Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #43: The Elimination of Guests (10/19/98)
Mytag sets up the room for the hastily called meeting.
Athney peeks into the meeting room.
Athney is a young male Donor who has recently been promoted due to er, new vacancies.
Mytag sets out a jug of water and some glasses.
Mytag back is to the door, and of course he can't zlin the new arrival.
Athney had been doing a good job as chief of agricultural recordkeeping, but hadn't expected to be suddenly switched over into administrative recordkeeping under Wolfa.
Athney certainly hadn't expected to be sent to this meeting in Wolfa's place!
Athney: Errr... Hi Mytag.
Athney: ~awe~
Athney: Is this the place? I take it?
Athney: Well, of course it is.
Athney: Heh heh.
Athney is a bit nervous.
Mytag doesn't leap into the air, but he does turn around rather quickly.
Mytag also doesn't clutch at his heart dramatically, but wishes sometimes that he could.
Mytag: Athney! Don't sneak up on people that way!
Mytag: For the meeting? Yes.
Athney's brows shoot up in surprise.
Athney: Sorry!
Athney frowns bookishly and pushes up his glasses (they look like Wolfa's... there is no telling how much that determined his promotion though)
Mytag: Come in then, Riyyh will be back in a few minutes.
Athney: Thank you.
Athney comes the rest of the way in and wonders where to sit.
Athney considers for a moment then picks what he hopes is the most obscure chair in the room.
Athney: This is, uh, my first meeting.
Mytag moves some papers to another corner of the room.
Mytag: How do you like your new position?
Athney: Oh! I like it very much, thank you....
Athney: Wolfa is really nice.
Athney: And the work is, well, it's always nice to feel needed.
Mytag: Good. Would you mind helping me to move this box?
Mytag: Yes, it's nice to be wanted too.
Mytag bends over to pick up half the box of books which he has just decided can go live somewhere else for the time being.
Athney: Oh! sure.
Athney puts down his pad and pen and goes over to help.
Tictoc walks purposefully towards the Sectuib's office.
Riyyh is trying to finish up a few things before the meeting he's really having difficulty facing.
Riyyh tells himself the meeting certainly won't be worse than what will happen if they don't have the meeting.
Mytag wishes that Simes didn't pack so many things into boxes forgetting that it's just as likely that a Gen will be moving them at some stage.
Tictoc reaches the door and signals.
Riyyh winces.
Riyyh: Yes... come in....
Tictoc opens the door and takes a short step inside. "You ready to go then, Riyyh?"
Riyyh: Oh... yes. [looking terribly sorry] Of course.
Riyyh: I'll just.... [looks at what he was doing] I'll just leave these for later.
Riyyh puts down and picks up various pens and papers with an ~~oh dear~~ nager.
Tictoc thought, that in the benefit of getting the meeting started on time, she would come and "escort" the Sectuib to the meeting.
Tictoc hold the door open and waits.
Riyyh sighs and heads out the door.
Riyyh: Thank you, Tictoc.
Riyyh continues on to the meeting room fairly well under his own power, now that he's been nudged.
Tictoc: No problem, Riyyh. How are you feeling? You didn't come down to the infirmary yesterday.
Riyyh: Did I miss an appointment?
Riyyh looks vaguely worried.
Riyyh: Yesterday was so hectic.
Riyyh: I do apologize.
Tictoc: Oh it's no problem, or I would have come and seen what happened to you. As far as I can see you are just about over the shock.
Tictoc: Now for the stress...
Riyyh's nager displays ~~servile yet somehow flattering apology~~
Tictoc wonders how the hell he does that.
Mytag directs Athney to put the box in a far corner, next to a pile of banners with slogans such as "Harvest until we Bust!" and "Booful or not? Up to you!"
Athney huffs and puffs and wishes he'd spent more of the last 2 years lifting hay bales and less doing paperwork in the barn office.
Athney wonders who in shen thinks of these slogans, not for the first time.
Riyyh ducks in to the conference room before Tictoc can say anything else about stress.
Riyyh finds that conversations about high stress levels tend to stress him out.
Mytag: Sectuib.
Mytag puts the box down and goes over to take Riyyh's arms and look deep into his eyes.
Mytag: Are you all right?
Tictoc nods to Mytag and goes past them into the room.
Riyyh smiles at Mytag and leans on him somewhat.
Tictoc: Athney, how are you enjoying your new position?
Riyyh: Now I am.
Riyyh: Thank you, Mytag. ~very sincere~
Athney: I am enjoying it very much, thank you.
Athney: ~~awe~~
Athney has, despite growing up at Naros, not had much contact with anybody in this room before a couple of days ago.
Athney still hasn't overcome his awe of Wolfa, which pretty much shows where he's at with these three.
Mytag: ~ support ~
Tictoc: We all here, then?
Tictoc: Are you expecting anyone else, Sectuib?
Riyyh: No, I think this is it.
Riyyh: Shall we?
Riyyh takes his place at the table.
Athney grabs up his pen and pad so he can see where the others sit before he sits down.
Tictoc sits to his left, Mytag to his right.
Tictoc: Athney, you take minutes before?
Athney: Er, no, sorry.
Athney sits down, noting with dismay that it looks like they are all staring at him.
Athney: But I'm sure I'll learn quickly!
Athney hopes so, anyway.
Riyyh smiles at Athney in an attempt to reassure him.
Athney gets flustered.
Athney's natural Gen clumsiness becomes pronounced as he tries to open his pad to a clean page, and keep his nager to himself.
Athney feels like they are all zlinning him; his self-consciousness naturally draws extra attention to him in what could become a vicious cycle.
Riyyh has pity on the poor guy and begins the meeting.
Riyyh: Thank you for coming, [to them all, but particularly Tictoc and Mytag]
Riyyh: I hope we can get this over with quickly, though that might be asking a lot... we must come up with a plan of action, or two plans, regarding Hajene Snake and her party and Hajene Kenmore and his.
Tictoc nods. Mytag scowls.
Riyyh: Now, regarding Snake, Kenmore seemed to believe that she would leave of her own accord if presented with unpleasant alternatives.
Riyyh's tentacles flutter briefly as he recalls some of the more unpleasant alternatives that involved Snake sticking around.
Tictoc: You fear that she might want to stay?
Tictoc is a bit surprised at this news, considering that Snake had been all gung ho to leave before her attack on Riyyh.
Riyyh would never dare insult Tictoc by implying she is not up to date on the latest rumors.
Riyyh: Well, I have had some information which suggests she is interested not only in staying, but in... [coughs nervously] ah, taking over.
Tictoc: Taking over? But you are hardly likely to invite her to pledge!
Tictoc: How is the search for succession going anyway?
Riyyh sighs.
Riyyh: I have chosen the heir.
Riyyh: And no, I don't mean she wants to pledge, I meant "take over" in the more... cruder sense of the term.
Athney had started out fairly well, writing down "Snake Farris + people", "Kenmore Farris + people" and then a question mark.
Athney had been so shocked by hearing the heir had been chosen, and at the idea he might be the first to hear who it is, that he gets excited and drops his pencil.
Athney gets down on the floor to look for it.
Athney: ~~eek... I'm not here... just ignore me~~
Tictoc: You have picked an heir?!
Mytag: ~ stunned ~
Tictoc: Well - who is it?
Riyyh looks down, finding it difficult to say after these weeks of secrecy.
Riyyh: It's Anmyn ambrov Fior.
Riyyh: She and her House have agreed in writing, and we have met.
Tictoc: You met?
Tictoc looks at Mytag.
Mytag: When?
Athney fumbles all over his pencil then gets it upright and scribbles the name down in a frenzy, still on his hands and knees under the conference table.
Riyyh: Well, I've met three of them, in the last weeks... [uncertainly]
Riyyh: I did have to arrange some meetings, despite all the trouble, I couldn't very well have picked without meeting them in person?
Mytag: ~ uncertain ~
Riyyh begins to look rather anxious.
Athney writes down, "Mytag and Tictoc didn't know."
Athney wonders if that counts as meeting minutes or if he should erase it.
Athney realizes that the first lesson in meeting-minutes-taking, [the first of many perhaps] which becomes blindingly obvious now that it's too late to do anything about it, is this: Always bring carbon paper so you can keep your own copies of the minutes for "future reference".
Riyyh: And the two of you were so busy.
Riyyh: I hope I was not remiss in....
Riyyh fears perhaps he was.
Riyyh had also, at the time, feared that Mytag and Tictoc would not support his right to choose for himself.
Athney has never been on the cutting edge of gossip like this before, except in the areas of what was going to be planted in what fields and such.
Tictoc shakes herself out of her shock.
Tictoc: So, what's she like? When do we meet her?
Mytag nods along in agreement with everything that Tictoc says.
Riyyh: She's very kind, and gentle, and she shows every sign of being a very good channel as she develops.
Riyyh thinks, but not too soon, so he'll have a chance to bow out gracefully due to old age rather than being heaved out on his rump.
Tictoc: How old is she? When did she change over? When do I get the records?
Tictoc doesn't like being left out of the loop that way at all.
Riyyh: She's thirteen, and changed over two years ago.
Riyyh: She was raised at Fior, which is a small agricultural community like this, and trained to Tecton standards as well as their own.
Tictoc considers.
Tictoc: When do you expect her to come here?
Tictoc: We have to invite the heads of Households....
Tictoc starts making plans to have plans made.
Mytag: What about Snake?
Riyyh: She is on her way now.
Tictoc: But but, that doesn't give us time!
Mytag: You want her to turn up here now? With all this going on?
Riyyh's tentacles wave uncertainly.
Riyyh: Oh... I... I had thought....
Mytag doubts it.
Riyyh: Well, with everybody being unsure and everything, I had thought it would be a reassurance....
Riyyh: I mean, the new settlers are arriving and they should know her from day one, and....
Riyyh zlins Mytag's doubt and looks dismayed.
Tictoc: We just have to get the whole Wise Snake fiasco over before they arrive.
Tictoc: We don't want them seeing us in a bad light.
Tictoc: Have you sent out the invitations?
Tictoc: What about the pledging ceremony?
Riyyh: No, no, nothing like that.
Tictoc: Athney - you getting all this?
Athney: Huh?
Athney bangs his head on the underside of the table.
Athney: ~~ouch~~
Athney: Oh... yes! Yes, yes I am.
Tictoc rolls her eyes.
Tictoc: Why are you getting it under the table then?
Athney jumps up and sits, trying to look businesslike.
Athney has a whole page of hot gossip now.
Athney: ~excited~
Riyyh: She is coming from the mountains and won't be here immediately, and I did want to give her some time to relax before the ceremony.
Tictoc: We need to send out invitations to the heads of all the close Households, arrange catering....
Tictoc: I guess that the Zeor group should be invited to stay for it.
Riyyh realizes Tictoc is quite aflutter over this, not her usual style.
Tictoc: Oh....
Tictoc: I see.
Riyyh's tentacles wave.
Riyyh: I really do hope we can work out something which won't offend anybody.
Mytag: But what about Snake?
Mytag attempts to drag them back to the main subject.
Riyyh: Yes, yes, what about her? We must formulate the offer which will take her mind off Naros.
Riyyh: ~nervously~
Tictoc: What do you mean, offer?
Mytag: Like offer not to break her legs if she goes?
Tictoc: Mytag!
Riyyh: ~uneasy~
Mytag: Well, it could work, worth a try.
Riyyh: It is not just Hajene Snake we have to worry about.
Tictoc: It's not?
Riyyh: Hajene Kenmore will be sure to defend her in any way possible, he's made it fairly clear.
Mytag scowls.
Riyyh: He will not allow her to be sent anywhere without her agreement, and his people have surrounded her since they arrived.
Tictoc: I'm sure it won't have to come to that ~ hope ~
Tictoc: Well it's true that I haven't been able to see her, but she is under the best medical care and has the best possible Donor with her at the moment, I understand.
Mytag: Anything is better than Nick.
Riyyh shrugs unhappily.
Riyyh: Well yes, she is, but we must get her out of Naros, and quickly.
Mytag nods.
Riyyh: Some of the things she has said since awaking have been quite alarming.
Riyyh is amazed Tictoc has managed to avoid hearing any of that.
Tictoc: I don't see how we can speed up her healing more than has already been done.
Riyyh: Well, yes, there is that, but, ~anxious~
Tictoc: I wouldn't take too much she said too seriously, Riyyh. After what she has been through, and her health and drug use - [shrugs] - she is no doubt delusional.
Athney has written some pithy paragraphs regarding the evident lack of communications between the "big three".
Riyyh: You don't think her capable of acting on her... promises?
Riyyh wants to believe her, but his rabbit-heart is still saying "run away! run away!"
Tictoc: I didn't say that.
Tictoc: But I doubt that she means them or will remember them long term.
Tictoc: Although anything is possible of course.
Riyyh winces.
Riyyh has always found meetings with more than 1 other person there very difficult, but this is becoming worse than most.
Riyyh's tentacles cling to each other.
Riyyh: Hajene Kenmore asked us to come up with alternatives...
Riyyh: Ideas as to where Snake might go, which could be suggested, that might spur the process of, er, of her leaving.
Tictoc looks blank.
Riyyh looks at Mytag pleadingly, since Mytag had been there for part of that meeting.
Mytag looks like he would like to suggest a place, but feels that he has given his opinion enough already.
Riyyh looks back at Tictoc after finding no help there.
Riyyh: I'm afraid Hajene Kenmore's language was rather, disturbing.
Tictoc: He swore at you? ~ horrified ~
Riyyh: He twice mentioned full Tecton investigations as well as on-site trials....
Riyyh feels a headache coming on.
Riyyh: No, not as such, that isn't what I meant.
Riyyh: He simply made it clear that it would be a good idea to have Snake out of here as soon as possible, with no charges raised, and he also said that bringing her back to Zeor is not an option.
Tictoc: Oh, I would have thought that it was the best thing.
Riyyh: So would I, as you know, but evidently there are some political, or other, reasons Kenmore has for opposing it.
Riyyh: And unfortunately, I do not see how it will be possible to do that without his cooperation.
Mytag rolls his eyes.
Tictoc: What other alternatives can we offer her?
Tictoc: ~ confused ~
Athney changes to a fresh page and writes studiously away.
Riyyh: Well, that is what we are supposed to determine.
Mytag: I believe that Hajene Farris was considering suggesting that she return to Bender Cove.
Tictoc: Would she do that?
Riyyh: Unknown.
Riyyh: Somebody who has access to her will have to find out, I suppose.
Riyyh: But it will have to be presented correctly, in hand with the less pleasant alternatives.
Riyyh has not exactly broken down walls trying to gain a personal audience with Snake or anything.
Mytag: How about we threaten to leave her alone somewhere with Eliza?
Mytag: ~ innocent ~
Riyyh tries not to stress out as he plays the very uncharacteristic role of the responsible person forging ahead on a really tough issue regardless of others' attempts to avoid it.
Riyyh: ~~utter stress~~
Riyyh makes a good try at a smile.
Riyyh: Oh Mytag.
Tictoc: I tell you what Riyyh, that Tanzarra is fitting in like a Householder.
Tictoc: You might want to consider asking her to pledge!
Riyyh: Yes, that is something that occurred to me, which I did not feel should be brought up with Hajene Kenmore.
Riyyh: Tanzarra is not the only one, there are several of Snake's party that would be more comfortable here.
Mytag: As long as she didn't want to keep Eliza on with her!
Riyyh: Really, Mytag, I am sure that Eliza is no worse than any other Gen, and simply requires training.
Riyyh thinks, and a psychological evaluation.
Riyyh thinks, and maybe some help dealing with some trauma in her past... and maybe that training should be rather intensive, and fairly immediate.
Mytag shakes his head and wonders if channels ever listen to their Companions.
Tictoc: I'm sure she would be fine as long as no one attempted to murder anyone else in front of her.
Tictoc: You have to admit, it's not a usual occurrence here!
Riyyh thinks, in light of the story he heard about Eliza knocking Snake out with an over-exuberant "Hello", that Tictoc may be a tad over-optimistic, but at least it balances Mytag's excessive pessimism.
Riyyh: No, it isn't.
Riyyh: [agrees]
Riyyh: However, don't make any plans regarding Eliza. She is still very unsure herself as to what her path in life should be.
Riyyh thinks, and how!
Tictoc: Maybe once Snake learns that there is a heir she will just go away.
Tictoc: I wouldn't go asking Nick to stay, though, Riyyh.
Riyyh: Of course not.
Tictoc: As a matter of fact, have you considered asking Nick the best way to get her out of here?
Tictoc: Why not?
Athney is pausing between jottings of notes to finish small sketches of Tictoc, Mytag and Riyyh all sitting around the table in various poses of discussion.
Mytag: Probably because he wouldn't lift a finger to help us?
Riyyh: Not as of yet, Kenmore only started putting pressure on me to handle this a short time ago.
Riyyh still isn't sure how all of this ended up being Naros' problem... Snake and Co. basically being outsiders who just stumbled onto the Householding and then stayed a lot longer than intended.
Riyyh: ~unhappy~
Tictoc frowns. "If the Zeor Donor is with Snake, who is with Kenmore?"
Riyyh: Nick.
Tictoc: Well then, maybe that will resolve itself.
Riyyh: What will?
Tictoc: Well, maybe Nick will decide to go back to Zeor, then Snake will no doubt follow.
Riyyh stares at Tictoc in disbelief.
Riyyh knew Tictoc spent too much time engrossed in matters of healing to be totally up on who's who and what's what, but this is going just too far.
Riyyh sighs.
Riyyh: Well, yes, perhaps.
Mytag snorts.
Tictoc looks at Mytag, then Riyyh.
Tictoc: What?
Riyyh: But for the present, we are under extreme pressure from Kenmore to do something about it ourselves.
Tictoc: What are you both looking at me like that for!
Riyyh: It's nothing, Tictoc, we are just both very distraught.
Riyyh can't bear to call her "uninformed" in front of anybody, even Mytag.
Mytag: Well I can't think of anything other then what Kenmore suggested.
Mytag: Contact some other Households, see if they will take her off our hands.
Riyyh: I have drafted some of the letters already.
Riyyh: Also, I think the Bender Cove idea is a valid one. Mytag, could you follow up on that? Find out if it's even possible?
Athney scribbles more notes, in between working on a large picture that would do as a cover.
Mytag: Sure.
Riyyh: And... I want to discuss one other option.
Riyyh: ~uneasy~
Tictoc: Would you like me to talk to Snake about it?
Tictoc: Oh? What is that?
Riyyh looks at Tictoc.
Mytag: ~ all ears ~
Riyyh: Tictoc, perhaps, but not at the moment.
Riyyh: I am not convinced that Hajene Snake will leave of her own accord, and I feel it necessary to at least investigate... [hesitates] ... an alternative of our own.
Mytag sits closer.
Tictoc: Oh?
Riyyh: Yes. If we can convince Tanzarra, Linn, Eliza and of course Bum Bum to stay, [doesn't even mention Griff]....
Riyyh: And I don't think that is entirely impossible....
Tictoc: How will that make her leave?
Tictoc: Wouldn't that be more likely to make her sure to stay?
Riyyh: It won't make her leave, it will only make it easier to remove her.
Riyyh: ~unhappy~
Riyyh: Against her will.
Tictoc: I'm afraid that I don't understand.
Mytag: I don't either.
Riyyh: Think about it... what incentive has she to leave, especially when she has guaranteed Farris medical treatment for as long as she stays?
Riyyh: And these threats of revenge, do you really believe they are idle, or delusional?
Riyyh: ~nervous~
Riyyh: I think that we should have a standby plan, in case Hajene Kenmore's method doesn't work.
Riyyh: We must choose a location, anywhere, perhaps on the coast, Rialite? - and make arrangements to have her and her Donor brought there by force and there released.
Tictoc: What!
Riyyh: Surely there is less chance of her returning her than in failing to leave in the first place?
Mytag: What!
Mytag: Have you lost your marbles?
Riyyh: No, not, no....
Tictoc: I'm not sure Riyyh. From what I know of Snake, that's likely to start a personal vendetta.
Riyyh's tentacles wave nervously.
Riyyh: But hasn't one already started?
Riyyh: When Nick... when I.... she's not sane, you know.
Riyyh: She did try to murder me.
Riyyh: And now, further talk of murder...
Riyyh: And the taking over of Naros... the sending of our children to the Tecton to give her more work....
Tictoc: I think you are going to have to make her make the decision.
Riyyh thinks Tictoc has already demonstrated an utter lack of insight into Snake's character.
Riyyh: But Tictoc....
Riyyh looks to Mytag, hoping for a better response there.
Tictoc: You think that she really wouldn't come back if you dragged her off by force?
Mytag: I have to agree with Tictoc Riyyh.
Mytag: She would, you know - probably with an army!
Riyyh: But Mytag, what, would you have her stay here forever? Send you and I to Bender Cove?
Riyyh had found that particular threat particularly chilling, especially since he'd had various guilty feelings over sending Mytag and Ison there.
Mytag: Of course not!
Mytag: But I don't think that half measures will work.
Riyyh: Well then what would you suggest?
Tictoc: What do you mean half measures?
Riyyh: ~appeal~
Riyyh: Mytag, talk to me, tell me what would work.
Mytag: I mean that she has to leave of her own accord, or you have to make it impossible for her to return at all.
Riyyh: Yes, but what are you suggesting?
Riyyh: Short of incarceration, which we cannot afford if it involves an investigation and trial here....
Mytag goes all tight lipped.
Mytag: I'm not suggesting anything.
Mytag: ~ warning not to go further ~
Riyyh trails off, looking uneasy.
Tictoc: Well then, hmmmm....
Tictoc trails off too, looking embarrassed.
Riyyh smoothes back his hair nervously.
Riyyh: Well, then, it appears we have no choice but to submit to Kenmore Farris's wishes.
Riyyh: And simply hope that we can endure until this is over, and that no harm will befall our House, or at least no further harm.
Riyyh: ~unhappy~
Mytag nods.
Tictoc: So you will send letters to other Householdings and then we will see?
Riyyh: And Mytag will investigate the situation in Bender Cove.
Riyyh: And determine whether there is anything for her to go back to there.
Mytag nods and decides that as long as it doesn't involve him going back there.
Riyyh: When Hajene Kenmore announces her readiness to be moved, he and I will present her choices to her.
Athney, who had gotten overly carried away and written down that Mytag suggested murdering Snake before Mytag actually said it, had to cross it out.