Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #39: Nick the Naked Redux (10/15/98)
Mytag wakes up with Riyyh thrashing around on the bed.
Mytag: ~ support ~
Mytag: Riyyh... Riyyh wake up.
Mytag wasn't aware that Riyyh was subject to needmares.
Riyyh grabs wildly for the nearest solid object.
Mytag is the nearest solid object.
Riyyh: Aaiiii!!!!
Mytag: Arrhgh!
Mytag: Not so tight!
Riyyh wakes up.
Mytag tries to ~support ~ and breathe at the same time.
Riyyh blinks for a moment, unsure whether he can trust his senses or not.
Riyyh realizes it was indeed all a dream.
Riyyh: ~~relief~~
Riyyh: Oh Mytag!
Riyyh loosens his grip from crushing panic-clutch to very sincere embrace.
Mytag rubs his shoulder in relief as Riyyh loosens his hold.
Riyyh: I had the most awful dream!
Mytag: There there, I'm here.
Mytag pats Riyyh on the back both physically and nagerically.
Riyyh: I was lost, all alone, and nobody I knew for miles and miles around.
Riyyh: There was this Gen there... she told me it was a Genfarm and tried to sell me a kill!
Riyyh: Everybody kept sort of appearing, and disappearing.
Riyyh shudders.
Mytag: Just how badly did I short you? ~ concern ~
Mytag: A Gen tried to sell you a kill?
Mytag: A Gen?
Riyyh: Oh Mytag, don't blame yourself, I... it's just been such a hard two months.
Riyyh: I know it sounds crazy, but that's what was in the dream.
Riyyh: ~distressed~
Mytag: Dreams can be like that I guess....
Riyyh: Somebody offered me a job, handling children!!
Riyyh: PreGens.
Mytag: But you have a job. Oh you mean in the dream!
Mytag: Ah.
Mytag thinks that he knows what has bought the dream on now!
Riyyh lets go of Mytag.
Riyyh: ~anxious~
Mytag: ~ understanding ~
Mytag: Don't worry about it Riyyh, it's just a needmare.
Mytag yawns and wonders if it's worth while trying to go back to sleep or not.
Riyyh climbs out of the bed and starts pulling clothes out of the closet in the dark, a sure sign he is not himself.
Mytag sighs and gets up too.
Mytag: I guess I'll get up too then. What's on the agenda for today?
Riyyh: I have to do something about that Hajene Farris.
Mytag wonders why "shove him down a obliette" came into his mind so clearly.
Mytag: Like?
Riyyh: Well, he must not be allowed to create any more of a disturbance than he already has!
Riyyh means, the guy is too nosy and the stuff he already knows could destroy Naros.
Riyyh: I am sure Hajene Snake could be moved now, I hope they will leave quickly.
Mytag: ~ doubtful ~
Riyyh turns on a light to find out what he's just put on and gasps as he sees the results.
Mytag: I heard that someone tried to poison him yesterday too. What happened? ~curious ~
Mytag: I don't think you should really wear checks with that polka dotted shirt Riyyh.
Mytag: Specially not hot pink and emerald green together.
Riyyh: It was nothing so dramatic. [ripping off the clothes hastily]
Mytag figured as much, but is disappointed anyway.
Riyyh: Evidently Hajene Farris has several allergies not mentioned on the documents we were given, among them boysenberries.
Riyyh: His reaction to them was rather dramatic, but it was entirely accidental.
Mytag: Well, he survived anyway.
Riyyh: He has been kind enough to supply us with a more detailed list.
Riyyh puts on some clothing more suitable to the dignity of a Sectuib.
Mytag: What about the "search for a successor". Still working on that?
Riyyh: Of course I am, Mytag, you know that.
Riyyh: How do I look?
Riyyh starts fussing with his hair.
Eruditia has been waiting outside of Nick's cell for, [not counting food and sleep] 2 days.
Eruditia was told to interview Nick, but was not informed that he had been sleep deprived lately and had now passed into a state of endless snoring.
Mytag: You look fine. As always.
Eruditia hopes he does wake up soon, or at least that Ifto or Kenmore eventually become curious as to what became of her.
Nick finds himself nearing semi-consciousness, at least to the point where the snoring has ceased.
Nick turns over.
Nick: Mrgluff.
Eruditia hears rustling noises and allows herself to feel some hope.
Riyyh smiles at the compliment.
Riyyh: Thank you, Mytag.
Mytag: Care for some breakfast before anything else, Riyyh?
Riyyh decides his hair will do for now. [plans to go back and put in some real time on it later on, like maybe an hour or two]
Riyyh looks up at Mytag.
Riyyh zlins Mytag's hunger.
Riyyh: That sounds nice. All right.
Nick reaches a hand up and manages to force one eye open.
Nick doesn't recognize the room, but that's nothing new.
Nick debates opening the other eye.
Nick remembers that there was some important reason for him to be awake.
Nick: Snaaake?
Nick mumbles the name around a huge yawn.
Eruditia: All right, you can let me in now. [to the guards]
Eruditia picks up her purse, pats her hat firmly into place, and enters Nick's room.
Nick hears footsteps.
Nick thinks the footsteps sound very prim.
Nick: Linn?
Eruditia: You must be Nick Reckage. [prim, slightly sarcastic voice] I'm Eruditia ambrov Zeor. Might we have a chat?
Eruditia is a female donor of maybe 55 years of age.
Nick blinks groggily.
Nick: You're not Linn.
Nick congratulates himself on the first coherent thought of the day.
Eruditia: Do you mind if I have a seat?
Eruditia pulls up a chair and sits, with good posture.
Eruditia looks over Nick with the practiced eye of a Donor.
Nick: Sure, sure.
Nick yawns hugely.
Eruditia is not too impressed with Nick.
Nick looks like a grizzly bear just awakening from hibernation.
Eruditia is rarely impressed with anybody, actually.
Eruditia waits for Nick to start showing signs of intelligent life.
Nick sits up, letting the blanket fall.
Nick never did get around to taking his clothes off, before the sleep deprivation got to him.
Nick puts one foot, then the other, out of the bed.
Nick pauses to yawn again.
Eruditia waits, one eyebrow slightly raised, looking slightly bored (well, she has been waiting 2 days now).
Nick: Give me a minute.
Nick gets to his feet and staggers to the bathroom.
Eruditia's nose twitches in the wake of Nick's passage.
Nick closes the door and turns on the shower.
Eruditia is actually starting to miss Ifto, that's how bored she has been.
Nick sudses carefully, figuring that this visitor appears to be as fastidious as Linn.
Nick then realizes that he has no fresh change of clothing.
Nick wrinkles his nose at his odorous garments, and wraps a large towel around himself.
Nick reenters the main room, fully awake.
Nick: My apologies for the unfashionable attire, Eruditia, was it?
Eruditia blushes.
Nick: The prison guards appear to have forgotten to provide an alternate outfit.
Eruditia: Yes, yes, quite. [a bit tartly]
Nick returns to sit on the cot in a dignified manner.
Nick: Before we being, would you mind updating me on Snake's condition?
Eruditia wouldn't mind an update on that herself.
Nick: I haven't had one since they locked me up here.
Eruditia thinks, isn't that just typical; hang your entire life on the shoulders of your Gen, then abandon her in some backwoods farmyard of a Infirmary, for hours or even days on end.
Eruditia: She appears to be on her way to recovery.
Eruditia: I am sure you will be allowed to see her soon.
Nick: Ah, then your party has already examined her?
Eruditia: Yes, Hajene Farris - Kenmore - has examined her.
Nick's face goes utterly closed.
Nick: I see.
Eruditia: Would you be willing to answer a few questions for us? Hajene Farris is interested in determining exactly what occurred.
Eruditia: ~polite / clinical~
Nick: You're welcome to ask. I don't promise to answer.
Eruditia makes a mental note that this Nick Reckage is an impudent boor.
Eruditia: Thank you.
Eruditia: You were not there when Wise Snake was injured, were you?
Nick settles back against the headboard and waits politely, looking more than a little ridiculous in his towel.
Nick: No.
Nick: If I had been, the situation would not have gotten so out of control.
Eruditia's eyebrow raises just a touch.
Eruditia: Why weren't you there, if I may ask?
Nick: Snake had sent me on an errand.
Eruditia: Was she distraught or upset at the time?
Nick shrugs.
Eruditia blinks.
Nick: She was more eager to leave Naros than anything else, at least when we parted.
Eruditia: I see.
Eruditia: Do you believe she would have any motive to attack Sectuib Riyyh?
Nick: She was angry at him earlier, when I told her that Riyyh had offered me a position as his First Companion, but she had decided to simply take our party and leave the House.
Eruditia: So she wasn't angry with him at the time?
Nick: Angry, yes. Planning to attack him, no.
Eruditia makes a mental note of the First Companion bit.
Eruditia: Has Wise Snake had a history of violence?
Eruditia knows what the answer to that is, but wants to hear Nick's version.
Nick is not about to tell this Zeorite about Mr. B.
Eruditia studies Nick.
Nick: She's not a pacifist, by any means, but she doesn't go about randomly assaulting people without cause, either.
Nick's expression and voice are dignity in overgrown beard and towel.
Nick is all too aware that it's a preposterous combination.
Eruditia: She assaults people with cause?
Eruditia assumes that any Donor who is willing to subject himself to Wise Snake's erratic attentions would be ill-equipped to know preposterous indignity from a hole in the ground, so overlooks the towel-and-beard thing for now.
Nick: Eruditia, when one works in the back alleys of places like Bender Cove, a certain amount of incidents are to be expected.
Eruditia makes mental note: Violent tendencies confirmed, Donor seems to condone for the most part.
Nick: Snake was usually able to talk her way out of bad situations, or handle them nagerically, but not always.
Eruditia nods.
Eruditia: Moving along, then.
Eruditia: Please describe the incident which occurred in Sectuib Riyyh's office, to the best of your knowledge.
Eruditia has no idea that so many "incidents" of note have occurred in that particular office that a well-educated Narosian would hardly know where to begin.
Nick: What knowledge I have has come second or third-hand.
Eruditia nods. "I understand."
Nick: Perhaps you would do better talking to the people who were actually there.
Eruditia: We have done that also. I would be interested in hearing your interpretation.
Eruditia finds it interesting that Nick does not want to answer the question.
Nick: The only things which seem consistent in the story are that Snake is reported to have assaulted Riyyh, and that Eliza lost control--again--and slammed her.
Eruditia makes note of Nick's claim of inconsistency.
Nick: Mytag was very upset; he seemed to feel that Snake should be executed. But then, he's never liked any of our party.
Eruditia makes note of Nick's bitterness regarding Mytag and Mytag's reported feelings against Wise Snake.
Eruditia is surprised by this sudden burst of fruitful data.
Eruditia: I see. [nods]
Nick: I admit, I've been less concerned with finding out how Snake got slammed than in dealing with the aftermath.
Eruditia: You say "lost control"... you believe Eliza slammed Wise Snake by accident, rather than as a preventative measure?
Nick: Eliza has learned enough by now that she could have stopped Snake without causing that kind of injury.
Nick: So whatever she planned, if she was able to plan at all, it wasn't what she actually did.
Eruditia: I see.
Eruditia makes a mental note.
Eruditia: Do you believe Wise Snake did attack Riyyh?
Wise Snake is sitting in a chair, which was the nearest to getting out of the room she was able to talk Kenmore into.
Nick: Well, the eyewitnesses seem to think that she did.
Ifto steps back and zlins his handiwork. Or maybe tentaclework?
Ifto: How's that?
Ifto looks at his mentor.
Eruditia gives Nick a no-nonsense look.
Kenmore is observing Ifto's techniques - both in his "bedside manner" and his "patient teacher" roles.
Eruditia: Now, Nick, that isn't what I asked.
Kenmore nods noncommittally.
Eruditia: Do you believe Wise Snake could have attacked him?
Kenmore: How do you feel now, Snake? Did you find that helped at all?
Kenmore is pleased with Snake's quick wits and intelligence, but not with her lack of trust.
Nick: Only if she sincerely believed her life was threatened.
Wise Snake darts a look at Ifto.
Ifto tries not to flinch from the weird eyes.
Wise Snake: What he lacked in true sincerity was almost made up for by slick mannerisms and a couple of nageric tricks.
Ifto: ~~ wounded ~~
Kenmore: Ifto, show her the Baichtal maneuver.
Eruditia: I see.
Eruditia finds this very interesting.
Ifto demonstrates.
Eruditia: You mentioned something about Mytag not liking any of your party. What gave you that impression?
Nick: The first thing he did when we arrived was try to get Linn locked up as a public menace.
Nick: He's been hostile towards me and Snake, as well.
Eruditia: Linn?
Nick: One of our party. A former schoolteacher.
Ifto: It can be tricky, at first.
Ifto demonstrates the Baichtal again, more slowly.
Wise Snake demonstrates a Mendum Maneuver by obstinately and inexplicably failing to see what Ifto is getting at.
Kenmore blinks.
Kenmore: Do that again.
Ifto is actually rather proud of his skill at the Baichtal, which is trickier than it first zlins.
Kenmore: Bit more pressure here and a little less "push" please, Ifto.
Kenmore: Now reverse it into a genesis sweep.
Kenmore loses interest in Snake as he becomes engrossed in what Ifto is doing.
Ifto corrects his nager and makes a clean sweep of the exercise.
Kenmore: Excellent. Well done.
Kenmore: ~ proud ~
Kenmore: Dahlia should be here soon. Snake, please treat Dahlia as your assigned Donor, for she is.
Kenmore: I'm sure that you will both work together well.
Ifto: ~~ satisfaction ~~
Dahlia signals.
Ifto doesn't often do well enough to win unconditional praise from a Farris.
Wise Snake appears cynical and unenthusiastic.
Kenmore: Come in Dahlia.
Ifto: It's easier than it sounds, really.
Kenmore: We have to see about getting you better shielding.
Ifto projects ~~ encouragement ~~ at Snake.
Nick looks at Eruditia.
Kenmore finds it hard to watch Dahlia come in and not automatically mesh with her field, harder than he had thought it would be. Who would think, that in this day and age, such basic instincts as "my Gen!" would still apply?
Dahlia enters.
Dahlia: Hello, Kenmore, Ifto. [smiles]
Dahlia immediately goes over to Snake.
Kenmore: You look much refreshed Dahl.
Dahlia: Oh, I am. The cabins here are exquisite.
Nick: Look, I would be happy to discuss things with you in greater detail later. After I've seen my channel and assured myself that she is healing.
Kenmore gets a sudden urge to go see his "assigned" Donor, Nick.
Nick would actually kind of like to get some clothing, first, but thinks he's more likely to get cooperation if he only asks for the priorities.
Eruditia: Hajene Farris will be better able to make a determination as to your status if he has some information to work with. [explains]
Eruditia: Now, you were saying, Mytag felt Linn should be locked up? Upon your first arriving here?
Nick shakes his head.
Nick: I said, I will be happy to discuss the matter with you, when I've seen Snake.
Kenmore: Snake, Ifto, Dahlia, if you will excuse me, I have work to continue elsewhere. Dahlia, if you could assist Snake and Ifto with exercises against entran, I'd suggest groups 9 through to 21.
Dahlia: OK.
Eruditia: If that is your choice.
Kenmore: ~ anxious ~
Eruditia personally can't leave Nick's presence soon enough.
Kenmore: Then I'll be back later.
Eruditia: I will let Hajene Farris know.
Eruditia gets up and signals to be released from the room.
Kenmore heads towards the door.
Eruditia leaves Nick's cell.
Kenmore: Oh, before I go, Dahlia, Snake, could you please take transfer position and mesh fields so I can see you together?
Dahlia obediently faces Wise Snake and holds out her arms.
Wise Snake hates doing this with Ifto there... or Kenmore for that matter.
Wise Snake reaches for Dahlia's arms unwillingly.
Wise Snake diffidently seats her tentacles and then makes a 5th contact.
Dahlia: ~steady~
Ifto zlins eagerly.
Nick remembers a picture in a book about the Ancients and gets an inspiration.
Kenmore zlins them closely.
Nick starts stripping the sheets off of the cot.
Kenmore: Fine, thank you very much.
Kenmore feels edgier then ever now.
Wise Snake releases Dahlia.
Kenmore exits, mumbling "I must be a shedoni masochist or something" as he goes.
Wise Snake appears rather thoughtful now.
Kenmore hurries off to where he was told Nick was being held.
Kenmore finds the door guarded by two rather large, strong looking Gens with nice solid fields as well. Their fields have a feel about them that remind him of... of course, he is probably their father.
Nick really wishes that whoever set up his cot had picked something other than a chartreuse floral print.
Kenmore: I'm Hajene Farris, may I enter please?
Kenmore nods at them as they open the door for him.
Kenmore walks in and zlins Nick with interest. [about 98% interest]
Kenmore: [the other 2% is on the chartreuse floral bedspread and the fact that Nick is naked - could "those" rumours be true?]
Nick is standing by the cot, looking like a grizzly bear in a chartreuse toga, and zlinning like an aloofly disciplined almost-Zeor-trained Donor.
Nick looks the stranger over, refusing to be embarrassed.
Kenmore: Nick, I'm Hajene Farris, Kenmore Farris.
Kenmore: How are you feeling?
Eliza slips cautiously into the main building and heads [sneaks] towards the Sectuib's office.
Nick: I'm rather tired of being a prisoner, as I'm sure you'll understand.
Kenmore: ~ sympathy ~ Yes, of course. Let me explain the situation and then perhaps we can do something about that.
Kenmore: May I sit down?
Riyyh is studiously working on some of the paperwork to finalize the admission of some new settlers that just arrived today.
Eliza signals at the Sectuib's door.
Nick: Be my guest.
Riyyh: Come.
Riyyh looks up.
Nick leans against the wall.
Kenmore sits down and indicates to Nick to sit on the cot.
Eliza opens the door and has a quick look around before slipping in.
Eliza: Sectuib, are you alone?
Nick: ~~ politely impersonal attention ~~
Riyyh: Yes. [kindly] What is it, Eliza?
Kenmore: First I would like to assure you that your friend Snake Farris is in better health and still improving rapidly.
Nick nods.
Kenmore: With the help of my staff she will soon be in better health than she was before the incident.
Kenmore: She is cooperating well and seems to be comfortable with conditions as they are.
Eliza: May I talk to you please?
Riyyh: Of course, of course. Please, have a seat.
Riyyh: ~concern~
Eliza slides into a seat.
Nick: Then I'm sure there can be no objection if I speak with her to confirm that she really is "comfortable" with conditions as they are?
Riyyh puts down his pen and gets up to fetch Eliza some tea.
Eliza: I was wondering if they were going to arrest me.
Eliza: ~ worry ~
Eliza: For, you know, slamming Snake.
Riyyh brings the tea back to Eliza and sits down nearby. [outside of the Tictoc-mandated seduction safety zone]
Kenmore: I wish that were possible, Nick ~ regret ~. I'm afraid that it would be better for you not to see her until after her transfer in three days time.
Nick: After her transfer?
Kenmore: Yes, I've assigned my own Donor, Dahlia Farris, to work with Snake up to, and perhaps after, her transfer.
Nick: And Snake has agreed to this?
Kenmore wishes that he weren't so anxious about this and calls on his discipline a bit more.
Riyyh sighs.
Kenmore: Eh? Why yes.
Kenmore: That will, of course, leave me without a Donor. With your permission I would like to assign you to me.
Riyyh: Eliza, it is certain that you will be called upon to at least speak for yourself regarding the incident.
Nick: That would require Snake's permission.
Nick: Given in person.
Eliza wrings her hands together.
Kenmore: Regardless of whether you accept or not, I'll be working with you, and so will Hajene Ifto ambrov Zeor, to see that you get some assistance in Farris management training.
Nick: And of her own free will.
Riyyh: Once Hajene Farris has heard your side of it, he must weigh the information at his disposal and come to some sort of decision regarding your handling.
Kenmore: I can certainly arrange a meeting as long as you promise not to attempt to fight Dahlia's position.
Riyyh: However, I doubt it would be anything so simple as an arrest.
Kenmore: [off handedly] not that you would come out on top.
Eliza: I haven't even been allowed to talk to Snake!
Nick: I must insist on a private meeting.
Riyyh: A Second Order Donor is valuable and you are still very young.
Kenmore: I'm sorry, that is neither possible or prudent.
Riyyh: ~compassion~
Nick: There is no other way I can be sure that she's not being pressured into something against her will.
Kenmore: Nick, Snake's control is shot, her systems are in a mess and she has come rather close to a complete systems break down.
Riyyh: I am sorry. I cannot get you in to see her. I might put in a word on your behalf with Kenmore Farris, but I cannot act directly.
Kenmore resigns himself to being shorted this month - again.
Nick: They would have been completely shot without my efforts.
Kenmore: I have put her under the care of the best Donor possible, possibly the best Donor in this area.
Nick: You don't have to worry that I would disturb her systems.
Kenmore: I won't have her separated from her assigned therapist unless I was there personally to take care of her.
Kenmore: Her welfare must come first. Even if it means I'm shorted again.
Kenmore looks worn and tired.
Kenmore: ~ need depressed ~
Riyyh edges a bit closer with her, feeling a strong need to reassure her.
Eliza: ~ sad ~
Eliza: I'd really like to say sorry to her.
Nick: You must forgive me if I'm a little cynical, but I can't believe that you have Snake's best interests at heart when you are so careful to make sure that she is completely isolated from her friends.
Eliza: I didn't mean to hurt her! Not like that!
Riyyh: I believe you.
Riyyh: But Eliza, you may have to wait for your apology.
Riyyh: You may, unless she seeks you out herself, have to give it in writing.
Kenmore: From her friends? They are welcome to visit her. I have already said that you can see her, as long as I have your word not to interfere with Dahlia's work with her.
Kenmore: Surely you don't want to separate a sick channel from her assigned Donor?
Nick: Assigned by whom?
Eliza: Oh I couldn't write it! I wouldn't know how!
Nick: Snake has left the Tecton, and I was never part of it.
Kenmore: By me, as attending physician.
Riyyh: Eliza, although what you did shocks them, it is also true that a Second Order Donor is valuable and you are still very young.
Kenmore: Nick, it seems that your attitude is more one of greed and possession then caring and affection.
Eliza: Yes, I understand.
Eliza: You know, I've been reading "The Way of the Nager" and you know what I think?
Riyyh thinks he really wishes Eliza wouldn't read that.
Riyyh wonders what happened to "Gentle Hands, Gentle Hearts" which he had lent her.
Kenmore: Surely you must see that being with a fully trained Farris first - with no strings attached [said slowly and carefully] is better for her then being with you at the moment?
Nick: Hajene Farris, Snake has been rejected, blackmailed, cheated and lied to by Zeor. I am a little skeptical of this sudden, unprecedented generosity.
Eliza: I think I was born in the wrong time. I should have been in a war party against raiders!
Riyyh looks sad.
Kenmore: Nick, this "sudden, unprecedented generosity" as you call it, is from me personally, and my party.
Riyyh: A romantic image, surely.
Riyyh: But not an option today.
Kenmore: My intentions are to get her to the best health possible before making any decisions about anything.
Kenmore: Can you see the importance of that?
Riyyh: Killing is ended for everybody... Simes and Gens alike.
Nick: All I want is some private time with Snake, so that I assure myself that her intentions match with yours.
Kenmore: I have already promised Hajene Farris that she will not be sent back to Zeor by force or coercion.
Riyyh: Violence of every kind must be eradicated if humanity is to survive.
Kenmore: I can give you time with Snake, but her Donor stays with her for reasons of her health.
Kenmore: Until after her transfer - in 3 days' time.
Kenmore: Of course, if she wants to spend time alone with you after that....
Eliza: I know. It just seems that I would have been appreciated then.
Riyyh: You would not have minded killing for appreciation?
Riyyh shudders internally.
Eliza looks thoughtful.
Nick: I will promise not to disturb your Donor's work, but I can't be sure that she isn't being coerced if any member of your party is close enough to influence her nagerically, or overhear.
Eliza leans forward confidentially.
Riyyh's dream of the night before has brought pre-Unity times back into his memories all too clearly.
Eliza: [softly] I killed my father you know.
Eliza: I mean, murdered.
Kenmore: Did you want to see her under my conditions?
Kenmore: Or do you wish to continue being retained?
Riyyh's expression doesn't show a trace of a reaction. [too much practice working with juncts]
Riyyh: I'm sorry.
Nick: Yes, I wish to see her.
Kenmore: Of course, if you were to assign yourself to me, then you would have complete freedom, as long as you didn't leave my side that is.
Eliza: I'm not. He was horrible and he would have been happy to kill John.
Nick lets his showfield control loosen just a bit, revealing deep worry underneath.
Eliza: I mean, I'm not glad either, but it had to be done.
Nick: I won't give you transfer unless I'm satisfied that Snake agrees.
Riyyh does not believe that murder or killing are ever the right solution.
Riyyh: ~depressed~
Riyyh: Eliza, what you had to do then, and what you must do now, are worlds apart.
Kenmore: I can't let you see her alone, but I will let you see her.
Eliza: I know.
Nick: And since you seem determined to believe that I'm intent on injuring her if given an opportunity, that doesn't appear likely.
Riyyh: This is Sime Territory, under the Tecton, things are civilized.
Eliza: But if the same thing happened again - I'd do it again!
Eliza: ~ bitter ~
Kenmore: Snake is my patient, and I'll do the best I can for her. At the moment that means constant exposure to Dahlia's field - at least until transfer.
Kenmore looks Nick over again.
Kenmore: You have no clean clothing in here?
Nick: Snake is my patient, and I'll do the best I can for her. At the moment that means constant exposure to Dahlia's field - at least until transfer.
Kenmore: I'm sorry Nick, but that isn't what I said.
Kenmore: Snake is my patient, and I'll do the best I can for her. At the moment that means constant exposure to Dahlia's field - at least until transfer.
Kenmore looks Nick over again.
Kenmore: You have no clean clothing in here?
Nick: It appears that the laundry service in this hotel is lacking.
Kenmore goes to the door and asks the guards to arrange clothing for Nick.
Kenmore: How do you feel about learning from us while we are in this situation together? I would like to have the best possible Donor for Snake when the time comes for us to leave, and it seems to me that that can best be accomplished by working closely with you while we have this time.
Riyyh regards Eliza with a mixture of dread and sadness.
Riyyh: Have you considered going back to Gen Territory?
Eliza: No!
Eliza: ~ fear ~
Eliza: I can't do that.
Eliza: They would probably hang me or something.
Riyyh: But if you murdered or killed somebody here, you really would come under arrest.
Nick: I'll make that decision when I've seen what kind of condition Snake is in.
Eliza: But I don't want to hurt anyone! That isn't what I mean!
Kenmore: Certainly. As soon as you are... decent... we can go and see her.
Riyyh isn't sure what Eliza means.
Riyyh: I'm sorry.
Kenmore: But I won't allow you to mesh fields with her [not that Dahlia would allow it anyway] and we musn't stay too long and tire her. She is still very weak.
Eliza: I mean, that if someone was trying to kill someone I loved - that I would do my best to protect them. Would you do that?
Riyyh: Yes, but... but not in that way.
Eliza: What do you mean?
Riyyh fiddles with a lock of his hair.
Riyyh: I am not a violent person, nor do I feel I could ever kill or murder either in self-defense or aggression.
Riyyh: Naros is peaceful.
Riyyh: You may not believe it, but violence was almost unheard of here before...
Riyyh: Before this began.
Nick: Hajene Farris, I am neither incapable of judging Snake's condition, nor desirous of causing my channel an injury.
Eliza: If I hadn't, John would have been dead, and probably so would I. For that matter, you might have been too.
Nick: If you can't trust me not to harm my channel, why are you asking me to give you transfer?
Kenmore: As I said before, Nick, I don't think that you would purposely harm your channel.
Kenmore wonders if Nick heard him that time.
Riyyh: Is one murder better than another?
Riyyh sweats.
Kenmore: But as attending physician the final decision about her condition is mine.
Eliza thinks. "Yes."
Riyyh: Eliza, I do not question anything which has happened in your past, but you must, you must consider your future. You cannot be... be allowed to do more violence in this way.
Eliza: My father didn't deserve to live. John didn't deserve to die just because he was sime.
Riyyh: ~distressed~
Eliza: I didn't murder Snake!
Eliza: I didn't even mean to slam her so hard.
Eliza: Just - a little bit. I thought she was hypo. She usually goes hypo when she has the knife.
Eliza: That's why I jumped her too.
Kenmore: [the guard returns with the clothing and Kenmore hands them to Nick.]
Riyyh's skin crawls as Eliza demonstrates fairly intimate knowledge of Snake's knife-wielding past.
Nick retires to the bathroom to make himself presentable.
Riyyh: ~fear~
Riyyh: Eliza, I am concerned for your freedom and safety. This incident may pass by with no serious consequences, but what of the future?
Eliza: I don't know.
Eliza: ~ unsure ~
Riyyh: This has happened before.
Eliza: I'm scared that I might hurt her accidentally.
Riyyh: You killed a renSime that way in Bender Cove, it's in your records.
Riyyh: You've even hurt Snake before.
Eliza: But I didn't mean to! He was attacking my channel!
Eliza: I didn't mean to hurt Snake either. I was just saying hello.
Riyyh: Eliza, I understand you feel you had no choice, or it happened accidentally, in each case but... Eliza, all other Gens are faced with these situations too.
see note 1
Notes:
1) This episode was never finished. [return]