Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #46: Beeswax, Other People's (10/25/98)
Hero is ushered out of Riyyh's office by a firm Nick.
Nick hustles Hero down the hall.
Hero looks at Nick wide-eyed.
Nick: Come on, you'll feel better for a nice cup of tea.
Nick thinks, preferably far away from prying ears.
Hero: OK Nick.
Hero wonders desperately where Wolfa is.
Hero looks around for somebody she can "yell" ~~help~~ to.
Nick sees Hero's alarm and uses his nager to block hers from curious Simes' zlinning.
Nick: Linn usually has something interesting baked.
Nick: Do you like apples?
Hero looks back over her shoulder, wondering what's going to happen to Riyyh alone in the office with Snake with only Ansen for protection.
Hero: Apples?
Hero looks up at him in confusion.
Hero: Er, yes, no, they're OK?
Hero notices they are not heading toward the dining hall.
Hero: Hey!
Hero looks worried and tries to pull away.
Hero: Isn't it over here?
Nick doesn't let go.
Nick: The guest cottage? No, it's the other direction.
Hero: Why are we going there for tea?
Hero: All the best tea is over here!
Hero: ~~very worried~~
Hero thinks, and all the people are over here too.
Hero: You're not going to do anything bad to Sectuib are you?
Nick: Of course not.
Hero: Oh.
Nick has only abbreviated experience with the Bender Cove Sime Center's lobby.
Hero: How come you're holding on my arm so tight, it hurts me. [whines]
Nick spots the door ahead.
Nick: I wouldn't want you to fall.
Hero: I'm OK, I just fell down a little.
Hero: What were you guys talking about?
Nick: Hmm?
Nick tries to look innocent.
Nick also loses no time in getting Hero out the door and headed for the guest cottage at a brisk pace.
Hero: You were talking about taking over!
Hero: I know you were.
Hero: You and Snake.
Nick: We were talking about a lot of things.
Hero: Like sending Sectuib to Bender Cove!
Hero: ~accusation~
Hero would have thought that was totally unfair even if she wasn't in love with him.
Nick tries to assess just how much Hero heard.
Hero always gives the impression of having heard everything, although this is not always the case.
Nick: Yes, Sectuib Riyyh has been invited to Bender Cove. There's going to be a big celebration there.
Hero: There is?
Hero: ~interested despite herself~
Nick: Yes. A pledge ceremony, I believe.
Nick is ~~ relieved ~~ as the guest cottage comes into view.
Nick: A lot of Householding dignitaries will have been invited.
Hero: Wow!
Hero: How come somebody has to pick up Anmyn at the train station and bring her anywhere but here?
Nick thinks ~~ oops ~~
Nick: Well, Sectuib Riyyh really should have the chance to welcome her here personally, don't you think?
Hero gives Nick a "Get Real!" look.
Hero: Is Mytag going to Bender Cove too?
Nick: I don't believe that's been decided, yet.
Nick "helps" Hero up the stairs of the guest cottage.
Mostan gives up on trying to drink tea.
Mostan leaves the cup on the table and goes out.
Hero: Eeyow!! Take it easy!
Hero: Who's going to go with Sectuib if it's not Mostan? You?
Nick: No, I'm caring for Snake again.
Hero: Well he can't go all by himself!!
Hero: He wouldn't go all by himself. [adds]
Nick: Well, Hero, the Tecton has a lot of Donors.
Hero: The Tecton!!
Mostan looks around outside.
Mostan goes over towards the admin building.
Hero: He wouldn't use one of those.
Hero has this picture of her Sectuib as some kind of saintly figure whose pure tentacles shouldn't be touched by any but his personal Companion.
Hero: [so does Riyyh for that matter]
Nick leads Hero into the kitchen.
Nick: Have a seat.
Hero follows, thinking Nick sure is pushy.
Hero: OK Nick.
Hero sits.
Hero: You should have been a channel.
Nick sets the water on to heat, then gets out tea things.
Hero wonders if Nick inherited the pushiness from his mother.
Nick: Oh, Companions have much more fun.
Hero: How long is Sectuib going to be gone?
Nick: Well, that depends.
Hero's eyebrows furrow.
Hero: OK, on what?
Mostan opens the door of the Administration building and zlins the hallway.
Nick investigates a casserole dish sitting on the counter.
Nick: Apple crisp! And it's still warm.
Riyyh is up on the 2nd floor, in his office, surveying the pile of papers all over his desk and floor, and the pile of ceiling all over everything.
Nick: On a lot of things.
Mostan zlins a corridor free of nageric annoyances, and goes down towards the stairs.
Nick: He'll want to get some matters straightened out with the Tecton, since he's travelling anyway.
Riyyh has one hand pressed to the side of his face, in an absentminded gesture of ongoing dismay.
Riyyh: Oh dear.
Riyyh looks up at the hole in the ceiling and wonders how long he'll have to avoid using his office while they work on it.
Nick: And if that takes a while, he may decide to take advantage of a Tecton Donor for his next transfer.
Hero: You mean like not ever giving them any people?
Hero: ~curious~
Mostan climbs up the stairs, and pauses to rub his temples at the top.
Riyyh crunches over to his desk and sits down, then uses his other hand to tentatively start picking through the plaster-dust covered papers strewn about on top.
Riyyh pulls out the invitation to the pledging ceremony at Bender Cove, which he hadn't seen yet.
Mostan trudges down to to Riyyh's door and pushes the signal.
Mostan wonders what this powder tracked down the hall is.
Riyyh sighs; his people have been leaving things like this in his inbasket ever since the scandal, hoping to get him to do some travel.
Riyyh starts to write "decline" on it, then pauses.
Riyyh: Come!
Nick: Yes. It's going to take some personal attention to the matter to prevent Tecton sanctions.
Hero's eyes widen.
Hero: Does that mean some of us will have to leave??
Hero: Is he going to pick which ones, while he's there???
Mostan opens the door. "Riyyh, I was thinking that...."
Nick: Perhaps. He'll do his best to make sure that everyone who chooses to can stay.
Nick: But you see, that kind of delicate negotiations take time.
Mostan zlins the debris.
Mostan: ~~ surprise and puzzlement ~~
Riyyh: I'm terribly sorry.
Mostan: ~~ Start of Hard Need ~~
Riyyh: There was a bit of an accident with some young spies in the ceiling....
Riyyh: Please, Mostan, do come in.
Riyyh gets up and moves to brush the dust off of a chair.
Riyyh: Here, let me... [locates a clean cloak and lays it over the dust on the chair]
Riyyh: Please have a seat.
Nick: It will take a coordinated effort from everyone to preserve Naros intact.
Hero: Oh.
Mostan comes in, zlinning up through the hole.
Nick looks at Hero carefully.
Nick: Are you willing to help?
Hero looks at Nick suspiciously.
Hero: You aren't telling me everything.
Mostan: Spies? For who?
Hero: What if you get me in trouble?
Riyyh: It was Hero and Ansen. [wryly]
Hero does want to help Sectuib Riyyh, but for one thing, this smells like yesterday's socks.
Hero: [for another, if Riyyh really is okay with all this, she'd be a fool not to ask to help him in person, since that would get her a bit of personal attention.]
Mostan: Hero? The little Gen about so high? [gestures]
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh: Yes, that sounds like Hero.
Riyyh has rarely heard of a Sime who referred to Hero by her height rather than her boisterous nager and big mouth.
Riyyh likes Mostan for that.
Nick: Hero, I can't tell you everything.
Hero: Why not!!
Hero: ~indignant~
Hero: I already heard everything anyway.
Hero: I'll just go ask other people if you won't tell me!
Hero: [pouts]
Mostan zlins up again. "Doesn't really look like the construction allowed for people moving around up there."
Nick: First, there are some things that I agreed to discuss only with Snake or Riyyh.
Hero: Like what? [curiously]
Nick: And second, I don't know the whole story myself.
Hero: Oh. [disappointment]
Riyyh: No, ~sad amusement~ but you know how kids are. Always wanting the first to go somewhere, and always wanting to be the first to know.
Riyyh remembers back when he felt that way... barely.
Nick: What I do know is that it would harm Naros if word got out that Sectuib Riyyh might be gone for a long time.
Hero: It would??
Nick: And we don't know for sure that he will be.
Nick: Yes. A Sectuib is a very busy person, you know.
Mostan: Yeah. The enthusiasm of youth.
Hero: But he can do that here!
Hero pauses as she realizes he may not mean Riyyh is "very busy" in the sense people have usually meant that, recently.
Mostan realizes that he no longer considers himself one of the young and is ~~ saddened ~~.
Riyyh alters his field subtly to ~~support and encouragement~~, to not depress the needy channel to an extreme.
Mostan drifts off in thought about the days before he was a channel.
Riyyh laces up his fingers and tentacles on the rather gritty surface of his desk.
Riyyh: Mostan? [gently]
Mostan: Hmmm?
Mostan: Oh! I'm sorry.
Riyyh: ~gentle encouragement~
Mostan: I'm sorry I hadn't gotten back to you about Linn Haskins.
Riyyh: Ah, yes. You have come to a decision?
Nick: Naros will require a responsible channel to be in charge while Riyyh is gone.
Mostan: ~~ stirrings of intil ~~
Hero: Oh. Tictoc.
Hero nods.
Riyyh gets up and walks over near Mostan, quelling his intil.
Nick: Since we don't know how long Kenmore can stay, Snake is considering staying until Riyyh returns.
Mostan: Yes. I'm willing [~~ eager ~~] to qualify her.
Nick: Tictoc has enough work of her own; she can't manage Riyyh's as well.
Riyyh: Yes?
Mostan: ~~ calms ~~
Mostan: ~~ uncertain ~~ If you still think that's a good idea.
Hero considers.
Hero: Wolfa?
Nick: Oh, I'm sure Wolfa will be handling a lot of the day-to-day matters, just as always.
Hero gives Nick a no-nonsense look. [yes, a 12 year old can pull it off!]
Hero: Come on, spit it out! Don't be a tease.
Riyyh: Well I confess I would have preferred for the two of you to spend more time than this together.
Nick: Spit what out?
Nick presents Hero with tea and apple crisp.
Riyyh: However, why don't I introduce the two of you, and zlin you together, and see what Linn has to say about the idea?
Riyyh: Of course I will monitor the transfer and be there to provide support in case of any difficulties.
Riyyh smiles kindly at Mostan.
Mostan: ~~ guilt ~~ Yeah, you're right. I saw her at lunch before turnover, but I've been getting dirty zlins from Bum Bum ever since.
Mostan: Wise Snake won't be well enough to monitor?
Riyyh hesitates.
Riyyh: She hasn't been too involved in this. [confesses]
Mostan hastens to add, "Her being an old friend of Linn's and all."
Riyyh's tentacles wave for a moment in distress, but he recaptures them and hides them.
Riyyh: ~~kind fatherly support~~
Riyyh: Would you feel more comfortable if Wise Snake were monitoring instead of I?
Hero: Who will be in charge?
Mostan relaxes against the Gen showfield.
Hero: ~exasperated~
Nick: The details haven't been worked out yet.
Mostan: It's not that important to me, I know you are both more than capable.
Hero: OK how about just give me the big picture then?
Nick: If Snake decides to stay on until Riyyh's return, she'd be handling the things which require a more sensitive channel than Tictoc.
Hero: Snake?!?
Nick: Yes. As I said, Kenmore probably won't be around to do it.
Nick absently munches a bit bite of apple crisp.
Hero: Why... where'll he be?
Nick: Why, going back home to Zeor, of course.
Hero: Even though she's still sick?
Nick: He only came to heal Snake.
Nick: She's much improved.
Hero: Oh.
Riyyh nods.
Riyyh: Very well, then, shall we go have a talk with Linn?
Nick: She'll require a bit more time to recover before she's at her best, but she doesn't require Kenmore to oversee that.
Mostan: Yes. All right.
Mostan gets up.
Linn is enjoying the flowers in the garden.
Riyyh: She's in the garden, I believe.
Mostan nods.
Riyyh is reasonably sure of this since he can hear nearly everything in the garden from his office window.
Riyyh gets up and goes to the door.
Linn would have enjoyed having a vase inside, as well, but with Snake around, that isn't an option.
Mostan follows along.
Mostan remembers himself and pulls in his need and show a neutral showfield.
Riyyh pauses for a moment [well, a few moments] to fastidiously inspect his person for plaster dust.
Riyyh always tries to look his very best.
Mostan looks Riyyh over. "You've got some behind you...." ~~ points with field ~~
Riyyh brushes it off.
Riyyh: Thank you. Is it gone?
Riyyh tries to zlin through himself, never an easy trick.
Mostan: Yeah, You got it.
Riyyh adds a second ~thank you~.
Riyyh goes downstairs, out of the Administrative building, and out into the garden.
Mostan reflects that he still doesn't get what all those women zlin in Riyyh....
Mostan is uncomfortable and decides to change the subject. "Who will serve Bum Bum? If Linn doesn't."
Linn sniffs a late rose.
Riyyh: Linn was not going to anyway. He has entered into our junct treatment program here at Naros.
Riyyh: I have assigned him to Ruschia.
Mostan: Oh? ~~ perks up ~~ "So I'm not stealing his transfer?"
Linn wonders if Bum Bum likes roses, then remembers that it's not likely to make a difference in her life what he thinks about them.
Riyyh: No, she had already turned down an invitation to remain here with him when the others move on.
Riyyh: ~faint disappointment allowed to show~
Linn is glad that Riyyh at least found another Donor for Bum Bum.
Riyyh: Ah, there she is.
Riyyh approaches Linn, Mostan in tow.
Linn looks up from her rose and sees them approaching.
Linn: Good morning, Sectuib Riyyh.
Riyyh: Hello, Linn. How are you today?
Riyyh: [smiles kindly]
Mostan keeps his field carefully in check. Wouldn't be fair to wave his need around to bias things.
Linn: Well enough.
Mostan: Good Morning Linn.
Linn nods a polite greeting to Mostan.
Riyyh: Might you have a moment?
Mostan nods back.
Linn: Certainly.
Linn thinks that she's had a lot of spare time, since she was unassigned to Bum Bum.
Riyyh looks around.
Linn: How can I be of assistance?
Riyyh: This may be rather private information. Would you rather sit here, or talk about it in my office?
Linn looks around.
Linn: There isn't anyone else here.
Linn is a bit naive about Naros acoustics.
Mostan reflects that at least they don't have to worry about an attic here.
Linn: Please, tell me what I can do for you.
Riyyh: May we sit here? [indicates the other bench]
Linn: Of course.
Riyyh sits.
Riyyh: Do you know Hajene Mostan?
Riyyh: Mostan, Linn Haskins....
Mostan sits down on the far side of Riyyh.
Linn looks at Mostan curiously.
Riyyh is sure they must have met at least once before, but it pays to be thorough when discussing people's transfer arrangements.
Linn: I believe we've seen each other a few times.
Mostan tentacle gestures politely.
Riyyh: Mostan used to be assigned to the Lower Bender Cove Sime Center.
Riyyh: Near your Eastcove.
Riyyh smiles.
Linn: Ah, yes.
Linn: And how do you like it here at Naros, Hajene?
Riyyh would be curious to know that himself, since Hajene Mostan also hadn't gotten back to him about his invitation to pledge.
Riyyh: ~curious~
Mostan: ~~ dissembling ~~ "It's very nice. Clean country air, friendly people."
Linn: Quite different from Bender Cove.
Mostan: Yes. Not nearly so many crises.
Mostan doesn't recall any lobby-style loonies in all his time here.
Riyyh senses Mostan's dissemblence and is disappointed and hurt though he knows it's Mostan's right to feel any way he likes.
Riyyh: ~politeness~
Linn thinks back on the disruptions caused by the paternity issue, and the attempted murder issue, and the Zeor visitor issue, and wonders exactly how Mostan defines the word "crisis".
Riyyh zlins Linn as well and decides it's time to change the subject.
Riyyh: Er, Linn....
Linn: Yes?
Riyyh: Regarding your Qualification.
Mostan: ~~ holds carefully still ~~
Linn: You have changed your mind about Bum Bum?
Linn: ~~ hope ~~
Riyyh: I am sorry that events made it impossible for you to serve Bum Bum this month.
Linn: ~~ disappointment ~~
Riyyh: He desperately requires a permanent Companion he can depend on forever.
Riyyh: And if Naros isn't right for you, then you were correct to turn that down, even if you wanted Bum Bum.
Mostan looks carefully at some flowers near Linn.
Riyyh: I'm sorry. [again]
Linn nods.
Linn wonders why Riyyh is bringing the matter up again, if he hasn't changed his mind about Bum Bum.
Riyyh: I am... not precisely sure how much of your disappointment was due to losing Bum Bum, and how much of it was having geared yourself up to be Qualified only to lose your chance.
Riyyh: I know that, under the circumstances, it might be difficult to get another chance any time soon.
Riyyh: I have spoken to Mostan, here, and if you are interested in being Qualified, Mostan is willing to... to take transfer with you this month.
Riyyh: I believe he is capable of it and a reasonable match for you nagerically.
Linn blinks in ~~ astonishment ~~
Mostan makes himself look up at Linn's face.
Riyyh: You would not have to commit yourself to Naros to do it.
Mostan zlins Linn for her reaction.
Linn: Dear me. What an extraordinary proposal.
Linn looks at Mostan.
Linn: ~~ interest/trepidation/surprise ~~
Linn: We don't even know each other. Not really.
Mostan ~~ hopes ~~ when she is not obviously repelled.
Riyyh nods.
Riyyh: I realize that.
Riyyh: You do have a couple of days, though, to spend some time together and decide.
Linn: Well....
Linn sneaks another look at Mostan.
Linn: Have you spoken to Snake about this?
Riyyh tries to appear polite, objective and of course, extremely handsome.
Riyyh: No.
Riyyh: When I first approached Mostan on this subject, Hajene Farris was still unconscious.
Mostan smiles at Linn carefully.
Riyyh: Now, I thought it best that she not be brought into it, as she has shown little interest to date.
Riyyh: However, if you would feel more comfortable with Wise Snake's approval, or with her monitoring instead of I....
Riyyh hopes not, since that would certainly make a mess of things.
Linn: Umm....
Linn tries to find a way to approach the subject politely.
Riyyh pushes back his hair.
Linn: She is much more familiar with my... past difficulties... than you.
Linn: No offense intended, of course.
Riyyh: I have read your donor records from Bender Cove, [points out]
Riyyh: And I am a specialist in transfer related difficulties.
Riyyh: However, as I say, it is up to you.
Riyyh: It is important that you feel comfortable for your first transfer.
Mostan recalls what went on when Snake monitored his transfer with Eliza and is ~~unsettled ~~.
Linn is ~~ relieved ~~ at Riyyh's understanding.
Mostan reflects that what snake objected to then won't be happening here though.
Linn: Well, I will certainly seriously consider your offer.
Mostan zlins to see if she means that, or is just brushing them off politely.
Linn is engaged in ~~ serious contemplation ~~
Riyyh: Very well.
Riyyh: Do spend quite a bit of time with each other in the next days, to get to know each other.
Linn looks at Mostan.
Riyyh: That would be expected of any new transfer partners, but is especially important in your case.
Riyyh: I will be available for questions any time, and to monitor the transfer if it occurs.
Linn: Exactly when are you due for transfer?
Mostan takes that as an excuse to drop his showfield. ~~ Need ~~
Mostan: 3 or 4 days.
Linn jumps at the sudden nageric surge.
Linn: So soon?
Riyyh zlins the interaction between them and is curious about Linn's sensitivity.
Mostan: Sorry.
Mostan: I waff - was too busy to give Riyyh an answer sooner.
Linn: Well, there have been a few distractions lately.
Linn tentatively tries to offer ~~ support ~~
Linn is a bit handicapped by not having the faintest idea what Mostan's numbers are, making it impossible to calculate anything.
Riyyh gets up, to remove himself as a barrier between them.
Mostan carefully relaxes against Linn's field.
Linn experiments, trying to get the linkage right.
Riyyh zlins them carefully.
Mostan smiles in relief.
Mostan's field seems less sensitive and slower responding than most 3rd Order channels.
Linn halts as soon as she sees the relief, then tries to calculate back based on what her field is doing.
Linn frowns as the answer doesn't come out in the expected range.
Riyyh nods.
Riyyh: You appear to be good matches nagerically.
Riyyh had thought so, but it is always necessary to zlin people together to know for sure. (at least in his opinion)
Riyyh: Linn, you're a little unsure of yourself, but that's to be expected when you've had so few partners.
Riyyh: Mostan, be sure to encourage her and help her, all right?
Riyyh smiles.
Linn thinks "one" partner is more accurate.
Mostan: Of course, Hajene.
Riyyh: Linn?
Linn looks at Riyyh.
Linn: Yes?
Riyyh: Well you be all right? [gently]
Linn: I think so..
Riyyh searches her eyes and nager.
Riyyh: [not too close though, for Mostan's sake]
Linn: ~~ not completely comfortable with the idea, but moving in that direction ~~
Mostan feels ~~ hope ~~ rising, and relaxes more against Linn's field.
Riyyh: Please come to me, either or both of you, if you have any questions or concerns.
Riyyh smiles at them both, then turns and walks away toward the Admin building.
Mostan zlins him leave and turns back to Linn. "Miz Haskins, I'm sorry that this was so sudden."
Mostan thinks that a school teacher will value formality.
Linn smiles just a bit.
Linn: I've had less notice of sudden changes.
Linn thinks that Snake usually managed about 30 seconds.
Mostan: I'm sure Riyyh can find another Donor for me if you'd prefer. ~~ Not that sure ~~
Linn considers.
Linn: Let's give it a try, anyway.
Linn: As Sectuib Riyyh pointed out, there might not be another opportunity for me any time soon.
Linn: Perhaps we could get better acquainted over a cup of tea?
Mostan smiles more widely than before. "Thank you."
Mostan: Yes, That sounds lovely.
Mostan stands and offers Linn his arm.
Linn rests her hand lightly on Mostan's arm.
Mostan: Do you take sugar in your tea?
Linn: Well, only a little. Too sweet, and you can't taste the tea.
Mostan: True.
Mostan starts down the path.
Wise Snake drops by the dining hall after mailing Riyyh's "pledge" to the Tecton.
Wise Snake picks up a pastry and some hot water in a cup, then goes over into a corner and holes up by herself.
Wise Snake occupies herself by pouring cheap nasty tea leaves into the cup.
Linn walks primly beside Mostan, maintaining her ~~ support ~~
Linn: Have you eaten today, Hajene Mostan?
Mostan relaxes completely against Linn's field. "The flowers here are one of the nicest features of Naros, I think."
Linn: The gardens are spectacular, I agree.
Mostan: Err, no. Not since the day before yesterday.
Mostan: I have had some tea. A couple of times.
Linn: You really must eat regularly, even when you're in need.
Linn turns down the most direct path to the dining hall.
Mostan: ~~ guilt ~~ I know, but nothing zlins any good.
Linn: Oh, the food here is much fresher than in Bender Cove.
Mostan goes along, glad to have a Donor to niggle him about trivia like this again.
Linn: ~~ appetite ~~
Mostan: Well... maybe some toast....
Linn serves herself a substantial lunch, and makes sure that another ends up on Mostan's plate.
Mostan holds the trays and zlins over at the tables.
Linn leads the way to an empty table.
Linn: There. You'll feel better with some food in you.
Linn knows she will.
Linn: ~~ hunger ~~
Mostan sits down and toys with the food with some interest.
Wise Snake sips the trin cautiously, and nods and smacks her lips as it proves drinkable. [not like trin they grow here, which tastes all foofie, like... roses, or something]
Mostan starts eating some of the fruit pieces.
Linn begins to eat with the maximum speed allowed by proper etiquette.
Mostan puts some on his saucer against his cup to warm them up.
Nick ducks into the cafeteria for some lunch to supplement the apple crisp.
Wise Snake takes a bite out of her pastry, and almost chokes as she zlins Nick enter.
Wise Snake waves to get his attention.
Nick waves back, but collects a full meal before joining her.
Wise Snake by now has noticed that Linn and Mostan are acting like they are lot closer friends than Snake had previously realized, and that Linn is distracted enough that she didn't notice Snake was there.
Wise Snake frowns.
Linn: So, what has your life been like, since you left Bender Cove?
Mostan glances over at Nick's stronger field, but turns back to squeezing honey over his oatmeal.
Nick: Is something wrong?
Nick follows Snake's gaze.
Mostan: Calmer.
Wise Snake: Never mind that, tell me what you've done with Hero.
Wise Snake looks away from them and at Nick instead.
Nick frowns.
Mostan: I've been working steadily here.
Mostan: They've got me doing a lot of routine work so the higher orders can handle the tougher cases.
Nick: I think I managed to convince her that she misunderstood what she heard.
Wise Snake: Oh?
Linn: Well, that's good practice.
Wise Snake: What does she think she heard now?
Mostan thinks that he has asked for that, to keep him busy and not brooding over Eliza.
Nick: I told her that Riyyh was attending the pledge party in Bender Cove, and then going to some very important meetings of undetermined length to keep the Tecton from appropriating Naros's supply of potential channels and Donors.
Linn: Do you enjoy it?
Mostan: Yeah. It's been good for me, I think. Let me get my secondary shaken down, find out what it can handle.
Nick: And that you were considering helping out by taking charge of his workload until he could return.
Wise Snake: I see.
Wise Snake tries to extrapolate the Hero version of that and what damage could occur with it.
Nick: Oh, and when she asked about Riyyh's heir, and why she would be diverted, I said that Riyyh wanted to be here to meet her personally.
Nick shrugs.
Nick: It was the best I could think of at the time.
Mostan: It's different from the way things were back before I came to Bender Cove.
Wise Snake scratches her head and has another bite of pastry.
Mostan: But it would have to be, wouldn't it?
Wise Snake: Well, I sent his pledge of undying devotion into the tender hands of the Tecton.
Nick: I told her that Riyyh wouldn't want the story spread around until the official announcement was made, but I don't know if that will do any good.
Wise Snake gives Nick a get real look.
Wise Snake: No, I'm afraid telling her you don't want the story spread around won't do a bit of good.
Wise Snake: But perhaps you have succeeded in at least making sure the wrong story is spread.
Wise Snake reaches out with a tentacle and touches his arm.
Nick nods.
Wise Snake withdraws it without saying anything.
Nick: What if Riyyh decides not to go to Bender Cove, after all?
Wise Snake, whose eyes were on Mostan and Linn again, looks back at Nick sharply.
Wise Snake: That would be a problem.
Wise Snake: We'll have to try to fix it so he does.
Linn chews a mouthful of stew.
Wise Snake: And if he doesn't... well, we'll have to fix it so he does anyway.
Nick: What about Kenmore?
Wise Snake: He's a problem.
Wise Snake: With him, it wouldn't just be a matter of stuffing him in a bag and having him delivered by special messenger.
Wise Snake: But I think I know how to handle... what in shen is going on over there?
Wise Snake's curiosity gets the better of her.
Wise Snake gets up and walks over to Linn and Mostan.
Nick takes a big bite and follows as he chews.
Mostan finishes most of his oatmeal.
Linn looks up as Snake approaches.
Linn: Snake! I wanted to talk to you.
Mostan turns, still holding his spoon.
Linn offers Snake a seat beside her, on the other side from Mostan.
Wise Snake looks at Linn with a cynical expression.
Wise Snake: I'll bet you do.
Wise Snake glances briefly at Mostan then takes the seat.
Wise Snake had gotten a perfectly good zlin of them together already at that point.
Wise Snake: So, what is going on?
Mostan overcarefully puts his spoon down in his tea.
Linn: Sectuib Riyyh has offered to have Hajene Mostan qualify me in a few days.
Wise Snake: I see. [snake's hiss]
Mostan zlins Snake for her reaction. Not that he could zlin anything Snake didn't want him to.
Wise Snake: ~displeased~
Linn: He said that you were not recovered, and we shouldn't bother you about it, but....
Mostan lifts his tea to a mouth set in a tense line.
Linn: ~~ uncertain ~~
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Wise Snake: Well, his meddling will end soon enough.
Nick tries to ~~ calm ~~ Snake, not wishing a major blowup in the middle of a cafeteria of inveterate gossips--and future subjects.
Wise Snake appears to forget about the matter.
Linn: You don't think we're a good match, then?
Linn had been afraid of that.
Wise Snake: What? [looks at Linn]
Wise Snake: Oh, you're suitable.
Wise Snake glances at Mostan.
Mostan hold the cup to his lips, not drinking.
Wise Snake: That is, if Mostan has overcome his old problems.
Wise Snake: I haven't looked into it.
Linn: Old problems?
Mostan stares flatly at Wise Snake.
Linn wonders nervously what else Riyyh didn't bother to tell her about.
Mostan puts his tea down.
Wise Snake shrugs.
Wise Snake: This is hardly the place to discuss them in detail.
Mostan says coldly. "You have my complete assurance, Hajene. That your concerns are unfounded in this case."
Wise Snake: Are they?
Wise Snake regards Mostan with a pale gaze.
Nick tries to block the mounting hostility from outside zlinning.
Wise Snake: ~~calm~~
Wise Snake: Then you have entirely lost your fear of Gens?
Mostan is ~~ surprised ~~ that Snake didn't mean what he did.
Wise Snake: Nine months ago, you couldn't even take the arms of a GN-3 without trembling.
Mostan: That too.
Wise Snake: I see.
Linn is very glad that she ignored Riyyh's advice and consulted Snake.
Mostan: Well, the Gens here in Naros are ... better behaved.
Wise Snake: Well then, in that case, I wish the two of you the best of luck.
Mostan unconsciously slides a one hand over the nodes on the other arm.
Wise Snake directs a narrow gaze at Linn.
Wise Snake rises.
Linn: Snake, would you monitor?
Wise Snake looks down at them.
Wise Snake: Is that what you want?
Wise Snake: [dispassionately]
Linn: Yes.
Wise Snake: Talk to Mostan about it, and then ask me again.
Wise Snake turns and walks back to her table.
Nick follows Snake back to their table.
Nick: It looks like Riyyh's been busy.
Mostan drinks his tea, then chokes on the lump of oatmeal in it.
Nick continues his interrupted lunch.
Linn: Are you all right?
Linn: ~~ concern ~~
Mostan spits the lump out on his plate. "Yeah. Sorry."
Mostan wipes at his mouth and shirt, ~~embarrassed ~~.
Wise Snake isn't concerned so much with Riyyh's interference (which is only temporary) as with Linn's failure to say anything until Snake caught her.
Nick: Though I would have expected even Riyyh to consult you before doing something like this.
Wise Snake: He's a coward.
Wise Snake: ~distaste~
Nick: I hadn't thought he had much interest in Linn, once she turned down his offer to stay as Bum Bum's Companion.
Linn ~~ soothes ~~ Mostan's embarrassment.
Mostan: Thank you.
Mostan: Sorry about that.
Wise Snake: He's Naros, that makes him nosy as anything. And meddling.
Wise Snake: He'll find more than enough to occupy him in his new home, however.
Wise Snake's eyes glint in satisfaction.
Mostan: I had an... injury back in Bender Cove. It had a lot of psychological consequences.
Linn: Ah. What sort of psychological consequences?
Linn is more concerned with the psychological than the physical, after living so many months with a semi-sane Farris channel.
Mostan: A, uh ... [ looks around and lowers voice ] a phobia of Gens.
Nick glances towards Linn and Mostan.
Nick: Will you let them go ahead?
Wise Snake: I guess I don't care anymore.
Linn: You're afraid of Gens?
Linn has never heard of such a thing.
Mostan: I was.
Wise Snake doesn't care about a lot of things she cared about before she got slammed.
Mostan: A Gen tried to kill me.
Nick checks Snake to see if she's tiring, or if her hangover has returned.
Nick is ~~ concerned ~~ about this apathy.
Linn: To kill you!
Linn wonders if Mostan is an inexperienced Simelan speaker like herself, to use such bad grammar.
Wise Snake inspects the contents of her tea cup, decides a few bits of leaves won't kill her, and takes a final sip.
Mostan hugs his arms in close. "She squeezed my..."
Nick takes the hint and finishes his own lunch.
Mostan can't bring himself to say it.
Linn: Your arms?
Linn has never had the consequences of that explained to her.
Mostan nods.
Linn looks around at the roomful of gossips.
Linn: Perhaps we should find someplace a bit quieter to discuss it?
Mostan nods. "yes please."
Linn gathers her dishes and puts them on the tray.
Mostan gathers up his dishes, glad of something distracting.