Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #34: Prudence (10/9/98)
Nick is encouraged enough at Snake's progress that he feels long-term planning is possible again.
Nick therefore leaves Eliza to watch Snake, with strict orders to come and get him if there's the slightest change, and makes his way down the hall to Riyyh's office.
Nick signals.
Nick frowns as he gets no answer, and signals again.
Nick leans forward to listen at the door, hoping to discern whether somebody else is currently visiting the Sectuib.
Riyyh is asleep on his desk.
Riyyh: [sound of gentle snores]
Riyyh sought the comfort of the heaping piles of paperwork after pulling a 3-day entanglement-unravelling spree.
Nick hears a sawing or growling sound.
Nick tries the door.
Riyyh stirs as the door opens.
Riyyh: No... no, I'm tired, just wait 10 minutes please. [murmurs in his sleep]
Nick slips through without disturbing the ambient much.
Riyyh: Well OK but this is the last time... [trails off into another snore]
Nick studies Riyyh, debating whether to wake him or ensure that he sleeps.
Nick studies Riyyh's posture.
Riyyh is stretched out on his stomach, hugging a pile of transfer documents he is using as a pillow.
Riyyh's cape has found impromptu use as a blanket.
Nick decides that he can't in good conscience allow a channel to sleep in a posture likely to lead to cramps and kinks.
Nick reaches out with his nager.
Nick: ~~ sleep deeply ~~
Riyyh's restless movements cease.
Nick tiptoes closer, keeping up his ~~ sleep ~~ projection.
Riyyh remains oblivious.
Riyyh looks oh-so-cute when he's asleep, but then he looks oh-so-cute all the time.
Nick scuffs the carpet, deciding that it's clean enough and reasonably plush.
Nick makes a better pillow by scavenging a curtain from the window and folding it up.
Nick then carefully removes Riyyh's cape, working to cushion the effect of the physical disturbance.
Nick: ~~ nothing's happening, keep sleeping ~~
Nick sets the cape aside, and picks Riyyh up.
Hero pops into the room, shattering the ambient.
Hero: Hi!!!... ~~surprise~~
Hero: Holy moley!!
Hero: Am I interrupting something?!
Nick: Shh!!
Nick: He's sleeping.
Riyyh blinks.
Riyyh: Wh.. er..?
Hero: Oops.
Hero: I'll just... er....
Hero turns and tiptoes exaggeratedly out.
Hero closes the door with exaggerated quiet.
Nick tries to determine if Riyyh is awake or just momentarily disturbed.
Riyyh snuggles against Nick's chest and falls back asleep.
Hero rushes off to tell all her friends.
Nick sets Riyyh down on the carpet, and adjusts the improvised pillow to cushion his head.
Nick picks up the cape and spreads it over Riyyh.
Nick wonders if he should talk to Mytag about the necessity of ensuring one's channel gets sufficient rest.
Nick tiptoes towards the door, looking over his shoulder to make sure Riyyh is sleeping comfortably.
Nick's tiptoes come in contact with the trash can, sending a loud clang through the quiet office.
Riyyh jumps about a foot off the floor.
Riyyh: Yeow!!!
Riyyh: Argh!!
Riyyh: ~slight disorientation for a moment~
Nick is holding his injured toes and grimacing.
Riyyh clutches the floor and looks around in confusion, his hair in his eyes.
Riyyh: ... Nick????
Riyyh pushes his hair back and props himself up.
Riyyh: Are you all right?
Nick sees that Riyyh is awake.
Nick: Oh, shen, Riyyh, I'm sorry.
Riyyh zlins Nick's toe, having no clue why he is on the floor with Nick in his office holding a sore toe.
Nick: I was hoping you would get some sleep.
Nick: It looked like you required it.
Nick smoothes the ambient.
Nick: Just stubbed my toes.
Riyyh: I can zlin that part of it.
Riyyh smiles wryly.
Riyyh climbs to his feet.
Nick puts the foot down.
Riyyh: Would you like me to...?
Nick: You fell asleep at your desk.
Nick: It didn't look very comfortable.
Riyyh looks at the cape and "pillow" on the floor and comprehends.
Riyyh: Oh. ~genuinely surprised~
Nick: It's fine. Zlin it.
Riyyh: Well... thank you, Nick.
Riyyh zlins Nick's toes and decides if Nick considers them "fine", he won't fight about it.
Nick smiles wryly.
Nick: It would have worked better if I'd been looking where I was going on the way out.
Riyyh: Well, you had the best of intentions.
Riyyh: Thank you.
Riyyh picks up his cape and refastens it about his neck.
Nick: Have you been having trouble sleeping lately?
Nick: ~~ professional concern ~~
Riyyh: No, no, not as such.
Riyyh: I confess I have cheated a bit on sleep because I've had so much to take care of.
Nick: The paperwork is that boring?
Riyyh looks briefly confused.
Riyyh: No, I mean I have... ah, humor. [smiles]
Nick wouldn't know Tecton paperwork; he skipped out before he had much to do.
Riyyh: Very good.
Nick shrugs.
Riyyh has been tricking Mytag by pretending to sleep with him but sneaking out during the deep part of Mytag's sleep.
Riyyh feels somewhat bad about it, especially now that Mytag will probably hear about this.
Nick: Well, I'm a better comedian when my channel isn't in a coma.
Riyyh's smile fades.
Riyyh: Yes, of course.
Nick: She turned over several times today, and once she was actually mumbling.
Nick: Well, sort of.
Nick thinks it's a pale imitation of Snake's usual objections to Linn-decreed bathing.
Riyyh: Tictoc says the improvement has been dramatic.
Riyyh has left much of Snake's care to Tictoc for various mostly obvious reasons.
Nick: Yes. It appears that the local talent is handling the case quite competently, wouldn't you say?
Riyyh frowns.
Nick: In fact, it hardly seems necessary to bring a special team all across the Territory for a second opinion.
Riyyh picks up the wadded curtain and sets it on the windowsill before sitting down at his desk again.
Riyyh: Nick, Nick. As you are no doubt aware, the "second opinion" of Zeor channels is the only opinion at all, where Farrises are concerned.
Riyyh: Please don't make this any harder than it has to be.
Riyyh: It is for her own good.
Riyyh: It is nothing short of a miracle that she has not died.
Nick sits on the corner of the desk.
Nick: Well, Zeor channels are supposed to be quite good at observing, particularly when there are... unusual or irregular cases.
Nick: They do like a challenge, I'm told.
Riyyh: Zeor also has hundreds of years of experience with Farrises and their problems.
Riyyh: We do not.
Nick: True.
Nick: Not much challenge in Snake for them, wouldn't you think?
Nick: They'll be able to deal with her easily, leaving them plenty of time to look around Naros.
Riyyh: Nick, [gently] I'm afraid your particular Hajene Farris would prove a challenge for just about anyone.
Nick: Riyyh, [equally gently] do you honestly think Snake would allow herself to be taken to Zeor?
Riyyh: She will have to work that out with Zeor's representatives when they arrive. Her views on Zeor may have been changed somewhat by her recent experiences.
Riyyh's views on Zeor have certainly been changed by recent experiences.
Riyyh: They weren't invited here specifically to take her away.
Riyyh: They were asked to come to help with the emergency.
Riyyh: What happens once they arrive is as much up to you and Hajene Farris as it is up to them... and Naros.
Nick: Which in all likelihood will be over by the time they arrive.
Riyyh: Perhaps.
Nick thinks getting the hell out of Dodge (or Naros, as the case may be) sounds like a good option to him.
Nick: I'm sure they'll find plenty of interest here at Naros, even if Snake won't cooperate with them.
Nick: The genetics alone, and the pool of potential Donors and channels it indicates, will be a valuable resource for the Tecton.
Riyyh winces.
Riyyh: The thought has occurred to me, yes.
Riyyh: Unfortunately, that is going to happen sooner or later no matter what.
Riyyh: Very unfortunate.
Nick: Well, you managed to escape the Tecton's prying eyes for what, almost 40 years?
Riyyh can't bear the thought of even one Naros member leaving the House unwillingly.
Nick: Just by avoiding attention.
Riyyh: Well, yes, but something like this can hardly be covered up for long.
Nick: And then you go and invite a Zeor inspection!
Riyyh: Tictoc has already drafted what she says is a fascinating article on it for a medical journal.
Nick: Umm.
Riyyh: Nick, what can I do? I can't allow Hajene Farris to die on my property, no matter what the reason. You are our guests here.
Nick: But you and Tictoc both agree that she's recovering nicely.
Riyyh: That she's improved. [qualifies cautiously]
Nick: I really don't see the reason for this rush to get official help.
Riyyh studies Nick oddly.
Riyyh: Nick... is there something on your mind?
Riyyh: What really concerns you?
Riyyh would like to think that Nick's concern is entirely for Naros' wellbeing, but somehow that doesn't quite jive.
Riyyh speaks softly, trying to convey both compassion and encouragement.
Nick: I don't want Snake to wake up and find herself a prisoner.
Nick: That would be the surest way to snap what sanity she has left.
Riyyh: As I said, I would be more than happy for you to arrange to speak with Zeor's representatives before Hajene Farris awakes.
Nick: If she chooses to stay and talk to your Zeor experts, that's fine.
Riyyh: Don't assume they intend to take her "prisoner"... we don't know that.
Nick: But you expect that they'll take her back to Zeor--whether she wants to go or not.
Nick: In fact, you appear to be counting on it.
Riyyh: I don't know that.
Riyyh: [patiently]
Riyyh: I am simply supplying the best medical care I can to a patient who could... still ... die at any moment due to some subtle lack of knowledge on the part of everybody here.
Nick's nager twinges his conscience as he calculates how long he's been away from Snake's bedside.
Riyyh: That includes you, Nick. For all the good your caring for her can do her - which is quite a bit - you don't know everything about Farrises. None of us do.
Riyyh: Now, I realize that you may feel a certain amount of apprehension regarding Zeor.
Nick's attitude might better be be compared to acute stage fright before a grand jury interrogation.
Riyyh: That's only natural given Hajene Farris' past and your own relationship to the Tecton.
Riyyh: However, there are some times when it is necessary to take the bad along with some good.
Nick: The Tecton--and Zeor--have provided us with more bad than good in the past.
Riyyh: Yes, but Nick, that is so unusual.
Nick: I have no reason to believe that they will suddenly become helpful.
Riyyh: Zeor is a long-loved and long-cherished institution.
Riyyh: You must give them a chance, please, I urge you.
Riyyh doesn't mention the Tecton.
Nick: I don't see much to cherish in assassination, blackmail, and the utter cruelty they displayed when they kicked Snake out.
Riyyh: Nick, Nick. [sighs]
Riyyh: I hope you can understand that I am trying to help, and not take this the wrong way, but....
Riyyh: I'm afraid it's possible your perception of Zeor, coming as it has through the point of view of Hajene Farris, may be a touch distorted.
Riyyh means this in the nicest possible way.
Nick: She lived there for two years.
Nick: I think that makes her the resident expert, don't you?
Nick: You tell me, Riyyh. What has Zeor ever done to lead either of us to think that they would help us, not enslave us?
Riyyh: Nick! Enslave us? That seems a bit hard on them, don't you think?
Nick: If you're not allowed to leave, or make decisions about your own life, what else can you call it?
Riyyh: Who said anything about not being allowed to leave or make decisions?
Riyyh: Nick, if anybody has the right to make those kinds of restrictions on you, it isn't Zeor.
Riyyh is well aware of the movement of some Narosians toward restraining Snake and Nick from leaving because of the attack on himself.
Riyyh is also well aware of a counter-movement which is very pro-Snake.
Riyyh feels it is prudent to not mention either of these to Nick in any detail.
Nick: I couldn't agree more.
Riyyh: Do not dwell on fears of such a thing.
Riyyh: I am sure that they will prove exceedingly reasonable, and I urge you to speak to them in a similar fashion just as soon as they arrive.
Riyyh: [encouragingly]
Nick: Don't worry, I will.
Riyyh smiles.
Nick: ~~ politely subdued threat ~~
Riyyh's eyes widen.
Riyyh's smile disappears.
Riyyh's recent past has led him to fail to distinguish between "politely subdued" threats and threats.
Nick: I will explain to them that we have no intention of going to Zeor, or joining Zeor, or working for the Tecton.
Riyyh wonders why Nick is taking this out on him.
Nick: Any assistance they wish to offer as we travel will be treated in the spirit in which it is offered.
Riyyh: I am sure they will understand.
Riyyh: [neutrally]
Nick: I hope so, because I doubt Snake will.
Riyyh is surprised that Nick doesn't think Snake will understand his message to Zeor.
Riyyh: As you say. [noncommittally]
Nick: I'll try to ensure that you aren't within arm's reach when she finds out who brought them in.
Riyyh: If you sincerely fear that Hajene Farris will make another attempt on my life, then preparations must be made in advance.
Nick: They will be.
Nick: Of course, she may go for the Zeor representative, instead.
Riyyh sighs and makes a mental note to speak to Tictoc at once about restraining both Nick and Hajene Farris until the Zeor representatives arrive.
Riyyh: ~unhappy~
Riyyh: I see.
Riyyh supposes Nick will have to be anaesthetized, and then they will have to be locked up separately, and Hajene Farris' condition will have to be monitored carefully with a substitute Donor in place.
Nick: I really shouldn't leave Snake in Eliza's care any longer.
Riyyh rubs his forehead.
Riyyh: Yes, yes, go on.
Riyyh: I must attend to this paperwork.
Riyyh: Thank you for airing your concerns with me.
Nick: Do let me know when the Zeor party arrives, so I can make sure things go...as smoothly as possible, under the circumstances.
Riyyh: Of course.
Riyyh struggles to put forth some of his usual graciousness.
Riyyh: ~depressed~
Nick pauses in the doorway.
Nick: And get some sleep!
Riyyh: Thank you, Nick. You're right, of course.
Riyyh: [Riyyh's stock response to any admonishment]
Riyyh: I will do so as soon as possible.
Nick hurries down the hall to Snake's sickroom.
Riyyh waits until Nick is gone and then slips out of his office in the direction of the infirmary.