~~~ exhaustion, worry about Snake ~~~ ~greeting ~
Riyyh is confused by Nick's evident utter lack of hard feelings.
Riyyh: Er... what was that you said you required?
Nick perks up as he remembers that Riyyh is Naros's best channel.
Nick: A second opinion. Tictoc said Snake was healing, but she's not well versed in Farrises....
Nick grabs Riyyh's hand and pulls him into the office.
Riyyh almost panics, but controls his nager as he is yanked inside.
Riyyh fears that Nick, having fooled him with an non-zlin-thru field, is now about to do his worst.
Nick closes the door firmly to shut out any interruptions, then "escorts" Riyyh over to Snake's cot.
Nick: Tell me, is she healing?
Riyyh is pretty sure that Nick wouldn't do anything horribly tragic to him nagerically that close to his own channel, and allows himself to feel a little hope.
Nick falls into his best Farris-precise support, to allow Riyyh the best possible zlinning conditions.
Riyyh blinks at the seemingly innocuous request, and the support.
Riyyh: ~hope~
Riyyh: Well, I... let's see here.
Riyyh nervously zlins Snake from a distance, then cautiously reaches for her arms.
Riyyh does it slowly enough that Nick won't grab too quickly if he doesn't want Riyyh to do it.
Nick: ~~ focused precision support ~~
Riyyh is cheered by the continued support, and takes Snake into position for deep zlinning.
Riyyh finally releases Snake.
Nick looks hopefully at Riyyh.
Riyyh: Well, ah, [nervously] to be honest, there hasn't been that much change.
Riyyh: But that's a good sign. [adds quickly]
Nick's face falls.
Nick: Oh.
Nick plops down on the chair.
Riyyh: I wouldn't have expected a Farris to survive a slam like that at all. I mean, she's doing a lot better than we ever expected.
Riyyh begins to sound, and look, a bit desperate as Nick shows his disappointment.
Nick: ~~ disappointment, gouged galls ~~
Riyyh can't bear to see, or zlin, people unhappy.
Riyyh winces at the feeling of the chair-galls.
Nick gets his nager under control.
Nick: ~~ neutrality ~~
Nick: Sorry.
Riyyh blinks as the neutral wall is substituted for the compelling feelings (and the nasty galls too)
Riyyh: Q - ah - quite understandable, really. [stammers]
Riyyh: I just came in to get something.
Riyyh sidles around the bed and goes to the desk.
Nick: Please. It's your office.
Riyyh: Well, I don't wish to disturb, ah, [attempt to get into desk drawer hampered by nervously waving tentacles]
Riyyh opens the drawer and finds somebody has already looked through the photos, and left them in a heap in there.
Riyyh shivers as he wonders when the shen is going to hit that particular fan.
Nick is staring at his hands.
Riyyh's shoulders droop momentarily, then he begins to pick them all up and push them together to make a stack for easier carrying.
Nick: You know, I'm a lot more attached to Snake than I'd thought.
Riyyh's ears and nager prick warily.
Riyyh: I... I think she's rather attached to you as well. [dry throat, not looking in Nick's direction]
Nick smiles crookedly.
Nick: ~~ apology ~~
Riyyh looks up in surprise.
Riyyh: ~cautious~
Nick: We've known for a long time that we were compatible nagerically.
Nick: I told her recently that my nager and hers seem to get along all right, but I wasn't sure if Snake Farris and Nick Reckage liked each other much.
Nick: She didn't understand what I meant.
Nick: Or at least, that's what I thought at the time.
Nick: Actually, I think she understood better than me.
Riyyh: ~~compassion~~
Nick: We're linked, Riyyh.
Nick: When Snake's hurting, it doesn't matter what Nick the person thinks about her.
Nick: My nager just takes over, whether I want it to or not.
Riyyh: I'm sorry, Nick.
Nick: I told you I'd consider your offer, and I meant it at the time.
Riyyh: And now you understand that you are dependent.
Nick: It's just... when I'm with Snake, I literally can't think of any other channel.
Riyyh: Transfer dependency is both a beautiful and a terrible thing.
Nick: I don't know all that much about it, truth to tell.
Riyyh: It's because the two of you took too many transfers in a row.
Nick: There were more immediate things for me to worry about, when I still had access to a Tecton library.
Riyyh: Dependence is not a concept limited to the Tecton. It is well known in all channel-based societies.
Riyyh: The difference lies in how it is dealt with.
Riyyh thinks that Zeor will not deal well with this one, especially since it is not close enough to prevent breaking it.
Nick: I'd heard about it in channels, but I don't remember much about how it affects Donors.
Riyyh looks down at his hands, at the photograph at the top of the stack.
Riyyh: I think you have found out.
Nick follows Riyyh's gaze, looking at the picture.
Riyyh: And I think if you tried to give transfer to another channel, you'd find it very difficult.
Riyyh suddenly realizes just whose picture he is looking at.
Nick winces at the thought.
Riyyh verrrrry casually reaches over and pulls some more photographs onto the pile, to cover it.
Nick: What's that?
Riyyh: Just some keepsakes... travel memories.
Riyyh busies himself with straightening the stack and putting the binder on, nervous once again.
Riyyh: Tictoc and I have already discussed the possibility of having to break step the two of you. Perhaps even on your next transfer.
Nick thinks that all he's got to commemorate his travels is a lot of patches on what clothes haven't been blown up or otherwise met with disaster.
Nick: Break step us?
Riyyh: Yes, have you take transfer with others to keep the dependency from becoming really well rooted.
Nick: ~~ controlled alarm ~~
Riyyh: It's considered a good idea for any transfer pair who are capable of doing it.
Riyyh: Keeps you healthier, and then the survivor has a pretty good chance if something ever happens to one.
Nick: But Riyyh, there isn't a Donor in Naros who could match Snake. Or a channel to match me, for that matter.
Nick: Survivor?
Nick: ~~ somewhat less well controlled alarm ~~
Nick: What aren't you telling me about Snake's condition?
Riyyh: Well yes, but the important thing isn't to have a perfect transfer, just to succeed in getting by for a month until reunited.
Riyyh: Nick, Nick.
Nick jumps up and starts pacing frantically.
Riyyh is forced to go hypo to avoid being infected by the freakout.
Riyyh stuffs the damning photos in an inner cloak pocket and hurries over to Nick.
Riyyh follows Nick's pacing.
Riyyh: Nick... Hajene Farris is doing remarkably well, considering.
Riyyh: That blast should have killed her outright.
Riyyh: The fact that she is still alive, and stable, indicates that her system is able to heal itself given time.
Nick: But it's been over a week!
Riyyh: Well, yes, but that is not a cause for alarm.
Riyyh is forced to augment slightly to keep up, and is not getting any less sweaty.
Nick: She's been slammed before, and it's never taken this long for her to heal.
Riyyh: Those other times must have miracles. Nick, this is as well as we can do for her until the people from Zeor arrive.
Riyyh: Trust in her to keep herself alive, with your help and our assistance, until -
Nick: What!!??
Riyyh winces even though he was hypo. [just at the note in Nick's shriek]
Nick turns and grabs for Riyyh, catching the cloak.
Nick: What's that about people from Zeor arriving?
Riyyh stiffens, panic clear on his face.
Riyyh: Well, the, the, medical team, to....
Nick starts reeling in the cloak.
Nick: What medical team?
Nick: What have you been arranging behind my back?
Nick's untrimmed beard adds to the impression of an outraged grizzly.
Riyyh: W-w-well we aren't equipped, here, and a Farris is a very delicate patient, a-a-and
Riyyh: Nick, this is in her best interests!
Nick: What is in her best interests?
Nick: Being handed back to the people who threw her out on a whim?
Riyyh: That she be examined by experts in the medical treatment of Farrises.
Riyyh: Nick, we aren't equipped... the cost to totally retrofit the Householding to accomodate... Nick, think!
Riyyh is dreadfully afraid Nick is about to do something drastic.
Nick: Riyyh, you're talking about the same people who "accidentally" got her addicted to pain in transfer.
Riyyh: But that was an accident! Nick, Zeor is reknowned for their pursuit of excellence in all things, including the channeling arts, and they have a vast library with hundreds of years of experience at treating Farrises.
Nick: And who deserted her when she needed help the most, but felt free to blackmail her all the same.
Nick: I'd sooner trust Eliza.
Riyyh: But Nick, they can save her life.
Riyyh: Not just this time, but for the long term.
Riyyh: [trying to make him see reason]
Nick hesitates, torn.
Nick: Riyyh, I think she'd rather die.
Riyyh insinuates a tentacle between the cloth and his neck to give himself some breathing room.
Riyyh: Maybe, but you are her Companion, right?
Riyyh: It's up to you to do what is best for her, sometimes even against her will.
Riyyh: Otherwise, who will?
Nick: How long do you think Zeor would let me stay her Companion, if they're allowed to get their tentacles on her?
Riyyh: I don't know, Nick, but surely you want her to live?
Riyyh: You are her Companion now...
Nick: As far as those "experts" you called for are concerned, I'll just be some rogue Gen she picked up off the street. One who flunked out of Donor training after two weeks.
Riyyh: No, no, Nick... you managed to serve Hajene Farris, that makes you one of the most valuable Donors in the world.
Riyyh: Even if you are not her Companion, you'd be serving channels as powerful and sensitive as her, or moreso.
Nick's distress doubles at this repeated suggestion that he might be separated from Snake.
Nick: We've lived rogue, traveled over half the Territory, just to stay together and out of the Tecton's clutches.
Riyyh: Nick, do you think you could let go of me now?
Riyyh: [small nonthreatening voice]
Nick realizes that he's holding most of Riyyh's cape balled up in his arms.
Nick tosses the ball angrily at the ceiling.
Riyyh backs off as his cape is (rather messily) set free.
Nick blinks as the photos fall out of the pocket.
Riyyh: Nick... ~~shen!!~~
Riyyh grabs for the packet.
Nick grabs as well, clipping it with a finger and sending it careening across the floor.
Nick: Ow!
Nick sucks on the finger as the photos scatter all over the office.
Riyyh looks shocked.
Riyyh isn't sure which would be worse, to try grabbing them all at once (which would only draw more attention to them) or stand there looking gasping like a fish.
Nick has, at least, been shocked into relative calm by the mishap.
Riyyh sighs.
Riyyh: Well.
Riyyh gets down to his knees and starts picking them up carefully.
Nick grunts as he gets down to help.
Riyyh keeps hoping he'll see one particular one turn up in his stack.
Nick hands Riyyh his collection, then reaches under Snake's bed for one more.
Riyyh takes them.
Riyyh: Thank you.
Riyyh cautiously goes duo and zlins for any strays.
Nick looks at the photo, then does a double take.
Nick: I wouldn't have thought Torn By Tentacles did your kind of music.
Riyyh snatches the photo hastily.
Nick: Autographed, as well.
Riyyh can't locate the binder and so puts the photos back in his pocket loose.
Nick: Oh, there's one more.
Nick scoops it up.
Riyyh: I am sure that something can be arranged if you would like to negotiate with Zeor's representatives prior to Hajene Farris actually being rem-
Nick freezes.
Riyyh stutters as Nick's attention is riveted to the photo.
Riyyh: Er, that is,
Riyyh: Maybe you can talk them out of it? Or, maybe an alternative arrangement....
Riyyh eases forward to tweak the picture out of Nick's grasp.
Nick: Since when do you know my uncle?
Riyyh: Ohhh... [sweating] well, he and I go way back... hey, I really should get back to writing those letters....
Riyyh: [you know Riyyh is desperate if he actually wants to write letters]
Nick looks sternly at Riyyh.
Riyyh's shoulders wilt.
Riyyh: Ah... I met him at a brick laying ceremony in Navago Heights.
Riyyh: About twenty-five years ago.
Nick: About twenty-five....
Riyyh: He and some, some friends, were travelling through and stopped in to see what was going on, [nervously]
Riyyh: A nice fellow, really very intelligent and charming.
Riyyh: Maybe a little enthusiastic in his extroversion, but, once you got used to that, er,
Nick remembers just whom his uncle was travelling with that summer.
Nick: You know my parents?
Riyyh: Well, well, I, I yes, I do. [admits]
Riyyh runs a nervous hand over his hair, which is now darkened by sweat.
Nick wonders just how well his parents know Riyyh.
Riyyh promises himself a nice hot bath... if he gets out of this alive.
Nick: Funny. They never mentioned you.
Riyyh: Well, ac-actually, it was just your mother.
Nick: And my mother, at least, has told me all about that trip a hundred times.
Nick: My mother.
Riyyh: Oh! Well... I, I daresay that, uh,
Riyyh's tentacles weave about themselves in conflict.
Riyyh: I'm not surprised.
Riyyh: It was really such a, a short personal acquaintance, and though we have exchanged some correspondence, it has to have been... years and years since....
Riyyh: Well, I really must be going.
Nick: Not so fast.
Riyyh backs toward the door, but freezes at Nick's words.
Riyyh's body language is exquisitely submissive.
Nick: Just how "personally" were you acquainted with my mother 25 years ago?
Riyyh swallows.
Riyyh: ...er... rather.
Nick: ~~ stern and unyielding ~~
Nick: Rather?
Riyyh: Rather... intimately... I'm afraid.
Riyyh: [apologetic]
Riyyh: I'm sorry.
Nick: I see.
Riyyh edges backward a little further, clutching the photos through the fabric of his robe.
Nick sort of staggers to his chair and collapses.
Nick is too shocked to feel the galls.
Riyyh: I'm... I'm really sorry, Nick.
Nick thinks he really didn't require this sort of news at any time, much less now.
Riyyh thinks now would be a good time to leave.
Riyyh turns to the door.
Nick buries his face in his hands.
Nick: Mom, how could you?
Riyyh hurries out and flees all the way to his office.
Riyyh: Shen!
Riyyh: ~~reaction from adrenaline~~
Riyyh starts to remove the photos from his pocket and put them on the desk, then pauses and shoves them back in.
Riyyh turns and hurries from the admin building, heading toward the kilns.
Go on to Episode #33: Anyone for Bridge?
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