Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #36: What????!!!!!! (10/13/98)
Bekman guides the horses carefully around a pothole.
Bekman doesn't want to jostle the luggage too much, especially not the pharmacy trunk.
Bekman understands that Naros doesn't have any Farris members, so is presumably short of Farris pharmaceuticals.
Kenmore gazes off into the distance without seeing or zlinning anything.
Kenmore: ~ miles away ~
Dahlia maintains a ~~contented, peaceful~~ field in the hopes of preventing Kenmore from breaking his reverie and starting up with his whining again.
Bekman scratches a mosquito bite on the side of his forearm until it bleeds.
Ifto gawks at the extensive planting of what zlins like....
Kenmore looks at Bekman in annoyance.
Ifto: Are those turnips?
Eruditia: Rutabagas.
Ifto: Oh!
Eruditia sniffs appreciatively.
Ifto: ~~ interest ~~
Kenmore: Oh good. I like Rutabagas.
Ifto: So that's what they look like.
Kenmore scratches his arm absentmindedly.
Dahlia gently reaches out and removes Kenmore's finger from his arm.
Dahlia shakes her head fondly.
Kenmore realises what he is doing and looks at Bekman in annoyance again.
Eruditia: Personally, I can't abide them.
Bekman has stopped scratching in favor of avoiding another pothole.
Eruditia: Vegetables, that is.
Bekman: Road's in awful shape.
Dahlia: ~soothing~
Dahlia examines Kenmore's arm to make sure he isn't really developing a rash or anything.
Kenmore thinks that it is road shaped.
Ifto: They can be very tasty, if properly prepared.
Dahlia almost falls into Kenmore's lap as the wagon hits a particularly bad pothole.
Bekman: Oops!
Bekman: No way to avoid that one.
Kenmore: I wonder if she is still alive. The messenger didn't seem to think that there was much chance.
Kenmore: Probably making this ##$%forsaken trip for nothing.
Kenmore puts out an arm and supports her.
Ifto: They're not Zeor. Never worked with Farrises, from what I understand.
Dahlia: Oo! Such language, tut tut. ~~soothing~~
Ifto: They may not have assessed the situation accurately.
Dahlia is talking to herself of course.
Ifto is young enough to be eager for a challenge.
Eruditia pushes her glasses up on her nose.
Eruditia: Young man, control yourself. I'm sure everything will be in order when we arrive.
Eruditia: ~prim~
Eruditia is of course sure of no such thing.
Ifto subsides under this reprimand.
Ifto: Yes, Sosu.
Eruditia is in fact a bit dismayed by just how far out in the sticks they are travelling.
Eruditia: ~approval~
Ifto has at least mastered basic nageric discipline.
Ifto: How much farther is it to Naros, anyway?
Eruditia tries to see over the next hills.
Eruditia: I see something up ahead....
Eruditia may be using the "wishful thinking" method of distance interpretation.
Eruditia has been wishing to see some sign of non-farm-related civilization for hours now.
Kenmore: Well according to the map there should be a town any time now.
Kenmore: Yeah, there seems to be a group of people over that way. [points]
Bekman: Road curves up ahead.
Dahlia purrs and supports Kenmore.
Kenmore: But with all this growth around, not to mention the hills, it's hard to be sure.
Bekman guides the team over a small bridge.
Bekman: You'd think they'd send somebody out to grade the road occasionally.
Eruditia grabs for her hat as another jounce nearly sends it flying.
Eruditia presses it firmly back on (straw hat with lace and flowers)
Ifto winces as the pharmacy trunk clatters.
Ifto: Careful!
Kenmore: Actually I think I'd like to stretch my legs a bit. [makes sure that Dahlia is holding herself up and jumps out of the wagon]
Dahlia nimbly jumps out after him.
Dahlia has had quite a bit of experience following scatterbrained Farrises in their eccentric paths.
Dahlia: That sounds great!
Kenmore: Better then sitting in that any longer anyway.
Kenmore strides along beside the wagon - out of splash reach just in case.
Bekman moderates his swerving to avoid running them over.
Dahlia stretches her legs to keep up with the channel.
Ifto: Did you know Snake Farris when she was at Zeor, Hajene Kenmore?
Ifto himself was only recently traded to Zeor.
Kenmore: I wasn't involved with her training then, no. I saw her of course, but I don't know if I would recognise her now or not.
Eruditia: I knew her [tartly]
Eruditia: Nothing but trouble.
Eruditia: I do hope they have everything under lock and key in this Naros.
Ifto thinks that it shouldn't be hard to recognize the only other Farris in miles.
Ifto: I've herd some stories, of course....
Dahlia clucks to herself as Kenmore's beautiful blue cape picks up spatters from the road.
Dahlia: ~nager attentive~
Ifto: But it's hard to tell how many of them are true.
Eruditia: They probably all are.
Eruditia: ~disapproving~
Eruditia hopes that Ifto is not going to turn out to be a Snake-worshiper.
Ifto: Did you have any ...personal encounters with her?
Ifto thinks that there has to be something at the base of this disapproval besides offended sensibilities. Or maybe not.
Eruditia: Certainly not! ~lie~
Eruditia's pursed lips dare him to deny it.
Eruditia actually was very careful to avoid encounters with Snake after the unfortunate incident in the library which caused every kid at Zeor to snicker behind their hand at Eruditia for a week.
Ifto rolls his eyes, but doesn't quite have the nerve to do so.
Ifto: I'm surprised that you're on this expedition, if you dislike Hajene Snake so intensely.
Eruditia: My boy, there is a difference between disliking a person and believing they should modify their behavior.
Kenmore: Definitely.
Ifto looks at Kenmore.
Dahlia: Pardon me?
Kenmore: Zlin it yet, Ifto?
Dahlia is used to Kenmore muttering to himself and won't think anything of it if he doesn't answer now, but asks just to be polite.
Kenmore looks at Dahlia in surprise. "Of course, Dahlia."
Eruditia alters her field to allow Ifto to get a good zlin.
Ifto holds out his hands, extends his laterals, and goes hyperconscious.
Ifto: Well....
Eruditia's many years of experience allow her to almost hide the fact that she is starving.
Ifto considers hedging, but knows he won't get away with it.
Kenmore is wondering what Dahlia did to need pardoning.
Kenmore doesn't think that he should ask.
Ifto: I'm not sure. Maybe.
Kenmore thinks that maybe he should concentrate more.
Dahlia blinks but says nothing.
Kenmore tops a hill and looks down on the small township.
Dahlia: ~light non-working support~
Bekman: Is that the town?
Ifto is, of course, able to zlin the town now that the hill isn't between them and it, but wonders how Kenmore was able to zlin it earlier.
Kenmore: Should be - Kedron.
Eruditia: Show-off [mutters under her breath, feeling just a touch sorry for poor Ifto]
Eruditia: ~support~
Kenmore: Then that there [points to walled structures on distant hill] should be Naros. [not that distant, just being poetic]
Dahlia: How romantic!
Dahlia being a Farris-grade Donor, has picked up slightly on Kenmore's poetic mood.
Dahlia may have been somewhat inclined toward romance in any case, however.
Bekman looks at the hill and grunts.
Bekman: Be there in an hour. Unless the road gets worse.
Bekman clicks at the horses to urge them to greater speed.
Eruditia: I don't see how it... [stops before she curses them by completing the sentence]
Eruditia: Good. [primly]
Kenmore: I think a bit less, distances are deceiving Bekman.
Bekman shrugs.
Bekman: We'll get there when we get there, I suppose.
Kenmore gets one of his crazy ideas.
Kenmore: Dahlia, how about we cross country? I bet we could beat the wagon there, even without augmenting.
Dahlia's alertness sharpens.
Ifto: Great idea!
Ifto: ~~ enthusiasm ~~
Ifto jumps down out of the wagon.
Dahlia: Gee, sure, I, ~~I think that's a lousy idea~~
Eruditia steps off the wagon in a more demure fashion.
Kenmore: Oh, well, ummm. How about you stay with Eruditia then and I'll take Ifto with me?
Dahlia: Look at all that ragweed and honeysuckle.
Kenmore would have preferred to have had Dahlia with him.
Dahlia: Come here and let me give you your shots.
Dahlia reaches for Kenmore as she pulls the emergency kit out of her belt.
Ifto think that it's comments like that which make him glad he's not a Farris.
Kenmore: I won't touch it, we will go around it.
Kenmore objects.
Ifto: But it's all over the place.
Dahlia: And you won't breathe for the next 5 miles, my dear? Come come, give it here.
Dahlia pulls herself over to his arm since he isn't moving toward her.
Kenmore: Oh shen.
Dahlia: This will just take a moment.
Ifto points to the clumps of ragweed growing in the rutabaga fields.
Kenmore: Right. ~ miserable ~
Kenmore sometimes feels, in spite of his 30+ years, that Dahlia thinks of him as a naughty child.
Ifto is careful to not even think ~~ snicker ~~
Kenmore ignores the fact that he sometimes acts like one.
Eruditia thinks that if Kenmore had the sense God gave a possum, he'd stay with the wagon where he's safe.
Eruditia has long since learned to keep her lip zipped about Farris sense though.
Ifto is unaware of the story about the flying carpet which was useless because it only worked if its operator didn't think of a white elephant.
Bekman shifts impatiently on the wagon seat.
Kenmore glares at Ifto and considers a lesson in base movement for later.
Dahlia injects Kenmore with a soup of anti-allergy medicine.
Bekman: Are some of you riding, or should I just go on?
Dahlia: There. Now, here's your lotion,
Dahlia: And your pills,
Dahlia: And here's some of that salve in case you touch any maple leaves.
Kenmore takes the lotion and puts it in his pocket, likewise the pills.
Kenmore: Take Dahlia and Eruditia with you and we will meet you there.
Kenmore puts the salve in his pocket absentmindedly.
Bekman: Right. Ladies, if you would?
Dahlia: Don't forget to take your regular dose of the amobutylphene....
Dahlia starts to feel a little anxious.
Dahlia: Maybe I should come along....
Kenmore: Yeah yeah, ready Ifto?
Kenmore is looking forward to augmenting out of her worry range.
Kenmore: No! I mean, no, you go with the wagon.
Ifto is dancing in place.
Dahlia: Well, all right....
Ifto: ~~ eager to run ~~
Dahlia climbs back into the wagon, as does Eruditia.
Bekman shakes the reins and clucks.
Eruditia is not too worried about Ifto since he has few allergies and is a pain in the patuckus when he hasn't had his morning augmentation.
Bekman's patuckus is also paining him, from jouncing on the wagon seat.
Ifto politely waits for Kenmore to lead off.
Kenmore: OK, we will meet you there.
Kenmore waits until the wagon has started off again.
Dahlia watches them disappear from view.
Kenmore: Right - let's go!
Ifto follows, delighting in stretching his legs after being bounced around all day.
Kenmore: No more then level 4 augmentation now, all right?
Ifto: All right. Do you have a plan for managing Hajene Snake's case yet?
Ifto has shorter legs than Kenmore, but makes up for it with youthful energy and an extra 0.25% augmentation.
Kenmore jumps over the worst of the nasty weeds and avoids squashing the vegetables.
Ifto isn't particularly worried about saving the vegetables, but hey, any excuse to enjoy how much higher he can jump while augmenting.
Kenmore thinks that this will accomplish several things. 1) it gets him out of the wagon. 2) he will get to Naros and a cup of tea quicker 3) it might stop Ifto fidgeting.
Pollen rises up in clouds, frustrated by Kenmore's temporary immunity.
Kenmore thinks, as an afterthought, that it will get him to the patient quicker too.
Hero is gossiping with one of gatekeepers.
Hero: And then, I said... wow!!!!
Hero: Do you see that??
Hero spots two figures augmenting across a turnip patch.
Hero: Give me give me give me!
Hero begs for the guard's binoculars.
Gatekeeper: Where?
Gatekeeper is scanning.
Hero: Over there... what's that on the road?
Gatekeeper: Oh!
Hero: Is that a wagon? And who are those people?
Gatekeeper scans more.
Hero: Is that blue Zeor blue?
Gatekeeper: A wagon. Could the train have come early?
Hero: Oooh ooh I'm the first! I'm the first one!!
Hero hugs the gatekeeper.
Hero: ~exuberance~
Hero: Tell me tell me! Is it Zeor?
Gatekeeper sniffs.
Gatekeeper: Go tell Sectuib that it appears the guests from Zeor will arrive shortly.
Gatekeeper: And don't stop to gossip on the way.
Hero shrieks in delight and tears down the stairs from the tower.
Kenmore stops at the bottom of the hill and brushes himself down so that he won't look so dreadfully rumpled when he meets the Sectuib of the Householding.
Hero: Zeor is coming! Zeor is coming!
Ifto follows Kenmore's example, hyperaware of the responsibility of representing Zeor in such a hick place.
Gatekeeper puts the binoculars away and goes down the stairs at a more cautious pace to let the visitors in.
Ifto: Do you think they know we're coming?
Kenmore realises with annoyance that he has mud on the bottom of his cloak. He hopes that it's mud.
Kenmore: Remember Ifto, this isn't Zeor. Don't expect the manners you get at home.
Ifto is glad that he only packed the short version of the Zeor cloak, since his is in pristine condition, except for a little road dust.
Ifto: I won't.
Riyyh panics when he hears the news - they are already at the gates and he only has seconds to prepare!
Kenmore: But you be as polite as if it were our own Sectuib. [considers what he just said] Actually, be more polite OK?
Riyyh rushes into the bathroom to check his look.
Ifto takes his cloak off and shakes it vigorously to get the dust off.
Ifto looks wounded.
Riyyh rushes back out and dons his most elaborate Naros robes, then darts back in once more to make sure his hair and face are just so.
Riyyh would hate to make a bad impression or anything.
Ifto: I'm not going to be rude to our hosts, Kenmore.
Kenmore: Of course they know we are coming. They aren't blind deaf and zlinless.
Kenmore pats Ifto on the shoulder.
Kenmore: I know, sorry if I seem to be too....
Riyyh: Where's Mytag!
Riyyh: ~fretfully~
Ifto is hyperaware that the small party is Zeor to these rubes.
Kenmore: You just hear stories, you know?
Ifto: Yeah.
Riyyh smoothes back his hair, then stares in dismay as some comes off on his sweaty palm.
Ifto nods to the gates, and their guardian.
Ifto: I think they're waiting for us.
Mytag rushes into Riyyh's room.
Mytag: Did you hear? They are here!
Gatekeeper is waiting in full Naros livery to greet the visitors with full pomp and ceremony.
Riyyh flies to Mytag.
Riyyh: Oh thank goodness you're here.
Riyyh: Yes, yes, we must meet them.
Riyyh: Where's your good cloak? Is it here?
Mytag: What's wrong?
Gatekeeper mentally rehearses the formal, traditional greeting she looked up in the library's heirloom etiquette book.
Kenmore begins to regret running ahead.
Kenmore: Well, come on then, lets get this over with.
Riyyh: Nothing, nothing... look, here it is.
Riyyh presses Mytag's cloak into his hands.
Riyyh: You look wonderful, let's go....
Ifto proudly summons his best Zeor-tight showfield, squares his scrawny shoulders, and struts after Kenmore.
Mytag slips on his coat and walks out in ~ support ~ of Riyyh.
Kenmore realises miserably that his impetuousness has again left him a stranger in a strange land without his Donor.
Gatekeeper straightens as the guests approach.
Kenmore: [under his breath] shen shen shen.
Gatekeeper: Welcome to Naros, Naztehrhi!
Gatekeeper: ~~ nervous excitement ~~
Gatekeeper: Naros is proud to offer you hospitality and the security of our walls.
Riyyh is a bundle of nerves because of all the things Zeor is going to find out about Naros, and all the trouble that this is going to raise with Snake and Snake's people, not to mention what Tictoc will say to having her lab invaded by snooty Farrises.
Kenmore: Greetings Naztehr, I believe that your Sectuib is expecting us?
Riyyh wrings his hands nervously all the way out of the Admin building.
Kenmore: Zeor is happy to accept.
Riyyh uses Mytag's support heavily.
Gatekeeper: Our Sectuib will be here momentarily.
Riyyh: I am sure everything will be just fine.
Riyyh nods.
Kenmore is anything but happy but hides it from his bearing and his nager.
Kenmore: We came ahead. [explains lamely]
Gatekeeper: Ah, then that was the rest of your party in the wagon?
Kenmore wishes that he were more of a diplomat. But you can't be everything to everyone.
Gatekeeper: I didn't think it could be the freight wagon from the train station so early.
Riyyh forces himself to slow from a skitter to a sedate walk, and to confine his nervousness to an inner core that a Farris would have to zlin deliberately to be offended by.
Gatekeeper is unable to continue in a formal vein, now that she's reached the end of her script.
Riyyh figures that gives him an extra 30 seconds anyway.
Kenmore: Yes, you will see to it that they are attended to when they arrive?
Gatekeeper: I suspect they'll be wanting baths and such. Dusty, isn't it?
Kenmore: We thought it best to come ahead and see to the patient [yes, that's it, see to the patient]
Kenmore: ~ relief ~ Yes it is. There was a bit of moisture on the road, though. It's in bad repair too. Really jolting.
Gatekeeper spots Riyyh approaching.
Riyyh takes a deep breath, then approaches the gateway.
Gatekeeper: Ah, here's Sectuib now.
Riyyh: ~~ kind, gentle Sectuibly showfield covering the heart of a frantically scared rabbit ~~
Kenmore turns to the handsome figure and gives a slight bow.
Ifto thinks that something zlins just a bit... off... about Riyyh's showfield, but lacks the sensitivity to determine what.
Kenmore wonders what the Sectuib has to be nervous of, after all, it's his home turf.
Riyyh: Naros welcomes Zeor. [returns the bow] I am Sectuib Riyyh, and this is my c - Donor, Mytag.
Ifto concludes that it's probably just the customs of another House.
Kenmore: Zeor thanks Naros and hopes that our stay will be mutually beneficial.
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh: Please... come in.
Kenmore: I am Hajene Kenmore and this is Hajene Ifto.
Riyyh nods genially at the greetings.
Riyyh's heart is hammering a mile a minute.
Kenmore steps inside the gates and looks around at Naros.
Ifto bows and murmurs an appropriate greeting.
Kenmore: ~ approval ~
Riyyh relaxes just a little at Kenmore's approval.
Ifto wonders if the accelerated heartrate is some Naros exercise.
Ifto is used to zlinning really strange things and discovering that they are House exercises.
Kenmore: Beautiful country side you have here Sectuib.
Ifto follows Kenmore through the gate.
Kenmore: ~ be easy ~
Riyyh: Thank you. The beauty of the land is our most cherished prize.
Mytag notices that both the channels look as if they have just run a cross country race.
Riyyh loosens up a little more as Kenmore fails to notice all of Naros' faults right away.
Ifto backs Kenmore with approval, although the place looks a bit rustic for his taste.
Riyyh: Would you care for refreshments? A rest?
Kenmore wonders just what it is that he is missing to make the Sectuib feel this way.
Riyyh: Your quarters have been prepared.
Kenmore: Perhaps we could have a quick look at our patient, then some tea would be most appreciated.
Kenmore: When the rest of our party gets here I will be able to bring them up to date on her status and we can rest then.
Ifto is also eager to zlin the notorious Hajene Snake.
Riyyh has had a special "Zeor Visitor's Task Force" spend the last 2 weeks frenetically trying to Farris-proof the Admin building, the infirmary, and some of the guest cabins.
Riyyh: Of course.
Riyyh: Please come this way.
Riyyh: Mytag, [quietly] please run ahead and make sure Eliza is safely back home.
Mytag nods at Riyyh, bows slightly to the visitors, and hurries off.
Riyyh smiles graciously to the visitors and leads them towards the Admin building at a more sedate rate.
Kenmore: Who is that? Why would anyone be in danger?
Kenmore: ~ curious ~
Riyyh looks confused.
Riyyh: Pardon me?
Ifto follows quietly and listens avidly.
Wise Snake: Mmmmfff unnnhhh.....
Kenmore gestures after Mytag's disappearing form. "Who is he making sure is safe?"
Eliza: Snake!
Eliza: ~ support support support ~
Riyyh becomes terribly nervous as he realizes he's going to get slammed on this (metaphorically speaking of course) no matter what.
Eliza puts a hand on Snake's arm reassuringly.
Wise Snake: .... unnn.... tremor in the force..... unnnhhggg.....
Wise Snake's head rolls to face in the other direction.
Riyyh: Oh... well, Eliza is a, a friend of Hajene Farris'.
Riyyh: Or maybe employee, or trainee, would be more apt. ~nervous~
Eliza wonders if to get up and run for help or to just stick by the channel.
Eliza decides to stick.
Kenmore: I assure you that she is in no danger from us.
Kenmore: ~ slightly insulted/worried ~
Riyyh: Of course not. ~~soothing without actually engaging fields; Riyyh knows better than that~~
Eliza puts her hand on Snake's head and tries to work out if her temperature if higher or lower than before.
Riyyh: I am afraid you merely overheard something which had nothing to do with you. My apologies.
Riyyh thinks they'll fit right in, the nosy buggers.
Mytag composes himself before opening the door.
Riyyh's hair itches as he sweats like a racehorse.
Ifto wonders what prompted Riyyh to take care of an unconnected issue in the middle of dealing with his visitors.
Mytag: Eliza, the - healers - are here. Time for you to go.
Ifto wonders if this is a calculated insult to Zeor.
Eliza: Mytag! Snake's coming around!
Wise Snake's breath snorts out.
Wise Snake: A presence... I have not sensed in many years....
Wise Snake: MMmmmmbbble.
Mytag thinks that is another good reason to get her out of there.
Mytag goes over to Snake's side.
Mytag: Release her to me Eliza.
Mytag: Then get back to the house.
Mytag: Quickly!
Wise Snake's eyelids flicker.
Wise Snake: Nick....
Wise Snake's tentacles grope aimlessly from where her arms are restrained to the sides of the bed.
Eliza: But....
Mytag: Don't argue.
Riyyh leads them up to the Admin building.
Mytag takes up Snake's field smoothly as Eliza drops it.
Mytag: Now go please Eliza, I can't do this and watch you too.
Eliza pouts and heads towards the door.
Eliza: I'll come back later?
Riyyh: This is our administrative complex. As you can see, the agricultural centers are there, there, and there... [pointing] and those are the houses of the members. The guest cottages are that way, through the garden.
Ifto automatically scans for Farris allergens.
Riyyh holds the door open for the visitors.
Kenmore takes in the directions without thinking about it. He is more concerned, now that the time is here, about what state the patient will be in.
Riyyh leads them down the hall, and up the stairs to his (real) office.
Wise Snake's eyes open blearily.
Ifto wishes that Dahlia were here, but tries to manage the fields for Kenmore as well as possible.
Wise Snake: Ni.... whuzzz... Mytag???
Mytag: Of course. [aware that she has left] Snake?
Wise Snake tries to lift her arms but is able only to tug against her restraints.
Mytag: Just be still, help is on it's way.
Mytag: ~ calm calm calm and soothing ~
Wise Snake: Whahapen.
Wise Snake slumps back at Mytag's calming projection.
Mytag: Shusssh, everything will be fine ~ calm calm ~
Wise Snake remembers something about going into a homicidal rage and trying to off Riyyh, but everything after that is a bit fuzzy.
Kenmore notices the insulation, and the problems with it.
Riyyh signals at the office door.
Riyyh: Mytag?
Mytag keeps up his support of Snake as he goes over to open the door.
Riyyh: She's wakened! [surprised]
Riyyh gets out of the way to allow Kenmore to enter first.
Mytag: ~ everything is calm and soothing ~
Mytag: [concentrating like mad]
Kenmore walks in and looks over the make shift infirmary, then the small patient on the bed.
Wise Snake blinks and swings her head around to focus on Riyyh.
Wise Snake: You....
Ifto is surprised; he'd understood that their patient was near death.
Wise Snake's tentacles wave sluggishly, then head over in Kenmore and Ifto's direction and suddenly go still.
Kenmore: Thank you Mytag, I'll take her from here. Would you and the Sectuib be able to wait outside while we make a primary examination?
Kenmore: If you don't mind, Sectuib ~ apologetic ~
Riyyh glances at Mytag.
Ifto places himself to support Kenmore.
Riyyh: Yes, of course.
Kenmore: ~ safe, you are safe ~
Ifto: ~~ Zeor showfield ~~
Mytag releases Snake with relief.
Wise Snake makes a hissing noise that isn't quite a word.
Wise Snake: ~~erk~~
Kenmore: ~ calm and gentle ~
Riyyh slips out of the office.
Wise Snake jerks against the restraints.
Kenmore: Ifto, would you be able to go around the other side of her please? Just hold it like that.
Kenmore: Very good.
Wise Snake: Whad are you doing here?
Ifto manages to keep the fields from wavering as he obeys.
Kenmore: [mumbles to self] Now just why do they have you restrained?
Wise Snake's tentacles lash.
Wise Snake looks, and zlins, a bit deranged.
Kenmore: Snake Farris? I'm Kenmore ambrov Zeor - Farris, this is Ifto ambrov Zeor.
Kenmore: We are here to help you.
Kenmore: Do you know what happened?
Wise Snake: ~bad crazy undefined emotions~
Kenmore checks her for signs of outward physical damage first.
Wise Snake: That little father-of-bastards tried to steal my Companion.
Wise Snake's fists jerk against the restraints.
Kenmore hadn't realized that she was delirious.
Ifto: Surely not!
Wise Snake: Murder would have been too good for him.
Kenmore: Do I have your permission to zlin you properly?
Kenmore will do it anyway of course, but it's always polite to ask the patients permission.
Wise Snake: ~wary/utterly untrusting~
Kenmore shushes Ifto and mutters, "don't take anything too seriously just yet, please, Ifto."
Ifto catches himself before he blurts out objections to Snake's attitude.
Kenmore looks at the restraints and wonders if he dare to remove them.
Wise Snake: Zeor comes like the vulture, how appropriate.
Kenmore knows that his nose is a bit beaklike, and he has been called "eagle" before, but "vulture" is taking it a bit far.
Ifto is more than taken aback at such outright disdain for their House.
Wise Snake: I won't go back there, I won't.
Wise Snake: ~ crazy ~
Wise Snake: Carrion-eaters.
Kenmore: No one is forcing you to. [yet] We just want to get you better.
Kenmore decides not to wait for permission.
Kenmore: Ifto....
Kenmore bends down to zlin her, getting what he can without a 5th contact to start with.
Ifto arranges his field for ~~ support ~~
Kenmore: Shen, what a mess.
Kenmore: Ifto, zlin this.
Kenmore backs off and lets Ifto into his place.
Ifto extends his laterals.
Wise Snake, aside from her physical problems, is also carrying a ~~deep and abiding loathing~~.
Kenmore: What you are looking for here is - layers - of damage.
Kenmore: Try to get down to the bottom, but don't push.
Ifto tries to zlins around the ~~ loathing ~~ although it's kinda hard to get much from a Farris when you're not one yourself.
Kenmore: Feel it?
Ifto: Shen!
Riyyh tries not to fret as he and Mytag eavesdrop on the conversation within.
Kenmore figuratively rubs his tentacles together. He loves sticky problems.
Ifto is not swearing, just stating an observation.
Kenmore: Snake, can you remember what happened?
Kenmore nods approvingly. "And shid too."
Wise Snake: I pulled my knife... started to go hypo. That's when Eliza.... [jerks against the restraints]
Wise Snake: Shedoni, somebody untie me. This is ridiculous!
Wise Snake: ~frustrated and unstable~
Kenmore: ~ calm calm ~
Ifto looks at Kenmore, a bit unsettled by the suggestion.
Kenmore: Eliza what?
Wise Snake subsides against the bed, panting.
Kenmore looks at Ifto over the top of the patient.
Wise Snake: I should think that would be obvious. [growls]
Wise Snake: She genslammed me, you fool.
Kenmore: Is Eliza the one who slammed you?
Ifto: Is Eliza your Donor?
Kenmore: But this isn't the first time you have been slammed, is it?
Kenmore: ~ soothing calm ~
Wise Snake: It's not even the first time I've been slammed by Eliza!
Kenmore begins to think that, unfortunately, this channel has been slammed right out of sanity.
Ifto reinforces Kenmore's ~~ calm ~~ ing efforts.
Wise Snake: She's not my Do... Nick!
Kenmore: Ifto, can you please? [indicates that he should hold the ambient, such as it is]
Wise Snake: ~edge of panic~
Wise Snake: Where's Nick.
Wise Snake: You haven't got your claws in him already, have you?
Kenmore walks over to the door and opens it.
Ifto: Nick is your Donor?
Kenmore jumps back in surprise as the Sectuib and his Donor almost fall inside.
Riyyh manages to control his nager to avoid disturbing the ambient much.
Riyyh thinks 'whoops'.
Ifto manages to keep Kenmore's surprise from disturbing Snake... much.
Wise Snake sees and zlins Riyyh.
Wise Snake: You!!!!!!!!!
Kenmore steps outside the room and shuts the door.
Wise Snake: ~hate~
Wise Snake: Open that door... come back here!
Wise Snake lunges against the restraints.
Kenmore: You have this Eliza restrained? This is a serious matter.
Ifto recoils at the ~~ hate ~~, then collects himself and projects ~~ calm ~~
Wise Snake: That man... you. [to Ifto] That man tried to steal my Donor.
Wise Snake: He did this to me!
Wise Snake: ~crazy anguish~
Kenmore thinks that this is an excellent opportunity for Ifto to practice what he has learned.
Ifto wishes Dahlia were here to do a really decent job.
Riyyh: Eliza is... well, she has been confined to one of the guest cottages, except when she was here to assist with Hajene Farris.
Riyyh: [not really true; Eliza wasn't confined per se, she just never left Snake's side]
Ifto: I'm sure Sectuib Riyyh has a perfectly good Donor of his own. He doesn't need one who could serve you.
Ifto: Now just relax, while we get this straightened out.
Wise Snake is snorting like a thoroughbred before a big race.
Wise Snake: Release me.
Ifto: I can't just now, Hajene.
Ifto: I'm only Kenmore's assistant, you zlin.
Kenmore: I see.
Wise Snake stares at Ifto, trying to force him to do it by sheer force of will (and nager and weird eyes)
Wise Snake: Release me!
Kenmore: We will talk more on this later. Where is Hajene Farris's Donor?
Wise Snake: ~furious~
Ifto recoils, and drops his soothing projection.
Ifto tries desperately to hold his own against the onslaught of Snake's nager.
Ifto: Hajene, you've been ill. You're not yourself. Please, just calm down.
Riyyh: He has been confined also, in one of the medical buildings.
Ifto: You musn't injure yourself more.
Riyyh: He became quite dangerous ~true/apologetic~
Riyyh: I can release him to your custody if you wish....
Riyyh: If you can assure me the members of Naros will be safe?
Wise Snake: Where's my Companion?
Kenmore: ~ amazement ~
Kenmore shakes his head.
Ifto tries to project ~~ calm ~~ into the center of the storm, with about the same hope of a person trying to counter a tornado with a fan.
Kenmore: Obviously there is more to this than just a hurt channel.
Ifto: I'm sure they'll bring him to you soon.
Kenmore: We will need a full report - soon.
Riyyh: Yes, of course.
Riyyh: [Riyyh's stock answer to any request]
Riyyh: I'll see to it as soon as possible.
Kenmore: Leave everything as it is until after we hear what is to be heard, then I will want to examine the Donors as well.
Ifto: This is a decent House. They wouldn't separate a channel from her... Companion.
Ifto wonders just a bit at the use of the archaic term.
Kenmore: As soon as the rest of my party get here send Dahlia to me.
Wise Snake snarls and bucks against the restraints.
Wise Snake: What do you know!
Wise Snake: Let me go!
Ifto: Please, Hajene Snake. You'll hurt yourself.
Wise Snake: ~~serious~~
Wise Snake: You'll regret it if you don't.
Kenmore doesn't realise that he is bossing the Sectuib of the house around as if he wasn't the Sectuib of the house.
Ifto: I already do. [mutters]
Kenmore turns and re enters the room.
Kenmore: Now now, what's this? [smiles reassuringly]
Riyyh: Of course. [to Kenmore's back]
Riyyh sighs unhappily as the door closes.
Riyyh looks to Mytag.
Ifto: She wants her... Companion.
Ifto: This Nick person.
Kenmore: You must be thirsty. Ifto, could you get Snake some water please? There has to be a jug or something around here somewhere.
Mytag shrugs.
Wise Snake gives Ifto a poisonous look for not having released her before the less-malleable Kenmore returned.
Mytag: I did tell you, Sectuib, that they were all dangerous?
Mytag: ~ I told you so, nah nah ~
Riyyh: Yes, yes you did, Mytag.
Riyyh: ~ruefully~
Riyyh: You were right, of course.
Ifto pours a glass of water from the pitcher on the desk.
Kenmore: Now, Eliza is restrained and so, apparently is Nick. Don't panic, I'll have a Donor here for you soon.
Kenmore: Until then, why don't we zlin you a bit deeper and see what we can do about starting to heal your systems straight?
Wise Snake: What have they done with Nick?
Ifto brings the glass over.
Kenmore: ~ best bedside manner ~
Kenmore: He is safe, so I'm told.
Ifto: Here, Hajene. I'll hold this for you, so you can sip, shall I?
Wise Snake: That thieving little... mmm glub.
Wise Snake has some water.
Ifto: There. Feel a bit better, now?
Ifto: ~~ hope ~~
Wise Snake pants up at Ifto wearing a you'll-get-yours-expression.
Ifto looks at Snake.
Ifto: ~~ innocence/only following orders ~~
Ifto also has a tad of ~~ snicker ~~ way underneath.
Wise Snake's eyes narrow.
Wise Snake: ~~helpless rage~~
Ifto doesn't have much chance to order Farrises around.
Kenmore: Ifto - that will do.
Ifto brings his nager into order.
Kenmore isn't real pleased with him at the moment.
Kenmore: ~ compassion for Snake ~
Kenmore: ~ calm cool and collected ~
Kenmore glides over to her side and sits on the bed next to her once more.
Wise Snake: I suppose he sold you to me to get himself off the hook. ~bitter~
Wise Snake: Shen, we never should have come here.
Kenmore: I'll undo your restraints when I'm sure that you are well enough to get up.
Wise Snake looks at Kenmore cynically.
Kenmore: I doubt that you would lay there willingly to recuperate.
Kenmore: No one has sold anyone. ~ soothing honesty ~
Kenmore takes her arms in his hands.
Wise Snake's tentacles crawl, but she can't resist of course.
Kenmore leans forward towards making 5th contact.
Kenmore: Just be still now.
Wise Snake: ~~what a 16 months it's been!!~~
Kenmore makes 5th contact and zlins the damage, and the way to start it healing in the right direction, which involves undoing a bit of the healing that has already happened.
Ifto falls into a ~~ working support ~~
Ifto zlins Kenmore's efforts with interest.
Kenmore makes sure he is thorough.
Ifto is caught up in the details.
Kenmore suggests that a healing body needs sleep.
Kenmore suggests it more strongly as, although weak, Snake puts up a fight.
Kenmore: ~ sleep sleep ~
Wise Snake is put to sleep.
Bekman draws the wagon to a halt in the courtyard.
Bekman: Here we are, ladies.
Wolfa runs out into the courtyard.
Riyyh, who led the wagon back from the gate, waits for Dahlia and Eruditia to disembark.
Bekman looks around at the buildings, noticing that for some reason, almost every window has a few observers peeking out.
Wolfa: Oh Riyyh, there you are!
Riyyh: This is Wolfa, our lead administrative person.
Riyyh has already welcomed them and introduced himself.
Wolfa blushes as she realises that these people are the rest of the Zeor party.
Riyyh: Hello, Wolfa.
Riyyh smiles kindly at her.
Bekman waits for the Donor-types to be taken care of, so he can dispose of the luggage, stable the horses, and get something to eat.
Wolfa: I have your accommodation ready of course. You must be tired from the long journey. It's so good of you to come.
Riyyh: Hajene Farris requested that you be sent directly to him at the bedside of his patient.
Riyyh: [apologetically]
Riyyh: I do hope you will take advantage of our hospitality at your earliest convenience.
Eruditia snorts.
Wolfa carefully doesn't zlin the Donors; she doesn't want to appear rude, or greedy, or pathetic.
Dahlia: Thank you.
Dahlia: Er... did he look peaked at all?
Riyyh: [caught by surprised] Pardon me?
Bekman is also a bit astonished, as he misheard and thought Dahlia said "beaked".
Dahlia: You know, any running nose, rash, sign of infection?
Dahlia had been entertaining herself with many visions of disaster after regretting letting Kenmore run off on his own.
Bekman thinks that most Zeorites are careful to avoid drawing outsider's attention towards their most famous members' outsized schnozzes.
Riyyh: Well, I, ~flustered~ No, I didn't notice anything, he seemed in perfect health.
Riyyh was so intimidated by the other channel he probably wouldn't have noticed if he'd worn a 2' booger on his sweater.
Dahlia: Oh, good. Lead the way, then!
Kenmore watches over his unconscious patient and waits for a Donor to show up.
Riyyh leads Dahlia and Eruditia back toward his office.
Kenmore: I can't believe that they left her like that. It's obvious from the way healing had started that no one knew what they were doing.
Kenmore: Did you zlin those old "scars"?
Ifto: Yes. How did she survive the damage?
Kenmore: Sheer toughness I'd say. Tough as old boots this one. You know the saying "whatever doesn't kill me only makes me stronger"? I'd say she has been through a lot.
Ifto: A Farris who's survived living rogue, for so many months....
Ifto: She'd have to be tough.
Riyyh signals at his own office door.
Riyyh hopes that Snake can be moved to a real infirmary room now.
Kenmore: Come!
Kenmore gets up and goes over towards where Dahlia will be in a minute.
Ifto has never met an actual rogue channel before.
Ifto inspects Snake more closely.
Dahlia enters the room.
Dahlia: ~~oh my pussykins~~
Dahlia: ~~support~~
Dahlia: How is it going? [asks Kenmore]
Ifto looks to see if his own Donor came along.
Eruditia enters in a less sweeping and grandiose fashion, since she isn't a Farris.
Eruditia looks about to make sure Ifto hasn't done anything rash, then goes over to his side.
Ifto sighs, wishing he was getting a friendly greeting like Kenmore.
Eruditia: ~support~
Ifto leans on Eruditia's nager, which is by far the best part of her, as far as he's concerned.
Ifto: Thank you, Sosu.
Eruditia, although only a Gen, is not deaf to the mixed feelings in young Ifto's voice.
Eruditia: You're welcome. [dryly]
Ifto nods at the sleeping Snake.
Ifto: She wasn't very happy to zlin us.
Eruditia looks at Snake.
Ifto: And the damage....
Kenmore: Dahlia, this here is Snake Farris. Recognise her at all?
Ifto: I've never seen that kind of half-healed scarring.
Dahlia: Oh how she's changed!
Dahlia: ~compassion~
Dahlia has a soft spot for any Farris.
Ifto: Kenmore did some work already.
Eruditia looks at the patient.
Eruditia clearly does not feel a hell of a lot of compassion, but her nager is at worst noncommittal.
Kenmore: I want you to stay with her. Treat her like a changeover with Kempet's syndrome.
Dahlia doesn't question the order.
Dahlia pulls a chair over by Snake's bedside.
Dahlia: When will I see you again?
Kenmore: I've put her to sleep. She should stay out for a few hours. If she comes to before I get back, see if you can keep her asleep, or at best semi-conscious.
Dahlia nods.
Dahlia: All right.
Kenmore: We have some people to question. I'll be back as soon as I get the full story.
Dahlia smiles at him.
Dahlia: Be safe.
Kenmore smiles back, relieved to know that she is at least in the same Householding.
Riyyh has waited politely outside of the room, his nager neatly contained.
Kenmore indicates for the others to follow and heads outside.
Ifto looks at Kenmore to make sure that he's included in the "we" who are doing this questioning.
Eruditia nudges Ifto.
Eruditia: That's us, boy.
Kenmore: [to Riyyh] Is there somewhere more private than a hallway where we can talk, please, Sectuib?
Riyyh rubs his chin, thinking that's a stickier question than a non-Narosian might realize.
Riyyh: Yes, please come to my office.
Riyyh means, of course, his temporary office, which was Wolfa's office.
Ifto follows Kenmore out, keeping his nager strictly under control.
Kenmore follows Riyyh, trusting that Ifto and Eruditia will follow him.
Eruditia walks with Ifto, maintaining a light but unimpeding support.
Riyyh ushers them into "his" office.
Riyyh makes sure there are enough chairs for everybody.
Kenmore takes a seat on the door side of the desk.
Ifto looks around the office, a bit surprised at how much less grand this is than the office they just left.
Riyyh makes sure that Mytag is very near at hand at all times.
Kenmore: This is a very confusing situation, Sectuib, as I'm sure you can appreciate.
Ifto finds a seat.
Kenmore: We were told that you had an injured Farris on your hands, we weren't given any details.
Kenmore: Perhaps you could bring us up to speed on this matter?
Riyyh: Ah, yes.
Riyyh wipes his damp palms on a small towel he has taken to keeping near his desk for the purpose.
Riyyh: ~very nervous and this is with support~
Mytag: ~ nervous support ~
Riyyh: Well, Hajene Farris, that is to say, Hajene Snake Farris, came to us some weeks ago, with some of her people.
Ifto settles back to make mental case notes, since he can be pretty sure that Kenmore will quiz him later.
Ifto: Her "people"? That would be the two Donors?
Riyyh: Admittedly it was a rather bad time to arrive, but....
Riyyh: No, there are several others.
Kenmore: What are their names and where are they now?
Riyyh: Nick Reckage her own Donor, El- [stumbles] Eliza Furdens, a Second and a channel assigned to her, Tanzarra.
Riyyh: Then there are Bum Bum [hesitates and decides to leave well enough alone] and his Donor Linn.
Riyyh: Three Donors and two channels. [sums up]
Riyyh: And Griff.
Riyyh winces.
Riyyh: Griff is a Gen.
Riyyh thinks the less said about Griff the better.
Kenmore makes a mental note that a 2nd did that damage. And what the hell sort of a name is Bum Bum?
Kenmore: 3 teams and a spare. Go on please.
Riyyh: They are all from Bender Cove Township, and my Donor Mytag having been assigned there at one point, was aware of some... past history with many of these people. He urged me to restrain at least one of them, and keep an eye on all of them.
Riyyh: ~regret~
Riyyh: It is possible I erred on the side of giving them the benefit of the doubt....
Mytag: ~ yeah, when will you channels every learn to listen to your Donors? ~
Riyyh's shoulders slump.
Riyyh: Well... various events happened that in retrospect should have been warnings.
Ifto: Warnings?
Riyyh: Hajene Farris overdosed on street drugs, and there were... [decides to skip nearly all the other "events"]
Riyyh: Various... other... well anyway.
Kenmore: Maybe we could go into that more deeply later. For now, could you tell us of the events leading up to the attack, and the attack?
Kenmore means, of course, the attack on Snake.
Riyyh: Yes, ah, well Hajene Farris and Sosu Nick had their transfer, and apparently there was some sort of disagreement which occurred immediately afterward.
Riyyh: I have it on good authority that it... [clears his throat uncomfortably] ... was an argument of a rather personal nature.
Riyyh: For two or three days after that Sosu Nick was dragging himself about extremely depressed, and I confess I had more contact with him as Hajene Farris was very busy at the time.
Riyyh: He said he was disenchanted with his channel and felt she did not care for him.
Ifto: And she didn't approve? She said something about you trying to steal her Donor.
Riyyh studies Ifto.
Riyyh: Yes, she heard I had told him he was welcome at Naros, and attempted to murder me.
Riyyh: That was the incident during which she was slammed.
Kenmore: She what?
Riyyh: Attempted to murder me.
Riyyh: [apologetically]
Ifto: ~~ shock ~~
Kenmore: ~ stunned ~
Kenmore: I see why you have her restrained.
Riyyh: I did not actually have her restrained until just a couple of days ago.
Kenmore: Were you alone with her at the time of the attack? Except for this Eliza, that is....
Riyyh: No, Mytag was there. [indicates his Donor] as well as my chief medical officer Tictoc, and my assistant Wolfa and her Donor Hero.
Riyyh: Eliza did not come in until the moment of the slam.
Kenmore checks to see that Ifto is writing this down.
Ifto isn't sure about some of the spellings, but has the gist of it.
Riyyh: Anyway, at first she was not restrained and Nick was allowed to remain by her side.
Riyyh: We felt it was best, you see, to aid in her recovery.
Riyyh: [explains]
Kenmore: I'll want to talk to your medical officer, also the others who were present.
Riyyh: Of course. [graciously]
Riyyh hopes Kenmore will take it easy on Tictoc, or Riyyh will be doing a lot of feather-smoothing.
Kenmore: Of course.
Riyyh has found feather-smoothing to be a lot more nervewracking now that people put all these rules and regulations on it.
Riyyh: However, Sosu Nick became distraught after days passed and she didn't wake, and....
Riyyh: [apologetically] I'm afraid he became rather threatening himself.
Riyyh: He also said that Hajene Snake Farris was likely to attack me again, or perhaps attack you, so I felt it was necessary to restrain her as well.
Kenmore: I see.
Riyyh: Please believe me when I say that I did not want to have to restrain either of them.
Kenmore thinks quickly.
Riyyh: ~unhappy/nervous~
Kenmore: I'd like Eruditia to question this Nick if that is suitable.
Riyyh wipes his palms off on the towel.
Riyyh nods.
Riyyh: Of course.
Kenmore would like to see the Gen who could best Eruditia.
Eruditia would like to see the Gen who could spend that much time around Wise Snake Farris and emerge with his dignity intact.
Kenmore: Now as to these others. Who else is available for questioning?
Riyyh: Wolfa and Hero should be available at your convenience. Their office is just down the hall here. Tictoc is extremely busy, but I can speak to her and arrange something, if you know what time you'd like...?
Kenmore: I'd prefer to question them separately, if you will take me to them and then show me somewhere private to do so?
Kenmore: Eruditia, I'd like to talk to you in a moment also.
Riyyh: Yes, of course.
Eruditia nods.
Ifto looks at Kenmore for his orders.
Kenmore: Ifto, you are with me. Sectuib, you will have someone to make sure that Eruditia is physically safe from harm?
Eruditia thinks if Kenmore wants her to go question complete strangers covered with an inch of dust and smelling like a road-weary Gen, then isn't that just like a Farris.
Mytag: Sectuib, I'd like that job if I may.
Riyyh looks uneasy at the idea of separating from Mytag.
Riyyh: Very well.
Riyyh: Go ahead, Mytag.
Riyyh: ~unhappy~
Kenmore: But first, if I may... [takes Eruditia gently by the arm and leads her to the doorway]
Eruditia follows Kenmore.
Kenmore: Just confirm the story. I want to know who is to blame for what.
Ifto finishes his notes and stands to follow Kenmore.
Kenmore: Try not to let him crowd you, but be gentle as well.
Kenmore: I know you will do a good job.
Kenmore: ~ pride in his Naztehr ~
Eruditia: Thank you.
Kenmore: Sectuib? If you could lead us to, umm, Wolfa and Hero?
Riyyh: Of course.
Riyyh steels himself against nerves as Mytag and Eruditia leave, and takes Kenmore and Ifto down the hall to Wolfa's office.
Wolfa looks up in surprise.
Riyyh: Hello, Wolfa.
Riyyh: [apologetically]
Riyyh: This is Hajene Farris and Hajene Ifto, ambrov Zeor.
Riyyh: Would it be possible for them to have a moment of your time?
Kenmore: Hajene Wolfa? And Hero would be your Donor?
Riyyh fades back to the door, ready to block Hero from coming in and accidentally killing Hajene Farris with one of her famous cannonball dive entrances.
Hero is a few doors down, in another office, preparing two cups of scalding hot tea.
Riyyh thinks they have had quite enough Farris injuries in this House in the last month, thank you.
Wolfa: Yes, why?
Hero comes bouncing back down the hallway carrying the two teas.
Hero: Oh hi Sectuib Riyyh, how's - hey!!
Hero: [as Riyyh snatches the two teas from hers with Sime grace]
Kenmore: And she is.... Ah...
Riyyh blocks Hero's nager from affecting the ambient in the room.
Riyyh also keeps the sensation of hot tea slopping all over his hands from disturbing the ambient in the room, although it puts quite a grimace on his normally handsome face.
Riyyh: Ah... Hero, [keeping his voice low]
Kenmore looks at Hero's youth and open nager and decides that she is the one he wants to question first - before Riyyh can prime her.
Hero: Oh wow!! It's him!!!
Hero tries to see past Riyyh, something she doesn't do often.
Kenmore smiles at the young Donor.
Riyyh: All right, you can come in, but control yourself. Go stand over by Wolfa.
Riyyh lets her by.
Hero walks into the room like an obedient little lamb.
Hero: ~controlled... for now~
Kenmore: Hello, Hero. I was wondering if you and Wolfa could answer some questions for me, but maybe you and I could take care of it and leave Wolfa to her work. If that is OK with Wolfa?
Riyyh is not planning on letting Kenmore question Hero without his own presence.
Riyyh gets a tight feeling in his chest just contemplating the idea.
Wolfa looks a bit stunned and briefly considers the idea that this Farris Channel is after her Gen.
Wolfa: Errr yes, of course, I guess so.
Wolfa: ~ worry ~
Riyyh gives Wolfa a "Don't worry, I'll make sure she gets back to you just fine" look of reassurance.
Wolfa still looks confused, but somewhat more secure.
Hero: ~cool!~
Hero: Questions, really?
Hero rarely gets asked real questions by actual adults; usually they tell her to shut up.
Hero: ~enthusiastic~
Kenmore: Right, then Sectuib, if there is somewhere nice and private that this young lady and I can have a chat?
Kenmore: Ifto, maybe you could go check on our patient for me?
Riyyh: You are welcome to come back to my office with me, of course.
Kenmore smiles at Hero in a way that he thinks makes him look fatherly.
Riyyh: ~graciously~
Hero does a double take and wonders if Kenmore has the hots for her.
Hero: ~interest~
Kenmore: I'm sorry to be such a bother, ~ regret ~ but I really need to talk to Hero alone.
Riyyh zlins Hero's interest and blinks at Kenmore's words.
Riyyh: Oh, I,
Kenmore: ~ firm ~
Riyyh really does have a hard time saying no.
Riyyh: Oh dear, this is very difficult....
Riyyh's tentacles and hands worry each other.
Kenmore: I'm afraid I must insist.
Riyyh: That would make me very uncomfortable.
Kenmore: I'm sorry about that.
Riyyh: You see, with all the hazards to the members of our House recently, I feel it is my duty as Sectuib in this difficult time, to....
Kenmore: Of course, I understand, but I'm afraid it's just not possible.
Riyyh's posture becomes more and more submissive as Kenmore's big Farris nager beats him down.
Kenmore knows that the presence of the Sectuib would be enormously inhibiting for the young Donor.
Riyyh: Well, in what sense, I mean,
Riyyh: ~distressed~
Riyyh looks at Hero.
Riyyh: Will you, be a-all right with talking to him alone?
Hero: Oh sure!!
Hero thinks this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Riyyh sighs.
Riyyh: ~profoundly unhappy and distressed~
Riyyh: Very well, then.
Kenmore: I always take very good care of Gens, Sectuib ~ slight disapproval ~
Riyyh: Of course.
Riyyh: I will take you to a conference room where you can speak privately.
Kenmore: Thank you Sectuib.
Hero wonders if Riyyh means the conference room you can hear every whisper all over the Householding, or the other one you can only hear from certain pathways in the garden.
Riyyh: If you'll come this way?
Kenmore follows Riyyh out, smiling reassuringly at Wolfa.
Riyyh hurries to a conference room and shows them in, trying to hide his anxiety as much as possible.
Wolfa: ~ loss ~
Riyyh: Here... there are chairs, a table, a tea service... will you require anything else?
Kenmore: Thank you, this is fine, just fine. This fine with you, Hero?
Hero: Sure!
Hero thinks that in this room, everybody will know that she got a private interview with a real Farris.
Kenmore smiles at her and smiles at Riyyh while he is at it.
Hero decides to part with some really special information only she knows, just to titillate the others.
Riyyh looks like he is about to faint.
Riyyh: I'll just... go then.
Kenmore: Thank you again.
Kenmore walks him to the door.
Riyyh gathers his wits (well, sort of) outside the door, then starts off purposefully to a good listening location on one of the courtyard balconies.
Hero sits down with a bounce.
Hero: ~enthusiasm~
Hero is a young Donor with enormous potential (alas, just potential) who looks as if she must be related to Riyyh.
Kenmore: So Hero, I hear that there has been some real excitement around here and I bet you are just the one to tell me about it all!
Hero: Oh yeah!
Hero: All sorts of stuff has been going on.
Hero: Hey I was the first person to see you coming, did you know that?
Kenmore: So I see. Hajene Snake is really badly hurt. The sectuib told me that you were there when it happened!
Hero: Who was that guy who was running with you? He was cute.
Hero: Oh... that.
Kenmore: No! Where you?
Hero: Yeah, I was there.
Hero: It was really exciting.
Hero starts to warm to the story.
Kenmore: Tell me about it.
Hero: First, she jumped into the room, with her hands out! Like this!! [strangling motion]
Hero: And Mytag tried to get in her way and she pushed him aside.
Hero: And then Riyyh ran and hid behind me and Wolfa.
Hero: He's kind of a wussy boy. [confides]
Kenmore tries not to raise his eyebrows.
Hero: Mytag tried to tackle her by the knees, but she augmented away from him and he fell and busted his chin!!
Hero: Eww, it was bloody.
Hero pauses reminiscingly.
Kenmore: Must have been scary.
Hero: He really felt sorry for himself actually.
Hero: Oh!! For me.
Hero: Yeah it was!
Hero: So then, Wolfa tried to block Snake while Sectuib Riyyh ran and hid behind Hajene Tictoc instead.
Hero: And she was all, like, should I defend him or shouldn't I? Because, you know, she's still P.O.'d over him being her father and all.
Kenmore wonders about the Sectuib.
Hero: But I mean, he is her Sectuib and everything, so then when Snake told her to get out of the way, she wasn't going to do it.
Hero: So then Snake pulled out this huge!! knife.
Hero: It was like, this long.
Kenmore must speak to Tictoc. He would love to know how Snake zlinned during this time.
Hero: So then Hajene Tictoc was all, holy shit!
Hero is really starting to get into her story.
Hero: And then Eliza walks in just then and she goes "Snake!!!"
Hero: Boom.
Kenmore quickly goes hypo.
Kenmore: [just in case]
Hero: Wolfa and Snake just hit the deck like thump and bump. Tictoc does this funny dance and Sectuib Riyyh looks like he's going to turn to stone right there.
Hero: Talk about seven with one blow!
Kenmore: Wow.
Hero refers to the fairy tale about the Gen who genslammed 7 raiders.
Hero: Anyways, so then Wolfa is all, "what happened?" She woke up you see.
Kenmore: So this Eliza person did it on purpose to save the Sectuib? Or was it an accident do you think?
Hero: Tictoc runs over to Snake and....
Hero: Oh it was definitely an accident.
Hero: You should have seen the look on her face afterward!
Kenmore: Snake's Donor wasn't with her?
Hero: I don't think she even knew she'd done it until she grabbed the knife and Snake didn't fight her for it....
Hero: No, Nick wasn't there.
Hero: The whole fight was over Nick, you know.
Hero: Him and Hajene Farris were on the rocks because Snake wanted to boink Sectuib Riyyh instead of Nick.
Hero: Then when Sectuib asked Nick if he wanted to pledge, well all shedoni broke loose.
Kenmore tries to follow the convoluted tale.
Hero: I think Nick was just jealous because everybody wants to do it with Sectuib.
Hero: It's a guy thing.
Hero confides this as if Kenmore isn't a "guy" himself.
Kenmore: Oh. I see.
Kenmore: Lets just go back to the beginning now for a minute.
Hero: OK.
Hero thinks it's great this person actually wants to hear all her stories.
Kenmore: When Snake came barging in with the knife, was she serious do you think?
Hero: Oh, she didn't have the knife at first.
Hero: She yelled "you!!!" and jumped at him like this.
Hero makes a grimace of fury and holds out her hands in a strangling motion.
Kenmore: Ah yes, I remember.
Kenmore: ~ hypo ~
Hero has demonstrated this many times and has it down to a fine art.
Kenmore: Where did she get the knife from?
Hero: It was hidden in her cloak.
Hero: Or maybe her belt.
Hero: I didn't quite see.
Kenmore: So she brought it with her.
Hero: Oh... yeah.
Hero: You should see it... it's really expensive, and it looks funny, not like we have in the kitchens.
Kenmore: But when she went to use it she wasn't hypo, or she wouldn't have been slammed.
Kenmore can think of better ways of committing suicide.
Hero: I couldn't zlin.
Hero shrugs looking cute as a button.
Kenmore: Then Eliza came in, did she look angry?
Hero: Eliza? No, I mean she looked surprised.
Kenmore: Do you know her? Eliza I mean.
Hero: Actually we all probably looked kind of surprised.
Hero: Yeah!
Hero would never break Gossip Rule #34: Never admit you don't know somebody, especially to their face.
Kenmore: Is she normally violent or short tempered?
Hero: Welllllllll....
Hero: I never saw her get mad but I heard that she sometimes goes totally ballistic.
Hero: Like she has slammed Snake twice before.
Kenmore shakes his head.
Hero is on a little shakier ground here because these are third hand rumors.
Kenmore: Do you know Nick too?
Hero: Oh yeah!
Hero: ~confident~
Kenmore: What's he like?
Riyyh has found himself a good listening point and is quietly sitting there freaking out.
Hero: Oh, he's um, this big, strapping macho guy.
Hero: Like his shoulders are like this.
Hero: All the women think he's sooo handsome.
Kenmore: You too?
Hero: Not like Sectuib or anything, but I mean, he is the most handsome of the OK people.
Hero: Yeah I think he's kinda ok.
Hero really has her heart set on her Sectuib though.
Kenmore: OK people?
Kenmore: What's an OK person?
Hero: You know, who aren't related.
Hero: From outside. [explains]
Kenmore: Related to whom?
Hero: Aren't related to Sectuib!
Kenmore shakes his head. "I'm not getting you here."
Hero wonders how this guy could have been here so long without knowing about this.
Hero: ~slight exasperation, but only slight since she gets major points for cluing him in on this~
Hero: Sectuib, he's like, everybody's Dad.
Kenmore: Yes, the Sectuib is the father of his Household, but Hero, that's only a saying.
Hero's face screws up as she suddenly remembers.
Hero: Oh... I forgot, I guess Nick is his kid too.
Hero: ~minor disappointment~
Kenmore: Nick is pledging Naros after all?
Hero: No no! I mean for real.
Hero: You can ask Hajene Tictoc if you don't believe me.
Hero is becoming genuinely exasperated.
Hero: ~~exasperated 12 year old~~
Hero: You know, like when a man lays with a woman, and a baby is born, father, get it?
Hero: [OK.. exasperated rather knowledgeable 12 year old]
Kenmore: Hold on, you mean he is physically the father of his Household?
Hero: Well, and sort of grandfather, also, I guess.
Kenmore suddenly notices the resemblance between Hero and Riyyh.
Kenmore: Grandfather?
Hero: Well you know, father, to some of the old people too.
Riyyh quietly has heart palpitations.
Kenmore wonders how long this has been going on.
Hero: Yeah I mean there was this huge ruckus, I think people are mostly over it now.
Kenmore: You mean that people didn't know this?
Hero: But since there are only like ten people who aren't related in the whole Householding... well I mean there were only 10, until they started bringing in.... nope.
Hero: Nobody had any idea.
Hero's face lights up in a mischievous smile.
Hero: It was a total secret.
Hero: Well I mean, maybe all the moms knew but they totally didn't know it was each other, and everything.
Hero: ~delight~
Hero: My mom wasn't one of them. [adds]
Kenmore: So of course you can't marry inside the household because.... Ohhhhh.
Hero: ~denial~
Kenmore looks at Hero's eyes and hair and the shape of her face.
Kenmore: Ahhuh, I see.
Hero blinks innocently, looking like a perfect, well 75% accurate, female version of Riyyh.
Kenmore is speechless for a few moments.
Hero: Anyway, so, other than that, I mean, Nick is Snake's Companion.
Kenmore: You know Hero.... [quick change of topic]
Hero: And he was like, banging her, or so we all thought, since he would never say yes....
Hero: Yes? [innocently]
Kenmore: I'd really like some tea, how about you?
Hero: Oh sure!
Hero bounces up to go to the tea service.
Hero: What kind do you like? We grow it here, all the best kinds.
Kenmore feels the need for something else too, and searches through his pockets.
Kenmore: Oh I don't mind, ,whatever is your favourite.
Hero: Like Lady's Kiss, and Angel's Tongue... OK.
Hero starts some water to boil and pours leaves into two cups.
Kenmore: I've never heard of them.
Kenmore finds a tablet and examines it to make sure it's the right sort.
Hero: They're gourmet kinds. We grow them and export them.
Hero: ~pride~
Kenmore slips it into his mouth and swallows.
Riyyh wonders if he should interrupt them while the moment is at hand, or hide.
Kenmore tries to gather what he has learned into some semblance of sanity.
Kenmore: Hold on, did you say that Nick was the Sectuibs son too?
Hero: Well yeah, Sectuib like totally slept with his mom, on the road or something.
Hero: I don't know the whole story because I only overheard the end of it. ~regret~
Hero: But you know he and Nick are like totally into each other.
Kenmore tries to dismiss the image of Riyyh doing "it" with someone in the middle of the road.
Hero: They try to hide it but they have been caught in each other's arms twice.
Kenmore: "Into each other"? what do you mean by that?
Hero: Well, you know, like Riyyh totally goes for men as well. Bum Bum told me all about it.
Kenmore: [there is that name again - it can't be right!]
Hero: And I think Nick is just, you know, like well everybody else is doing it so like why not? ~casually~
Kenmore: Hero, what are you talking about?
Hero: But I mean it is all totally hush hush... what?
Hero: ~confused~
Kenmore: ~ confusion reigns ~
Hero: Well like Nick and Riyyh are, I don't know, in bed together, or something.
Kenmore: What????!!!!!!
Hero: But not officially or anything.
Hero shrugs.
Hero: Bum Bum and Eliza say that as long as he doesn't think about it or do anything, it's safe.
Kenmore: You can't mean what I think you mean.
Hero: ~innocent~
Kenmore: It's just not possible.
Hero: Oh.
Hero: ~dubious~
Hero: Well I guess they are just really huggy then.
Kenmore: Do you think that is why Snake... no, that can't be it.
Hero: What? Is that why Snake what?
Hero pounces.
Hero: ~~interest~~
Riyyh has fainted and isn't listening at all right now.
Hero: Do you know, she is like insane.
Kenmore: Never mind.
Kenmore: Did you ever see Nick threaten the Sectuib?
Hero: Do you know, she like kidnapped Bum Bum and....
Hero: Ummm... no!
Kenmore: She what?
Kenmore tries to stop his head from spinning.
Hero: I saw him like picking him up and holding him like a little baby though.
Hero: It was sooooo romantic.
Hero: ~~swoon~~
Kenmore: Snake kidnapped someone?
Kenmore: Called Bum Bum?
Hero: Yeah!
Hero: Bum Bum the junct channel.
Kenmore: ~ information overload ~
Hero: She like totally horned in on all his business back in BC and then... well actually I guess she kidnapped Linn too.
Kenmore starts searching through his pockets again.
Hero: But not at the same time.
Hero: She just like kidnapped them both, and then later on was like, "Oh wow, a 3rd and a 3rd, I'll just put them together".
Kenmore rubs his eyes with his tentacles.
Kenmore needs his Donor.
Hero: But she is like a total drug addict.
Kenmore can relate to that at the moment.
Hero: She was like flat out on the floor the other day, and Sectuib Riyyh and Nick had to revive her.
Hero: Well I mean that was before she got slammed.
Kenmore: Who?
Kenmore: Snake?
Hero: Snake yeah.
Hero: Her pockets were like always full of these great downers and stuff.
Hero: And her prices were much better than in town.
Kenmore: Her prices?
Hero: Or that's what my brother said....
Kenmore: She was selling them to you?
Kenmore: ~ horrified ~
Hero: Well duh!!
Kenmore: ~ interested ~ [wonder where she keeps the stuff]
Hero: But then Hajene Tictoc and Sosu Nick took them all away and locked them up.
Hero: That's when she started to get really cranky.
Hero: I almost slept with Sectuib Riyyh the other day.
Kenmore puts down yet another crime in the notepad in his head.
Hero: [volunteers]
Hero: He said I was really special.
Hero beams.
Kenmore: Tell me more about this junct channel.
Hero: Oh, OK.
Kenmore: Hold on.
Hero: Well, Bum Bum is great.
Hero: He has this... what?
Kenmore: But he is your father.
Hero: ~perplexed~ No he isn't!
Hero: ~denial~
Kenmore: Not Bum Bum, the Sectuib.
Hero: He isn't!
Hero: [insists]
Kenmore: I need a drink.
Hero: My mother told me she never slept with him.
Hero: Oh! Right.
Hero runs back and pours the now-boiling water into the tea cups.
Hero brings one back to Kenmore.
Hero: Anyway, my dad like totally had the hots for Wolfa.
Hero: But Wolfa only wanted Riyyh you know, because he is soooo dreamy.
Hero is a bit resentful that Wolfa no longer shares these sentiments with her.
Hero: But then when this came out... wham! He was so onto my mom.
Kenmore: But but but....
Kenmore: Hero, have you looked into a mirror lately?
Riyyh wakes up and woozily pulls himself up, determined to put an end to this while he still can.
Hero: Well yeah.
Hero: This morning, why?
Kenmore: You are the spitting image of him!
Hero: My dad?
Hero: [confused; nobody has ever said that before]
Kenmore: Yes! The Sectuib.
Hero: He's not my dad!!
Hero thinks this guy sounds just like Wolfa.
Kenmore: Then why do you look so much like him?
Hero: Oh god I would just die to look like him.
Kenmore: Here, may I zlin you?
Hero looks at her reflection in her tea cup.
Hero: OK!
Hero bounces over to Kenmore.
Kenmore is willing to put his life on the line for a good cause.
Hero: ~happy~
Kenmore: ~ confused ~
Riyyh reaches the door to the conference room and hesitates, summoning the nerve to signal.
Riyyh has no idea what he's going to say when he goes in, but suspects Kenmore won't give him much chance to say anything anyway.
Kenmore takes her arms and closes his eyes for a second to quieten his inner turmoil.
Kenmore leans forward to make 5th contact....
Riyyh realizes this has actually reached the point where shutting Hero up would do more than enough good to counteract the evils of drawing down irate attention on himself.
Hero: ~~waiting~~
Hero: [think of the princess waiting for her prince to kiss her on the dance floor and you pretty much have the picture]
Kenmore zlins Hero, checking for similarities.
Riyyh takes a deep breath.
Riyyh tries to compose his appearance and his nager so he appears less the panic-stricken fallen angel and more the kind, noble Sectuib type.
Kenmore disengages and sits back.
Riyyh signals.
Hero: Well? ~breathlessly~
Kenmore: Well you are very healthy, Hero. ~ weary ~
Hero is now hopelessly in love with Kenmore.
Kenmore: Come!
Kenmore: Nice field you have there, I think I know where you inherited it from.
Riyyh walks in.
Riyyh has managed to hit something halfway in between.... call it "panic-stricken fallen Sectuib"
Kenmore doesn't know what to say to the Sectuib, and father, of the Household.
Riyyh: Ah, Hero, I believe Wolfa requires you in her office, why don't you run along?
Riyyh: [kindly, if a bit shaken]
Riyyh: [maybe a bit pleading as well]
Kenmore: Very efficient Sectuib, let me congratulate you. ~ sarcastic, cranky ~
Kenmore: Yes, Hero, thank you very much for your help.
Kenmore: I'll need to talk to your Sectuib for a bit now.
Hero: No problem! Any time.
Hero grins at Kenmore, showing quite a bit of going-on-thirteen-in-a-few-more-months interest.
Hero gets up and bounces out.
Kenmore goes over and shuts the door after her.
Kenmore: Well?
Riyyh sweats.
Kenmore: Oh for goodness sakes man, I'm not going to tear you apart.
Riyyh avoids Kenmore's look.
Kenmore: I don't know what to do about all this to be honest.
Kenmore: ~ frustrated ~
Riyyh's tentacles wave nervously so he hides them in his robes.
Riyyh: I am terribly sorry you had to hear about that, it's really none of your concern, I don't know why she bothered you with it.
Riyyh: ~distressed~
Riyyh: We are in the process of dealing with that problem now.
Kenmore: Well that's one way of breeding up Firsts and Seconds isn't it?
Riyyh's heart feels like somebody had just stabbed an ice pick through it.
Kenmore: I've never heard it done in quite that way before however.
Riyyh: Well, yes, I suppose, that is,
Kenmore: Sit down.
Kenmore: Let me see if I have the facts right.
Riyyh sits down quickly, and looks into Hero's untouched tea.
Kenmore: You heard what Hero said, I take it? Is there anything you would like to add or deny?
Riyyh tries to meet Kenmore's eyes.
Riyyh: That issue is between myself and my House... it is nothing for outsiders.
Riyyh: ~fear~
Kenmore: Fine, for now. What about the incident with Snake?
Riyyh: What of it?
Riyyh is obviously very stressed out.
Riyyh: What do you want to know?
Kenmore: All right, lets see if I have the facts straight.
Kenmore: 1) Snake was attacking you because she felt you were trying to steal her Gen [shades of history preserve us!]
Kenmore: 2) You hid behind your Household members and they tried to protect you.
Kenmore: 3) Snake pulled a knife out.
Kenmore: 4) Eliza came in and slammed her, taking out at least one other channel at the same time.
Kenmore: Right so far?
Riyyh picks up the tea and has a gulp, despite the fact that it's a tad too hot yet.
Riyyh: W-well aside from the first part....
Kenmore: She didn't feel that you were trying to steal her Gen? There was another reason for the attack?
Riyyh: She knew about that the night before. [explains]
Riyyh: And she did nothing then.
Riyyh: It wasn't until... shen, I warned them to stay off her.
Riyyh: People couldn't leave her alone, they had to keep bringing the subject up.
Riyyh: She, and Nick, and the rest of them, were actually about to leave Naros.
Kenmore wishes that they had.
Riyyh: Another maybe hour or two and they would have been gone, and it wouldn't have happened.
Riyyh massages his forehead, and drinks some more really hot tea.
Riyyh: She's just not sane, Hajene Farris.
Riyyh: Mytag warned me about her, but I didn't listen.
Kenmore: So it was definitely pre meditated? She thought ahead enough to bring a knife.
Riyyh: No, no, that's not what I'm saying at all.
Riyyh: She carries that knife with her all the time. I saw it when she was in the infirmary.
Kenmore: She does?
Riyyh would not be surprised if the knife has been used for murder before.
Kenmore: This is extremely serious. You do realise that don't you?
Riyyh: Yes.
Riyyh realized that the minute Snake leaped at him with her hands in a strangling posture.
Riyyh: I have obtained the records on her from Bender Cove, if you don't already have them.
Kenmore: I need to rest and think.
Riyyh: Of course.
Riyyh: ~~~relief~~~
Kenmore: I'd like to see them.
Riyyh: I can give them to you whenever you like.
Kenmore regrets that he is going to have to leave Dahlia with the patient.
Riyyh zlins Kenmore a little bit closer and actually feels sorry for the person who could soon be making an utter wreck of his life and House.
Riyyh: Please, allow me to show you to the guest accommodations we have prepared?
Kenmore: Thank you.
Riyyh thinks that will give him time to perform some damage control, for whatever good it might do.