Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #40: "Outie" as 5th Contact? (10/16/98)
Nick opens the door to Infirmary room 2 and slips in, careful not to disturb the ambient.
Nick: Snake?
Wise Snake: Nick!
Wise Snake starts to get up and immediately regrets it.
Nick hastens over.
Nick: No, don't try to get up.
Dahlia is sitting at Snake's bedside in support.
Dahlia studies the famous Nick Reckage, Rogue Donor.
Wise Snake zlins Nick for signs of damage, neglect, abuse, etc.
Wise Snake of course utterly fails to notice his new beard.
Nick is wearing a big grin on his face, which is mostly obscured by the beard.
Nick lets his joy show, although does keep his promise not to interfere with Dahlia's support.
Wise Snake: You're OK. [surprised]
Nick: Yes, once I got rid of the drugs they slipped into my food.
Nick is, of course, starving, since he didn't stop for lunch before the visit.
Wise Snake shoots a surprised, wary look at Dahlia.
Wise Snake: What did they do to you? [to Nick, quickly]
Wise Snake doesn't zlin any sign of the drugs now.
Dahlia looks, and zlins, completely unguilty, which she is.
Nick: Riyyh apparently decided I was dangerous.
Nick: I've spent the past three days or so locked in a storage room.
Wise Snake: ~~anger~~
Wise Snake scowls dangerously.
Nick: You don't have to be worried that I'll fall for that trick again.
Wise Snake: When I get my hands on that little....
Nick is rather mad about the whole thing himself.
Dahlia gently corrects Snake's mood with her nager.
Dahlia: ~~it's OK~~
Nick: How are you?
Nick: You certainly look better than the last time I saw you.
Wise Snake's anger mellows into frustration.
Wise Snake: I am.
Nick hopes the change of subject will give him some clue as to her attitude towards the Zeor physicians.
Nick: Are they treating you well?
Nick: ~~ deep concern ~~
Wise Snake: Yes, I guess so. [admits]
Wise Snake: Zeor is. [qualifies]
Nick watches the hand which is is out of Dahlia's sight for signals.
Wise Snake senses Nick's attention on her hand and signals "true".
Nick checks Snake for symptoms that her moderately mellow mood is produced by pharmaceuticals.
Wise Snake appears to be stone cold sober.
Nick: What sort of treatment are they using? Kenmore wasn't very forthcoming with details.
Dahlia continues to support Snake while trying not to visually or audibly interfere with their reunion.
Wise Snake describes the channeling treatments given her in some detail. (The reader is spared a lesson in Farris-tendency-toward-technical-precision-in-the-relaying-of-what-could-reasonably-have-been-a-simple-explanation.)
Nick finds that he is actually able to follow much of the discussion.
Nick: So, have they shared a prognosis with you?
Nick: How soon will you be up and about?
Wise Snake: Kenmore seems to think I will be as good as before, after my transfer.
Nick: ~~ satisfaction ~~
Wise Snake: But he also said he may want to continue my treatment for some time after that as well.
Wise Snake: Perhaps a week or two.
Wise Snake is glad Nick is taking this so well.
Nick: I see.
Nick makes a note: They can bolt any time after the transfer, if it becomes necessary.
Nick: Do you want to continue under his care for that extra time?
Nick checks the hidden hand again.
Wise Snake: I guess so. I mean, if he stays that long.
Wise Snake: Signal: "true".
Nick: He's asked me to work with him.
Wise Snake tenses almost imperceptibly.
Wise Snake: Oh?
Dahlia: ~here for you~
Nick: Yes.
Wise Snake: You mean take transfer with him.
Wise Snake: Or work, as in daily work?
Nick: And he said that he wants me to give him transfer this month.
Nick: That, too.
Wise Snake nods.
Nick: Both.
Wise Snake: I see. Well I suppose it is to be expected.
Wise Snake appears to have somewhat mixed feelings on the subject.
Wise Snake: He has to get his transfer somewhere... and working with someone else, for once, may be good for you.
Wise Snake makes it clear that the "good" part of this is dependent on it only being once that it happens.
Nick is a bit relieved, since the appearance of cooperation with Kenmore will make it easier to bolt if necessary.
Nick: Have any of the others been by?
Wise Snake: No.
Nick is a little surprised at this.
Nick: Really?
Wise Snake imagines having a bunch of Farrises lurking about has inhibited them somewhat.
Nick: How long have you been conscious, anyway?
Nick frowns.
Nick: I wonder if they weren't told?
Wise Snake: Eliza knows.
Nick is even more mystified.
Nick: Are your visitors being restricted?
Wise Snake relaxes more against the bed as the surprise of seeing Nick starts to wear off, and as she tires.
Wise Snake: I don't think so.
Wise Snake hasn't exactly been keen to receive visits from anybody whose nager isn't perfectly trained, not yet.
Nick decides to ask the others, just to make sure.
Nick: You look like you're ready for a nap, and I'm starving.
Nick: I'll be back to check on you later.
Wise Snake looks like she wants to protest, but then glances at Dahlia and thinks the better of it.
Wise Snake: Go on.
Wise Snake: It's... Nick, it's good to see you.
Nick reaches down and takes one scrawny hand.
Nick squeezes it.
Nick: Until later.
Nick turns and leaves.
Wise Snake watches him go.
Dahlia: ~soothing~
Hero bounces up to Nick as he leaves the infirmary building.
Hero: Nick!! Hi!!!!!!!!!!
Hero is obviously very happy to see Nick.
Nick: Hello, Hero.
Hero beams.
Hero: Is it true that Snake wants to like, throw out Riyyh and take over the Householding?
Nick wonders what half-understood gossip she's spreading now.
Nick: Whatever gave you that idea?
Hero: I heard she said she still wants to strangle him and that's why he hasn't even gone to say Hi to her.
Nick: You did? Who told you that?
Hero: Well, my cousin, well I mean my half-brother, Jezzi said that Norva the janitor heard through the radiator that Snake said she was going to take over this place.
Hero: Yeah and not only that but she was going to send him to Bender Cove.
Hero: Or something.
Hero is a little fuzzy on the whole channel rotation bit, because the janitor who was first in the chain didn't understand that part.
Nick: And you think the radiator knows?
Hero: Oh... ha ha ha! [giggles]
Hero: You are so funny.
Hero bounces along at Nick's side.
Nick: Personally, I've always found they're better at heating rooms than keeping track of people.
Hero: It's too bad you are my brother because I would like ask you out in a second.
Hero: Is it true that you and Riyyh are, you know, lovers?
Nick doesn't let Hero distract him from making good time towards the cafeteria.
Nick: Riyyh is a channel, Hero.
Hero: I mean, not that I'd be jealous or anything,
Hero: I know! But Eliza and Bum Bum said that if he doesn't think about it, or actually do anything,
Hero bounces along ahead of Nick.
Nick isn't sure what's worse: being related to Hero, or not being related to her, and thus being considered fair game.
Nick: If you can't think or do, what's the point?
Hero: I don't know, but I'm just a kid.
Hero: I think it's totally romantic.
Hero swoons over a low fence to demonstrate.
Nick: Hmm, maybe you should ask Wolfa to explain the basics for you.
Hero clumsily manages to hit the grass instead of the flowerbed at the fence's base, then bounces up again.
Hero: I know the basics!
Nick: Are you sick?
Hero: [mock put out]
Hero: Of course not, silly, I'm in love.
Hero: So hugging is OK but nothing else?
Hero follows Nick closely, eager for the juicy details.
Hero: Are you, like, leaving Snake?
Hero: I heard Hajene Kenmore is totally into you.
Nick: You do manage to hear a lot, don't you?
Hero beams at the compliment.
Hero: Are you going to grow your beard really long, like a wizard?
Nick combs it absently with the fingers of one hand.
Nick: I haven't decided.
Hero: Does a big beard and mustache increase satisfaction in transfer by limiting the chances of erroneous 5th contact placement?
Hero's sentence mostly came from a book she was reading.
Nick: I don't know.
Hero: If you grow a big belly can you use your "outie" as a 5th contact?
Hero: Hey, do you think if Hajene Snake and Hajene Kenmore "did it" they would have a channel baby?
Nick: Have you been talking to Eliza again?
Hero: What about Sectuib and Snake?
Hero pauses.
Hero: Eliza? No!
Hero wonders if she should be talking to Eliza more... does she know about these sorts of things?
Nick thinks that Eliza's book is the most likely source for information on alternate fifth contact positions.
Hero recalls that Eliza seemed to be mostly good for lots of gossip about strangers living in Bender Cove.
Nick: If you're interested in the genetics of channels, perhaps you should talk to Mytag.
Hero: Mytag!
Hero: He'll get mad if I bug him.
Hero skips merrily along.
Hero: Are you going in there? [points at Dining Hall]
Nick: And so you stay away from him?
Hero: Well,
Nick: Yes.
Nick does so.
Hero starts to follow him, then stops at the threshold.
Hero: 'Bye Nick!!!!!!!
Nick wonders if getting mad enough would get Hero off his back.
Nick: Goodbye.
Hero leaves.
Nick sighs in relief.
Riyyh is alone in the dining hall at an odd hour.
Riyyh notices Nick come in and wonders what he should do.
Nick selects a vegetable pot pie, with unbroken crust, from the middle of the group.
Nick adds an unblemished apple to his tray, and water from the tap.
Nick takes his tray to the nearest table, which happens to be next to Riyyh's.
Nick: ~~ starving Gen ~~
Riyyh studiously attends to his Sime-sized parsnip, leek and beet pot pie.
Nick digs into his dinner.
Riyyh furtively zlins Nick.
Nick doesn't zlin particularly dangerous at the moment.
Riyyh wonders if Nick has noticed his presence, and thinks maybe now would be a good time to slip out of the dining hall.
Riyyh suddenly remembers some important business he must attend to in his office, and picks up his tray quietly.
Nick finally slows down, and thus looks up.
Nick: Riyyh!
Riyyh starts to tiptoe toward the.... shen!
Nick frowns.
Riyyh looks up, startled.
Riyyh: Oh.... er... Nick!
Riyyh: So good to see you again.
Riyyh breaks out in a sweat.
Riyyh: I trust you are well?
Nick: Really? You didn't have to deprive yourself of my company for so long, you know.
Riyyh: I didn't?
Riyyh liked Nick better when he was zlinning only of hungry Gen.
Nick: The Zeor representatives have been here for quite a while, after all.
Riyyh: ~nervous~
Riyyh can see this isn't going to be the hi-bye type of conversation.
Riyyh puts down his tray reluctantly, at the other end of Nick's table.
Riyyh: I do apologize for, for what happened. It was necessary to... well, they have released you, and...
Nick: I thought you said that you would send them to me before you let them see Snake?
Riyyh winces.
Riyyh: I tried to, but....
Nick: You told them her Donor wanted to brief them, and they refused to take the time?
Nick: Or did you just never get around to mentioning it?
Riyyh: It wasn't that I didn't want to.
Riyyh tries to look helpless and innocent.
Riyyh: Hajene Kenmore is a bit... forceful....
Nick: Well, he certainly seems to feel free to rearrange other people's lives.
Nick: He's decided that his Donor should give Snake transfer this month.
Nick: ~~ not terribly happy but resigned ~~
Riyyh edges nearer to Nick.
Riyyh: I'm sorry, Nick....
Nick picks up his apple and chomps it vigorously.
Riyyh flinches at the big chomp.
Riyyh: Look, everything will be all right, won't it?
Riyyh: I mean, she is all right, and you are all right, and....
Nick: Snake seemed to think it would be a good experience for me to give transfer to someone else, this once.
Nick: She's still a long way from "all right".
Riyyh: Well, yes, that is, but....
Riyyh eases down into a chair near Nick.
Nick: It true, she's in much better shape than she was.
Riyyh: Yes, she is, and to all accounts the prognosis is good.
Riyyh tries to encourage Nick through his tone of voice.
Nick was a bit worried by her obvious weakness and resignation during their interview.
Riyyh: It doesn't appear as if Hajene Farris will force her to do anything against her will.
Nick: As long as he doesn't try, I'm willing to let him do what he can for her.
Riyyh looks searchingly at Nick.
Riyyh: And for you?
Nick: I did agree to work with Kenmore a bit.
Riyyh appears extremely disappointed.
Riyyh tries to smile.
Riyyh: Well, that ought to be... educational, and perhaps even physically beneficial....
Nick's nose wrinkles.
Riyyh tries harder. "Well, his nageric similarity to Hajene Snake must be, er,"
Nick: They're quite different, actually.
Riyyh usually doesn't have such a hard time seeing other people's POV through his own desires.
Riyyh: Of course, [quickly] I only meant, being both Farrises....
Riyyh's tentacles wave a bit.
Riyyh: You'd get more out of it than if you were to, well, ~ashamed of being a low 1st and not used to it~
Nick looks at Riyyh speculatively.
Nick: Were to what?
Riyyh looks flustered.
Riyyh: I am sorry, I am overstepping my bounds.
Riyyh: It is just that, faced with the dilemmas of such a stunning Donor as yourself, I feel compelled to try to ease your pain myself.
Riyyh: [admits]
Riyyh of course regularly feels the "need" to ease people's pain, but usually not in the literal sense of that word.
Nick wonders if the "stunning" description is meant in the usual, or the Eliza, sense.
Riyyh's expression and body language adequately transmit his embarrassment, yearning, need, confusion, and compassion for Nick.
Nick experiences an overload of paternal emotions.
Nick: Isn't it a little late to take up being my father?
Nick still finds the concept of his true parentage deeply disturbing.
Riyyh's expression changes to display embarrassment, dismay and compassion instead of the former.
Riyyh: I'm sorry, I....
Riyyh: I only meant, as a channel....
Riyyh is aware he is only digging himself in deeper if he keeps talking to this man.
Nick puts his apple core down and buries his face in his hands.
Nick: It was hard, being with Snake and not able to touch her nager.
Nick: ~~ pain ~~
Riyyh: Oh, Nick....
Riyyh puts his hand gently on Nick's shoulder.
Riyyh: I know.
Riyyh: But it is only for a short time, isn't it?
Riyyh: ~compassion~
Nick: I could take sharing her with Rapol, but I don't know a thing about this Dahlia woman.
Nick: How can I trust my channel to a total stranger?
Riyyh: Surely she is competent... caring... a member of Snake's own House?
Riyyh tends to think of the House/member relationship in the traditional sense, rather than the Zeor/Snake sense.
Riyyh is torn by Nick's unhappiness.
Nick: They've played games with Snake's heath and sanity so many times, I just can't believe that this time really will be different.
Riyyh: Well, perhaps they would allow... I mean, have you told them of your concerns?
Riyyh's hand slips down to Nick's hand and he searches Nick's eyes.
Riyyh feels much better comforting Nick about something that has nothing to do with him personally.
Nick shakes his head.
Nick: There hasn't been a chance.
Nick: When they finally got around to remembering me, all they wanted to do was grill me about what happened in your office.
Nick: Kenmore didn't brief me on what he planned to do with her, except to warn me not to interfere in any way.
Riyyh looks discouraged.
Riyyh: I'm sorry, Nick, I had no idea....
Riyyh: This hasn't been easy for anybody.
Nick: It appears that Snake's Donor isn't considered a factor in her recovery.
Riyyh takes Nick's other hand and squeezes them both.
Riyyh: Nick, you are important to her recovery.
Nick looks at Riyyh.
Nick: They're pushing you around, too?
Riyyh's earnest, compassionate look is interrupted by a bit of a wince.
Riyyh: There has been a bit of a, how should I say it, tendency to stray from the more relevant aspects of the case into other territory....
Riyyh: And a number of difficulties regarding allocation of resources,
Riyyh: On the whole I would say thing have gone remarkably well considering, but....
Riyyh looks like somebody who has been pushed around quite a bit lately.
Nick: They've discovered that the House is full of potential Firsts?
Riyyh: I don't know that it has come to that, yet.
Riyyh thinks it will take Kenmore a little while to absorb the impact of the information overload he received during his first day at Naros.
Riyyh knows better than to pretend it will not be dealt with soon, though, and it will not be pleasant.
Riyyh: ~unhappy~
Nick: You'll be under pressure to train your... children... as Donors, and send them out to work for the Tecton.
Riyyh: Yes. ~pain~
Riyyh's tentacles clutch Nick's hands unknowingly.
Nick: ~~ sympathy ~~
Riyyh nearly breaks down at the touch of Nick's sympathy.
Riyyh struggles to be strong, something he has been having a regrettable amount of practice at lately.
Riyyh: Well, we must simply... try to take each day one at a time, and handle each problem as it arises.
Nick: I hope you can shield my... siblings.
Nick: I wouldn't wish Tecton training on anyone.
Nick: ~~ deep sincerity ~~
Riyyh: Thank you, Nick. This... this means a lot to me.
Riyyh mostly just doesn't want anybody to be forced to leave against their will... nor does he want Naros to turn into a place people would be willing to leave.
Riyyh: As for your transfer, I... I hope you will be able to come to an arrangement that suits you.
Riyyh: But if you require anything... [a slight pause places emphasis on "anything"] ... remember, I will be here.
Nick looks at Riyyh speculatively.
Riyyh looks like an aging, handsome, needy channel.
Nick really couldn't care less about the first two, but the third and fourth are grabbing him right where he lives, at least after postsyndrome has faded.
Nick's selyn production accelerates.
Riyyh detects Nick's response to him and a cruel stab of hope pierces him.
Riyyh's expression betrays frustration and longing.
Riyyh: Of course, you may learn quite a bit from Hajene Kenmore.
Riyyh: [throat suddenly dry]
Nick realizes what he's done.
Nick: Oh, shen, Riyyh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you.
Nick gently disengages.
Riyyh: It's... ~~loss~~
Riyyh: It's not your fault, Nick.
Nick: ~~ comfort ~~
Riyyh is transfixed by the feel of Nick's comforting nager.
Nick is not used to being available to other channels.
Nick: Mytag will never forgive me for distressing you.
Riyyh's tentacles firm up their grip on Nick's wrists.
Riyyh can barely remember who Mytag is at the moment.
Nick thinks that Mytag is a lost cause anyway, but hopes the name will help to break Riyyh's fixation.
Riyyh: He... he is unsure of... of his relationship to his house, now that....
Riyyh tries to think.
Riyyh: Well, Mytag is a kind fellow, and his sense of duty is nothing short of admirable.
Nick carefully lets his nager drift towards neutrality.
Nick: He's certainly dedicated.
Riyyh thinks Mytag's sense of duty is nothing to being caressed with comfort by a Farris' Donor's nager.
Riyyh clings to Nick as the comfort fades.
Nick: ~~ not rejecting, just disengaging ~~
Riyyh: He's confused.
Riyyh is quivering with longing for something he is sure he will not have.
Riyyh: I hope that Kenmore... appreciates you.
Riyyh forces himself to let go.
Riyyh clutches his hands with each other so they won't grab anything else.
Nick: Actually, he seemed to consider me a poor second to his own Donor.
Riyyh: I apologize, I.... [stops at Nick's words]
Nick: Oh, he was polite enough about it, but his preferences were clear.
Riyyh: Is that not, then, a measure of his concern for Snake?
Nick: Perhaps.
Nick: Or maybe he just doesn't want to fail, and this is the only way he knows to succeed.
Nick has seen Snake engage in some pretty foolish stunts at times, rather than admit failure.
Nick is familiar enough with the Farris legend to know that this is very typical.
Riyyh looks up at Nick, clearly trying to control his emotions.
Riyyh does not usually have difficulty with being consumed by his own problems when listening to another's.
Nick: Either way, if it really will heal Snake, it's worth giving her up for one month.
Nick: I'll manage, somehow.
Riyyh: Yes... yes, that seems right.
Riyyh: It is also necessary if you are to avoid a dependency.
Nick groans.
Nick: That, too.
Riyyh: Nick....
Riyyh hesitates.
Nick: Yes?
Riyyh: I... don't take this the wrong way, but....
Riyyh looks down.
Riyyh meets Nick's eyes again, projecting honesty and a little unintentional pain.
Riyyh: You may be surprised by your transfer with Kenmore Farris.
Riyyh: He is... he is more capable of being satisfied by you, than your Snake is.
Riyyh: Your own experience will be that much greater as a result.
Nick: Really? The only other channel I've given transfer to was a pale shadow of Snake.
Nick: It was nice, but....
Nick shrugs.
Riyyh shakes his head.
Riyyh: Briel? In Bender Cove?
Riyyh has read his homework.
Nick: ~~ surprise ~~
Riyyh: She would not be a match for you now. But Kenmore Farris is.
Riyyh: And furthermore, he is a healthy, well-adjusted channel who does not require pain - or anything else besides a solid delivery at his best speed - to be completely satisfied and uplifted.
Nick: How did you know?
Riyyh studies Nick.
Riyyh: When Mytag aired his concerns at your group's arrival, I sent to Bender Cove and Zeor for all available files. Including yours.
Riyyh: A simple precaution, and actually relatively standard procedure when taking on long-term visitors.
Riyyh thinks, at least when the visitors have not arranged for their records to be sent on in advance.
Nick: And just what did the Tecton have to say about us?
Riyyh is surprised Nick doesn't know.
Nick isn't as paranoid as Snake, usually, but makes an exception where the Tecton is concerned.
Riyyh: Your files contain the usual transfer records, health records, and notes.
Nick: Notes?
Riyyh: In your particular case, they were less official forms than personal observations from Briel, B'cal ambrov V'lar, and others you encountered.
Nick really has little conception of what goes into a Tecton file, since he didn't stick around long enough to go to the paperwork classes.
Nick: Like the spy?
Riyyh wonders which spy Nick means... the Center appears to have been riddled with them.
Riyyh: It is their duty as Tecton employees to note down anything they believe to be unusual or important.
Nick makes a mental note to make sure all files on their party are properly disposed of before leaving.
Riyyh: For example, when Briel qualified you, she made sure as clear a record as possible of it was preserved.
Riyyh: This would have been invaluable in the case of your having taken ill or become injured.
Riyyh wonders what Nick is thinking, as his nager is certainly odd.
Nick: That makes me even more glad that I decided not to join, even if it did disappoint my parents.
Nick grimaces.
Nick: Or at least, my mother and her husband.
Nick: They wanted a Donor in the family, you see.
Nick: ~~ old hurt mostly healed ~~
Riyyh sighs.
Riyyh: Nick... I'm... I'm really sorry.
Riyyh: I wish there was some way I could undo... or rather, I wish there was some way they could have done....
Nick: You're not responsible for their ambitions.
Nick: As it turned out, we all got what we wanted in the end, more or less.
Riyyh tries to smile.
Riyyh does wonder why Nick's parents hadn't told him.
Nick is pretty sure of what he wants, long term, but the next few days is a different matter.
Riyyh: Nick, is there anything I can do to make this easier for you?
Riyyh: Any of this?
Nick considers.
Nick: Well, if Kenmore discusses his plans with you, would you pass the information on to me?
Riyyh: If he does, yes.
Riyyh is afraid Kenmore's "discussions" have mostly happened behind closed doors after Riyyh was firmly shown out of them.
Riyyh's assurance therefore has a bit of an apologetic tone to it.
Nick: I get the distinct impression that he intends to involve me only on a must-know basis.
Nick: I would be particularly interested in knowing when he plans to leave.
Riyyh considers.
Riyyh: I get the impression he does not want to leave until he has seen Hajene Farris safely away.
Riyyh is OK with that.
Riyyh just wishes they would both leave a lot sooner.
Nick: I see.
Riyyh: He is not encouraging her to return with him, but instead to continue West.
Riyyh's knowledge of the House gossip easily bests Hero's, although he is a bit more circumspect about how he repeats it.
Nick: Really?
Nick: To where?
Riyyh: That is what I understand, yes. I don't know where... he seems primarily concerned with increasing the distance between her and Zeor.
Riyyh: He encouraged her not to remain here.
Nick thinks that this is the best news he's heard all day.
Riyyh really hopes Snake ditches the idea of staying at Naros, and soon.
Riyyh is afraid if Snake doesn't leave and Kenmore won't leave either, it could get ugly.
Riyyh is afraid it got way too ugly for his tastes weeks ago.
Riyyh's tentacles flutter nervously at the thought.
Riyyh: You will encourage her to move on? [hoping]
Nick: Well, we'll have to wait until Snake is back on her feet before any plans can be made.
Riyyh: Of course.
Nick: She did seem remarkably coherent earlier.
Riyyh thinks it's amazing what a solid sleep schedule, a complete lack of street "pharmaceuticals" and a good nageric workover will do for a channel's coherence.
Riyyh: I am so glad.
Riyyh: [appears sincere]
Nick: I expect she'll be wanting to work by tomorrow or the next day.
Nick is well acquainted with Farris workaholism.
Nick: I don't suppose you could manage a convenient accident or two?
Nick: She's not one to be satisfied with entran outfunctions forever.
Riyyh zlins Nick in horror.
Nick: ~~ humor ~~
Riyyh: ~~relief~~
Riyyh thinks the recent events have left him way too wound up and wishes there was some end in sight... or failing that, a decent transfer and a nice post.
Riyyh sighs.
Riyyh: I do understand your concerns.
Riyyh: As you know, we do not have much work available here. Our members are few in number and we do not have many injuries.
Riyyh: However, so long as Hajene Kenmore is willing to share the workload, Snake is welcome to partake in it.
Riyyh is fervently grateful that he has been able to retain the "rights" to serve all the juncts thus far.
Riyyh thinks all of his channels are going to be very unhappy after not much time.
Nick takes the average workload of Naros, divides it in two, and winces.
Nick: Well, maybe there will be something in town.
Nick: It was much easier to find work in Bender Cove, although it wasn't as pleasant.
Riyyh has read some about that.
Riyyh: I wouldn't have been able to do it. Your Snake has... unusual talent.
Nick: She cared a great deal for Bender Cove's poor.
Riyyh is not sure he would want the "talents" required to survive in such a setting. In fact, he is very sure he wouldn't.
Nick remembers being dragged all over town in the dead of winter, treating drunks in alleys for frostbite.
Riyyh studies Nick, zlinning.
Nick: She grew up there, as one of those poor.
Nick: It wasn't only entran that made her so dedicated.
Nick thinks, maybe mostly, but not all.
Nick: ~~ admiration for and loyalty to Snake ~~
Riyyh is touched by Nick's admiration and loyalty, as well as the idea that there is a lot more to Snake than meets the lateral.
Nick pulls himself together.
Nick: Maybe she'll have a chance to build a similar practice in the future.
Riyyh: Perhaps. [encouragingly]
Nick starts gathering his dishes together.
Nick: I should get back to check on her.
Nick was glad of Snake's improvement, but still shocked by her weakness.
Riyyh: Of course.
Riyyh glances over at his own, now cold, food and sighs internally.
Riyyh is glad Nick is at least partially recovered though.
Nick follows Riyyh's glance to the uneaten food.
Nick: You should eat with Mytag.
Riyyh: Yes, of course, you're right.
Riyyh gets up and goes to the tray.
Riyyh: I must go back to my office and resume work.
Nick: Yes, there must be a lot to catch up on, now that it's no longer being used as a sickroom.
Nick busses his dishes.
Riyyh hurries away with his tray.