Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #64: Sosu Cash Crop (11/21/98)
Nick enters the cafeteria to grab lunch.
Nick is in a somewhat better mood today, as his body adjusts to being shorted for the second month in a row.
Nick serves himself some soup and a plate of sandwich fixings, grabs some tea, and finds a table.
Dennifa comes in to the cafeteria looking exasperated, with her hair a bit mussed.
Dennifa goes over to see what is on the line today.
Nick starts on his soup, before it gets cold.
Riyyh enters the dining hall, in a bit of a hurry, hoping to grab some tea and a pastry before escaping to his office once again.
Dennifa picks up some soup and a cold sandwich, not looking at what kind.
Nick notices Riyyh, and takes some pride in the channel's obvious fitness.
Riyyh glances at Dennifa.
Riyyh: Dennifa, how are you?
Riyyh is concerned by her obvious state of, er,
Dennifa: ~~ tired and irritated ~~
Riyyh is hyperaware of Nick's attention on him and tries not to be too obvious about it.
Dennifa mutters to herself. 'It's obvious, why can't they see that?'
Riyyh winces slightly at the zlin of Dennifa.
Riyyh: Dennifa? [a bit more cautiously]
Dennifa looks up.
Dennifa: Oh. Sectuib.
Dennifa realizes he's there and tries to rein in her emotions with limited success.
Dennifa: ~~ false cheerfulness ~~ "How are you today?"
Riyyh: I'm fine, excellent as a matter of fact, thank you.
Riyyh: But, er...
Riyyh: How are you?
Riyyh: [gently]
Dennifa: "I'm fine, thank you."
Riyyh is aware that he might be opening himself up for getting dumped on by prying any further, but he is a bit compulsive about making other people happy.
Riyyh touches Dennifa's shoulder in concern.
Riyyh: If there is anything you want to talk about....
Dennifa: No, nothing new. Just the usual.
Dennifa: And the kids are being difficult today.
Nick finishes his soup and assembles his sandwich.
Riyyh nods.
Riyyh: All right, then.
Riyyh surreptitiously glances back at Nick.
Riyyh examines the pastries studiously, trying to decide what he really wants.
Riyyh: [what he really wants for breakfast; the greater question of what he really wants will have to wait a while longer]
Dennifa notices that Riyyh is running around without a Companion, and tries to think what one would be doing to him now.
Nick notices Riyyh examining the food and automatically broadcasts ~~ hunger ~~
Dennifa: Those are just carbohydrates, which you don't need as much as other nutrients.
Riyyh looks at Dennifa in surprise.
Dennifa: What would your Companion tell you to eat?
Riyyh looks back at the pastries, then back at Dennifa.
Riyyh: Mytag isn't that, er, [realizes "isn't that picky" probably isn't a good choice of words]
Riyyh: That is,
Riyyh: I don't know?
Riyyh thinks that is a safe answer.
Riyyh tries for the cute and truly innocent look.
Riyyh: What do you think I should eat?
Dennifa: If you were in my class I'd make you look it up... ~~ slightly amused ~~
Riyyh is now definitely hungry, due to Nick's nager.
Riyyh is also wondering why Nick sent that to him and if that means Nick wants him to sit down near him, perhaps because he has something to talk to Riyyh about.
Dennifa: Fruit and vegetables are always good. All sorts of complex nutrients.
Riyyh looks at the pastries again and sighs, then moves a bit farther down to the fruit.
Riyyh selects a small fruit salad.
Dennifa: ~~ approval ~~
Dennifa: Always remember. 'Variety is the spice of life'.
Riyyh looks at her, looking far more cute and harmless than any one person really has a right to be.
Nick notes the improvement in Riyyh's selection with vague approval.
Riyyh: Of course, you're right. Thank you.
Dennifa realizes that that statement could be taken more than one way. ~~ embarrassment ~~
Riyyh zlins Dennifa's embarrassment and smiles reassuringly at her.
Dennifa: In food, I mean. A variety insures a wide range of different nutrients.
Riyyh: It's all right... I know what you meant.
Riyyh: ~kindly~
Riyyh turns away to get himself some tea.
Riyyh hopes tea is still considered acceptable, as he'd go straight into withdrawals if prevented from having some.
Dennifa looks at her sandwich and realizes she isn't taking her own advice, and moves over to get some steamed green beans.
Nick wonders if Dennifa is Riyyh's new Companion candidate.
Nick decides that if so, Riyyh is likely to end up better off than with Mytag, who never seems to be around his channel.
Riyyh finally can't stand it anymore and turns bravely to look directly at Nick.
Riyyh: Hello, Nick.
Nick swallows his current bite of sandwich.
Nick: Hello. I see you decided to have a real meal for once.
Riyyh: ~~nervous channel facing the person who both gave him the best transfer of his entire life, and then astonished him by rejecting him for... other activities... afterward. ~~
Riyyh blinks at the nature of the greeting.
Riyyh: Well, I... [looks down at the fruit]
Riyyh: It was Dennifa's idea, really. [confesses]
Riyyh wonders what is wrong with what he usually eats.
Riyyh thinks he must have been doing something right, all these years, after all.
Nick: She's right. Those pastries aren't the most balanced sort of food.
Dennifa goes over to a table at a decent distance from anyone else.
Riyyh: Surely just for breakfast... ~helplessly~ well, I imagine you're right.
Riyyh sighs.
Nick: Where is Mytag? Shouldn't he be with you?
Riyyh: He's in the office, I just stopped down here to....
Nick still can't believe the way Mytag never seems to be around his channel.
Riyyh zlins Nick and wonders at what he zlins.
Riyyh notices Nick seems to disapprove of Mytag and wonder if that means Nick thinks he could do better.
Nick himself is only here without Snake because she and Kenmore kicked him out when his hunger started distracting their current exercises.
Riyyh: ~pathetic hope quickly squashed down again~
Nick: You really don't seem very comfortable with Mytag.
Riyyh clutches his tray in alarm.
Riyyh: No, I... of course I am.
Riyyh: Mytag is a dear friend.
Nick: Yes, but he doesn't seem comfortable as your Companion.
Dennifa knows her emotions dart around too much and bother Simes.
Riyyh edges closer so he doesn't have to speak of his personal business loudly enough for the entire dining hall to hear.
Riyyh knows everybody knows his personal business already, it's just the principle of the thing.
Riyyh: Mytag had quite a shock when he learned, well, I suppose everybody did after all.
Riyyh: It's reasonable for him to require some time to understand his own feelings about me.
Riyyh just wishes it wasn't taking quite so long.
Linn comes in to get her lunch.
Nick: It does come as a shock.
Riyyh wonders if somebody has spilled the beans to Nick about his grandmother, and looks nervous.
Riyyh: Look, I had meant to speak to you about that, but....
Nick: About what? Mytag?
Riyyh: ~considerable relief~
Riyyh: No... no, not at all.
Riyyh: I'm sorry, I must have misunderstood... well.
Riyyh: I think Mytag just requires some time.
Riyyh thinks, maybe about 5 years.
Linn fills a tray with a nutritionally balanced assortment of foods, and moves to a table.
Nick notes Riyyh's relief, and his suspicions are aroused.
Nick: What was it that you had been meaning to speak to me about?
Riyyh notes that Nick's suspicions are aroused, and realizes the "foo" is about to hit the "shan".
Riyyh hesitates for a long moment, then comes nervously over to Nick's table and sits down near him.
Riyyh: I'm not sure if you'll want to talk about this, actually. [confesses]
Riyyh: I'm not sure if I really... well, I suppose I have no choice.
Nick waits for Riyyh to run down and get to the point.
Riyyh: About your... mother.
Nick winces.
Nick: Yes?
Riyyh: I may have given you the impression that her bearing my child was all her idea.
Nick: It wasn't?
Riyyh: Described her begging me, and not leaving me alone, and getting her friends and my friends to beg me....
Riyyh looks quite distressed.
Riyyh: Even your father.
Riyyh: Well, I mean, your mother's husband.
Nick can't recall Riyyh saying anything but that it happened when his mother and uncle were on vacation and ran into Riyyh.
Riyyh: No, it actually wasn't really her idea.
Riyyh: [confesses]
Nick: It was yours?
Riyyh: No!!
Riyyh: ~horrified~
Riyyh: Not at all!
Riyyh: It was my daughter's... that is to say, your grandmother's, idea.
Riyyh had been about to say "my daughter's mother's idea" but that would have been rather confusing.
Riyyh: However, she had managed to somehow convince your mother that is was a matter of utmost urgency, or so I gather.
Nick: ~~ confused ~~
Nick: What's this about my grandmother?
Nick thinks he's well rid of that overbearing harridan.
Riyyh: Your grandmother is a... a very powerful person.
Riyyh: I'm afraid I found her quite overwhelming, particularly when I met her which was when I was very young.
Riyyh was 14, in fact.
Nick: You... and my grandmother??!!
Riyyh cringes.
Riyyh: It wasn't as if I had any choice in the matter!
Nick: ~~ shock ~~
Riyyh: I'm only telling you this because I feel you deserve to know the truth.
Riyyh: ~desperate~
Nick: But I thought you said that you and my mother....
Riyyh: We did.
Riyyh's tentacles wave woefully.
Riyyh: But it was Prunida's idea.
Riyyh: In fact, she insisted.
Nick: But she was your daughter!
Riyyh: She wanted to build....
Riyyh: Well yes, I know that.
Nick's ~~ shock ~~ is fading to ~~ numbness ~~
Nick: She always insisted that I be a Donor. That's how I ended up in a Tecton training camp for two weeks.
Nick: Fortunately, the instructors didn't seem to share her opinion of my potential.
Riyyh: She wanted your mother to be that Donor.
Riyyh: Did your mother ever tell you about her own experience with attempting to train as a Donor?
Riyyh winces at the memory.
Riyyh: You should have seen the letter your grandmother sent me after that!
Nick: Mother? She never told me she'd tried it.
Riyyh: She threatened to sue me for false advertising.
Nick: False advertising?
Riyyh: I had to get tested by a Tecton channel and send the paperwork to her lawyer.
Riyyh: To prove I was a high order channel. [explains]
Riyyh: She had taken my word for it at the time.
Riyyh: I thought I heard the end of it, but a few years later I was at the groundbreaking ceremony for... well, you know the rest of the story.
Nick: I'm not sure I do know, now.
Nick: And I never did understand why my grandmother was so insistent that I be a Donor.
Dennifa finishes her lunch, and realizes she has to hurry back to class.
Riyyh sighs.
Riyyh: Well, you see... the town isn't that far from where your parents live.
Nick looks at his father--and apparently grandfather as well.
Nick: What town?
Riyyh: Apparently your mother mentioned that they were going to the ceremony, and that I'd be there, to your grandmother.
Nick calculates: 75% Riyyh and 25% Grandma Prunida.
Nick winces at the thought.
Dennifa gets up and hurries out, not noticing she will pass right by Riyyh and Nick.
Dennifa: ~~ Rushed ~~
Riyyh: It was in Navago Heights.
Riyyh: The groundbreaking, or cornerstone-placing, or what have you, for the Sime Center there.
Nick nods.
Riyyh: When the first Centers were going up I was attending all those ceremonies.
Riyyh: I mean, the ones in this area.
Riyyh: It was a formality, really.
Riyyh: Your mother introduced herself and informed me of what your grandmother had decided, and....
Riyyh: Well, naturally I was somewhat reluctant, but given the circumstances and what was going on around it at the time,
Riyyh had been drunk off his gourd at the party after the groundbreaking, his Companion had passed out under the table, and Nick's mother's rejection for Donor training had had nothing to do with nageric weakness.
Riyyh: Oh dear.
Riyyh realizes he can't very well explain that in detail, so he hopes Nick will just understand.
Riyyh has become much more prudent about drinking in public situations since then.
Nick: Let me guess: You were drunk on shiltpron and it seemed a good idea at the time?
Riyyh: It didn't seem like that good an idea, but you're right, I wasn't at my best. [weakly]
Riyyh: This was a long time ago.
Riyyh: Things were... different then.
Riyyh: I wouldn't... I wouldn't even dream of doing things now the way things were expected to be done back then.
Nick: And after all of that scheming, Grandma Prunida still didn't get herself a Donor acceptable to the Tecton.
Riyyh sighs.
Riyyh: I'm sorry, Nick.
Riyyh: I tried.
Riyyh: But I'm sure that you could have been, at least physically,
Riyyh: ~pleading~
Nick: I think the Tecton instructors were as glad to see me go as I was to leave.
Nick is starting to see the amusing side to this mess.
Riyyh nods, confused by by the change in Nick's nager.
Riyyh: ~wary~
Nick: I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when Grandma got the news.
Riyyh smiles tentatively in the hopes that everything is better.
Nick had actually taken a great deal of care to be half the Territory away when that happened.
Riyyh: Has she... has she any idea you are here?
Nick: I don't know. I haven't seen her since she sent me off to that training camp.
Nick: I suspect she lost interest in me when she learned I wasn't Donor material.
Riyyh: I hope so.
Riyyh: But if she learns you have been serving a Farris channel....
Nick frowns.
Riyyh: Well, there is little chance of her learning that, right?
Riyyh: I mean, you haven't spoken to your parents in years, and....
Nick: I did see my parents, and my uncle, not long ago.
Nick: They met Snake, too.
Riyyh pales.
Riyyh: She may insist that you enter into the Tecton.
Riyyh: Oh dear, does this never end?
Riyyh: ~frets~
Riyyh: I thought I had seen the last of her.
Riyyh: She will surely insist that all of this is my fault, especially if you leave here with Snake before she finds out.
Nick: I doubt the Tecton would want me any more now than they did ten years ago. They don't trust rogues.
Nick has no intention of finding out by actually attempting the experiment, however.
Riyyh: ~relief~
Riyyh: Yes, but will that satisfy your grandmother?
Riyyh is anxiously hoping that Nick will say the right thing and reassure him that all will be well.
Nick: Nothing ever satisfies my grandmother.
Riyyh's shoulders wilt.
Riyyh reaches out and touches Nick's hand apologetically.
Nick puts a semi-reassuring hand on Riyyh's wilted shoulder.
Riyyh: Look, I realize there isn't really any way to apologize for something like this, but... I'm sorry. I truly am, Nick.
Nick: I'm sure we'll be long gone by the time Grandmother finds out we've been here.
Riyyh had been afraid of that.
Riyyh: I'm glad for you, Nick. ~sincerely~
Prunida enters the cafeteria, after being sent there from Riyyh's office by Mytag.
Riyyh does a double take and faints dead away.
Prunida: ~~ aggravation ~~
Riyyh: [crash]
Prunida thinks that the least that scheming little rabbit could do is be there to greet her.
Nick leaps off his chair in ~~ alarm ~~
Nick: Riyyh!
Hero bounces into the Dining Hall after the stranger, just in time to see Riyyh slump to the floor and Nick jump up in concern.
Hero: Wow!
Hero: ~excitement~
Hero: Did you see that? [to Prunida]
Prunida is distracted by the young Donor and looks at her critically.
Hero hurries toward the source of the excitement. [or at least, who she thought had caused the excitement]
Hero: Nick, what happened?!
Prunida starts at the name.
Nick looks up at Hero.
Riyyh's eyelids flutter.
Nick: Hero, run up and fetch Mytag, would you?
Hero skids to a halt near them.
Nick: He should have his Donor around.
Hero: That lady just about swallowed her gum... sure, no problem.
Hero runs off, dodging Prunida.
Nick provides firm, Zeor-flavored, Farris-precise support in the meantime.
Nick: Lady? What lady?
Riyyh comes semi-conscious.
Riyyh: Noo... that nager... [deliriously]
Nick looks around, finally catching sight of Prunida.
Nick provides a sterling testimony for Snake's training by not--quite--dropping the fields as he recognizes the visitor.
Prunida glares at Nick.
Riyyh comes wide awake and sees and zlins Prunida quite clearly.
Riyyh: ~~oh shen~
Prunida: So you are here, you worthless runaway. And the rabbit, too. Good, I want to talk to both of you.
Mostan sneaks off without his Donor to get some lunch that isn't balanced to a fare thee well.
Riyyh jumps up hastily and moves back several feet, with Nick between them.
Riyyh: Oh... Prunida, how good to see you! [trembling]
Nick: Grandmother Prunida.
Mostan cuts through the garden.
Riyyh: You are looking quite well.
Prunida: How long have you been hiding my grandson from me, Riyyh?
Prunida: And why do I have to learn from my daughter, of all people, that he decided to become a Donor after all?
Riyyh: Well, I, ~helplessly~ you see, it's not entirely, that is,
Riyyh: I can explain.
Riyyh's tentacles wave hopelessly.
Prunida waits for the explanation, foot tapping all the while.
Prunida: ~~ impatient anticipation ~~
Prunida: Wanted his salary to go to you, did you? And the bounty as well?
Riyyh: No. ~genuinely surprised~
Riyyh: It's not like that at all.
Prunida: No thought for the one who had the raising of him, and his worthless mother.
Riyyh: Please.
Mostan looks at the shrubs bundled up. He remembers Povkhia nattering on about doing that the other day...
Riyyh: Nick is my guest, here. It is temporary, only.
Riyyh: He came here with his channel, and will leave with her when she goes.
Mostan slows down and then stops to stare at the shrub, lost in thought.
Riyyh is glad there is no way for the Gen to tell that Riyyh himself had Nick not 3 days ago.
Riyyh's expression becomes somewhat alarmed as he imagines what would happen if Prunida took the time to pick up on a little gossip, though.
Prunida: I want to meet this channel of his, but I can do that later.
Riyyh: Of course.
Prunida: Right now, I want to know why you never told me that he'd decided to make something of himself after all.
Riyyh: But Prunida, I thought you knew already!
Riyyh: ~lie~
Prunida: ~~ renewed aggravation ~~
Riyyh: Of course I would have told you, had I realized otherwise.
Riyyh: ~~lie lie lie~~
Riyyh: ~cringe~
Prunida shakes her head in disgust.
Prunida: Don't lie to me, Riyyh.
Riyyh generally has to be scared out of his wits to resort to lying.
Riyyh tries to get a grip.
Riyyh: I mean, he isn't a Donor as such.
Nick offers ~~ emphatic agreement ~~
Riyyh: ~oh dear~
Riyyh: I'm sorry.
Prunida: "As such?" Whatever do you mean by that?
Riyyh: ~sincere~
Riyyh: It's just that, I... it didn't occur to me that you would expect me to approach you about this.
Prunida: My only grandson finally learns some sense, and you think I wouldn't expect to be informed?
Riyyh: Not by me. [confesses]
Riyyh: I had thought, his parents...
Riyyh had thought it was a wise move to leave sleeping dogs lie where Prunida is concerned.
Prunida: You are his parent. Or had you forgotten?
Riyyh: Of course not. ~worried~
Nick has enough experience with his grandmother's temper to offer Riyyh full ~~ support ~~ in sympathy.
Riyyh: It's just that things have been so hectic lately, and after all, he doesn't work for the Tecton, which is what I thought your criteria was for success, and....
Riyyh wrings his hands and tentacles and edges up against Nick and his safe, supportive nager.
Prunida points a tentacle at Nick.
Prunida: But zlin him. Do you think I know a Donor's nager when it's lighting up the whole room?
Nick curses that extra selyn that Riyyh couldn't take.
Riyyh: He's been working with an independent channel, I hadn't thought that would....
Prunida: An independent?
Prunida: Are you telling me that the boy's gone and wasted himself on a rogue?
Prunida: ~~ disgust ~~
Riyyh was pretty sure Prunida's entire motivation in all this was collecting large wads of cash, which Nick doesn't make with Wise Snake.
Riyyh: She's quite impressive for a rogue channel. A Farris, and....
Prunida: A Farris? Tell me another one.
Riyyh has no idea of what he's trying to convince Prunida of, here, he's just reacting as placatingly as possible to whatever she says.
Riyyh is nonplussed by her disbelief.
Riyyh: Well, er, she's quite famous.
Riyyh thinks that's perfectly true, although 'infamous' might be more applicable.
Prunida: I've never heard of her.
Prunida seems to think that this should settle the matter.
Riyyh: You should meet her!
Riyyh thinks, now that is a brilliant idea.
Riyyh wonders why he hadn't thought of that sooner.
Riyyh thinks that after Snake eats Prunida for lunch, Nick, Riyyh and Snake can go have tea together.
Prunida sniffs.
Prunida: Perhaps I'd better, if that's the best he could do.
Riyyh: You've never heard of Wise Snake Farris?
Prunida: No. Should I have?
Riyyh thinks Prunida must no longer read the Tecton journals, which argues for an improvement in her obsession.
Riyyh nods.
Riyyh: Perhaps not. [concedes]
Riyyh: [after all, Snake isn't that famous outside of Zeor, Bender Cove, the bureaucracy parts of the Tecton, and maybe Vortez Lake.]
Prunida curses the mixup in her Tecton journal subscription, and the six months it took to get it straightened out. Paper pushers!
Riyyh: Allow me to show you to her temporary residence?
Prunida sniffs, and nods stiffly.
Riyyh glances at Nick for his permission.
Nick nods, keeping up the support as he makes sure he stays between, well, his grandparents.
Riyyh looks regretfully at his untouched tea and unwanted fruit, sighs, and leads the way out of the dining hall.
Nick follows, with Prunida close behind.
Wise Snake is, as it happens, having a short break between sessions with Kenmore and Dahlia.
Nick strides ahead as they reach the guest house, so that he can manage the fields for Snake.
Nick wouldn't wish Grandma Pru's nager on any channel.
Wise Snake is lounging on the couch of her cabin, managing to convey entirely through body language the image of a greasy, lazy, rogue with no redeeming characteristics whatsoever.
Wise Snake is in fact quite clean.
Riyyh is left with Grandma Pru's nager and goes nearly hypo.
Nick: Snake?
Wise Snake looks up.
Wise Snake's hair charmingly does the Dreaded Farris Hair thing and spills over her face, until she pushes it back.
Wise Snake: Nick! Hello.
Nick hopes Kenmore isn't still around; all he requires is letting the Zeor channel know the skeletons in his closet.
Wise Snake: You zlin... who's... hold on a minute, here.
Wise Snake zlins Riyyh and a stranger coming up to the door.
Nick goes to the couch and sits, sliding into full ~~ support ~~
Riyyh: Hello, Snake. ~submissive~
Nick: I just learned....
Nick breaks off as Riyyh enters.
Riyyh thinks it pays to be careful around a channel after her Companion spontaneously decides to give him transfer.
Wise Snake: Just learned what?
Wise Snake looks between Nick and Riyyh, then at Prunida.
Wise Snake wonders just what in shen she missed during that last session.
Wise Snake pushes herself up straighter.
Wise Snake: What's going on?
Prunida mutters a few uncomplimentary words about ungrateful boys and enters after Riyyh.
Nick: Umm.... This is my grandmother Prunida.
Nick: Grandma Pru, this is my channel, Wise Snake Farris.
Prunida looks at Snake.
Prunida: Hmmmpf. She's not much, is she?
Wise Snake's expression and nager experience about a 50 degree drop in temperature at Prunida's comment.
Wise Snake studies Prunida with narrowed eyes.
Wise Snake: Do you have a problem with something?
Prunida: My worthless grandson throws away a career that could have supported him and all the rest of us as well, and ends up with a street bum, and you want to know what the problem is?
Prunida: And I have to find out about it from my daughter because that spineless rabbit didn't have the nerve to tell me.
Prunida glares at Riyyh.
Nick makes sure that none of the nageric upset reaches Snake, or, as an afterthought, Riyyh either.
Wise Snake stares at Prunida for a moment.
Wise Snake: You're asking me for money??
Wise Snake: ~disbelief~
Wise Snake: No, that can't be it.
Wise Snake: What do you want??
Prunida: He should be earning a Donor's salary! He was bred for it!
Riyyh covers his face with a hand.
Riyyh: ~oh dear~
Nick winces at the mention of breeding.
Wise Snake looks at Riyyh, then at Nick, then at Prunida again.
Wise Snake: You're not saying... never mind, I don't want to know.
Wise Snake gets up, moving with typical Sime grace, which always looked extra menacing on her for some reason.
Prunida: It took me forty years to make Nick! I think I should have something to show for it.
Wise Snake: What do you want, then?
Wise Snake is getting a little bit annoyed.
Prunida: I want him to be the Donor he should have been. That I bred him to be.
Wise Snake: What is that supposed to mean?
Wise Snake: He's more than Donor enough for you, lady.
Prunida looks at Nick with ~~ contempt ~~
Wise Snake's hackles raise at Prunida's slighting of her Companion.
Prunida: He's hanging out with a rogue, just to spite me, when he knows I wanted him to have a real career.
Wise Snake: ~disbelief and anger~
Wise Snake: So? So what? What do you want me to do about that?
Riyyh: Ladies....
Nick sees the danger signs and tries to ~~ calm ~~ Snake.
Nick would have had better luck if he was calmer himself.
Riyyh's tentacles flutter nervously.
Riyyh: Perhaps if we all sat down, and perhaps had some tea, and you could take turns explaining your concerns....
Riyyh: ~worried~
Prunida: I want you to send the boy back where he belongs.
Wise Snake: And just where is that?
Prunida: He must have more potential than they thought, if he's playing Donor for you.
Wise Snake: To Donor school?!
Prunida: Let him go be a real Donor.
Wise Snake: Why, so I can die of attrition? That'd be a real good time.
Wise Snake: ~contempt~
Wise Snake: Or maybe I can throw myself on Kenmore's mercy and force him to take me back to Zeor against his better judgment.
Wise Snake: Yes, that'd be real responsible behavior on my part, all right.
Wise Snake: ~sarcastic~
Prunida: Yes.
Prunida nods, pleased that she's finally gotten her point across.
Wise Snake: Get out of here before I kill you.
Wise Snake: And don't let me see you again!
Wise Snake: ~~angry~~
Prunida: Find some other boy. I raised Nick, I raised his mother. I should have something to show for my efforts.
Nick is a little alarmed at the casual use of the word "kill".
Wise Snake: I mean it.
Wise Snake: ~means it~
Riyyh: Oh dear,
Riyyh flutters over to Prunida and touches her arm.
Riyyh: Please, I have some experience in these matters, and I do believe it would be prudent to....
Riyyh: ~cringing~
Prunida gapes at Snake.
Nick: Yes.
Prunida: Are you going to let her sass your grandmother like that, Nick?
Prunida finally notices Riyyh.
Prunida: Oh, what is it?
Riyyh: She's serious, I mean, you should leave now to avoid any physical violence, I'm terribly sorry but this sort of thing has happened before. She's very protective of Nick.
Riyyh: ~apologetic~
Wise Snake is rapidly growing very impatient.
Prunida once more assesses Snake's generally wild, street child appearance, augmented by the Dreaded Hair.
Wise Snake: ~in hard need and not inclined to be lenient~
Wise Snake is dressed and groomed appropriately, but the street child look will probably always be with her, in ambience if nothing else.
Nick tries to ~~ curb ~~ Snake's need.
Prunida zlins Nick and Snake more closely.
Prunida: Wait a minute.
Prunida: You're not her Donor. You're not even in phase.
Prunida turns to glare at Riyyh.
Prunida: What sort of trick have you been playing with me, anyway?
Riyyh's eyes widen in dismay.
Prunida: It was all a big joke on the poor old lady, wasn't it?
Prunida: What did you pay her to join in with you?
Wise Snake's eyebrows in disbelief at Prunida's audacity.
Wise Snake: What?!
Riyyh: No, not at all. [faintly]
Riyyh is perilously close to losing consciousness again.
Riyyh thinks if Prunida learns Riyyh took transfer off Nick, she'll carve his heart out with a spoon.
Nick is more likely to die of embarrassment.
Wise Snake: Excuse me, but Nick is definitely my Companion.
Wise Snake: ~irate~
Wise Snake: No, we didn't transfer this month, but we have many times in the past.
Prunida: He wouldn't do you much good in his current state, for sure.
Riyyh: Snake is to receive transfer from a therapist Donor specializing in Farrises this month, [explains hastily]
Riyyh: Nick was traded off just for this month, but it's strictly temporary.
Prunida: Traded off?
Riyyh had wished it would be quite permanent, of course, although that is completely impossible.
Prunida zlins Nick critically, then zlins Riyyh more closely.
Prunida: ~~ rising suspicion~~
Prunida: You don't mean you...?
Riyyh in fact thinks he's damn lucky at this point that it was impossible, because....
Riyyh: It was just for this once. [desperately]
Prunida: ~~ shrieking anger ~~
Riyyh's eyes roll into the back of his head and he faints dead away. Again.
Nick struggles to shield Snake from the ambient with his depleted field.
Riyyh: [crash]
Prunida glares down at Riyyh, then prods him with her toe.
Prunida: He never did have any backbone.
Wise Snake watches all of this with a mixture of annoyance and disbelief.
Prunida looks down her nose at Snake, then Nick.
Prunida: Oh, well, if that was the best he could do, the Tecton probably wouldn't take him anyway.
Wise Snake has had enough.
Wise Snake: ~rage~
Wise Snake steps forward and grabs Prunida in a bent arm hold.
Wise Snake marches Prunida out of the cabin.
Wise Snake: Get! Out!
Nick hastily follows, ~~ calming ~~ Snake as best he can.
Wise Snake shoves her off the top stair and releases her.
Wise Snake: ~anger~
Wise Snake: Get out of here before I become seriously angry!
Wise Snake: I'm warning you, I am not in a patient mood today.
Nick puts a hand on Snake's arm.
Prunida falls to the ground.
Prunida: ~~ shock ~~
Nick: Snake, please, she's my grandmother. [whispers]
Wise Snake stands looking down at Prunida, white eyes blazing, Farris nager radiating a restrained [barely] fury.
Prunida has at least got the sense to stay down.
Wise Snake looks down at her a moment longer, then turns around, goes into the house and grabs Riyyh.
Riyyh: Wh--- Snake?
Wise Snake performs a cursory inspection to make sure he's conscious, then picks him up bodily and throws him out the door as well.
Nick leaves his grandmother lying on the ground and follows Snake back inside.
Nick winces just a bit as the door slams.
Riyyh manages to land more or less right-side up, and fortunately not on top of Prunida.
Nick: Oh, shen, Snake, I'm sorry.
Riyyh: ~~stunned~~
Wise Snake: What in shen was that all about? [demands]
Wise Snake: Was that woman actually related to you?
Nick: Yes. 25%, actually.
Nick: It turns out that the other 75% is Riyyh.
Wise Snake's eyes widen.
Wise Snake: You're kidding me!
Nick: I wish I was.
Riyyh gets up, and checks himself for broken limbs and mussed hairdo and clothes, not necessarily in that order.
Wise Snake: So when she said she spent 40 years making you....
Prunida also struggles to her feet.
Nick: She's been trying to breed a Donor for two generations.
Wise Snake: Off Riyyh??
Wise Snake: Why him?
Nick: Yes.
Prunida: The nerve of that woman!
Nick: I suppose because he could be bullied into it.
Wise Snake: Maybe she couldn't find another man who was willing...
Wise Snake snorts.
Riyyh: I'm terribly sorry. ~shaken~
Prunida: Oh, well, I wash my hands of the ungrateful boy.
Riyyh has heard that line before.
Nick makes his way to the couch and sinks down, shaking with reaction.
Wise Snake frowns thoughtfully.
Nick: At least she's gone now. Thank you for that.
Wise Snake: Did you notice any... well, no, you wouldn't have.
Riyyh: Might I offer you some tea and a pastry perhaps?
Prunida: If he ever decides to make something of himself, I'm sure he'll come running to Grandma, as usual.
Nick: Notice what?
Wise Snake: I mean, you're so closely related, did you notice anything different in transfer?
Wise Snake wonders if they would have been fairly close matches, had Riyyh been pushed as hard as Nick.
Wise Snake finds it hard to believe, but then again anything is possible.
Prunida longs to storm off the property in proper style, but she's not as young as she was, and she's already had a lot of travel getting to Naros.
Prunida: Oh, very well. ~~ grudging ~~
Nick: Different how?
Riyyh smiles timidly.
Wise Snake: You'd have to tell me.
Wise Snake: Smoother, more natural, no questions necessary to ask?
Wise Snake: More fulfillment?
Wise Snake being in hard need is eager to talk about Gens and transfers.
Nick: It was slow, as I expected.
Nick: The feedback was a little more intense than usual.
Wise Snake nods.
Nick: I thought it was because I overmatched Riyyh so much.
Riyyh: She tried, well,
Nick: I... never have come close to satisfying you like that.
Riyyh has never really found a delicate way to say this.
Riyyh: She tried to murder me, for trying to get Nick to pledge Naros.
Riyyh thinks under the circumstances he shouldn't mention he hadn't really done such a thing, at least not before Nick had already talked about being unsatisfied with Snake.
Riyyh: She's rather unstable.
Wise Snake: Probably not, you out rate him significantly.
Prunida sniffs.
Prunida: That's the sort of behavior I'd expect, from a vulgar girl like that.
Prunida: Street trash.
Nick: The feedback did make it seem a bit more satisfying than it actually was.
Riyyh: Actually it's very sad, she could have been so much more.
Riyyh: But her childhood, and events since then... well.
Riyyh: ~regret~
Nick is once more forcibly reminded of the leftover selyn, as it responds to Snake's need.
Prunida is ~~ not the least regretful ~~
Prunida: Trash.
Wise Snake eyes Nick.
Wise Snake: I'd better take your field down, after my transfer.
Wise Snake wouldn't want to have to try it beforehand.
Nick nods.
Riyyh: She is ambrov Zeor.
Prunida: She wasn't wearing the ring.
Riyyh: She doesn't wear it often, but I've seen it.
Nick: I suppose that's best.
Wise Snake: It is if you want us to be in phase for next month.
Wise Snake would also like to take the selyn into town and spend it on a little something, if she gets the chance to slip away.
Riyyh takes Prunida back to the Dining Hall, which is currently rather empty of folks.
Mostan is eating some porridge listlessly.
Prunida decides that she is overcome with nerves at the lowbrow company her grandson is keeping.
Riyyh would like to say he didn't think Snake would get upset or he wouldn't have brought Prunida to speak to her, but that just isn't true.
Prunida: ~~ nerves ~~
Prunida: (or maybe ~~ histrionics ~~ would be a better description)
Riyyh re-zlins Prunida in surprise at the sudden change.
Riyyh: Are you all right...?
Riyyh guides her quickly to the nearest chair, which happens to be at Mostan's table.
Prunida: The nerve of her, throwing me out on the ground.
Riyyh: Well, she did ask you to leave first, [points out]
Riyyh: ~~soothing~~
Prunida: And that ungrateful boy let her!
Prunida: Her so-called Companion's very own grandmother, who raised him, and his mother.
Mostan looks up.
Prunida does not add "and arranged for them to be sired by you".
Riyyh casts an apologetic glance at Mostan.
Riyyh: Really, Prunida, I am sure it was just their overwhelming surprise at meeting you here, so suddenly....
Nick puts his face in his hands.
Riyyh: ~~placating~~
Mostan zlins around at other, empty tables.
Nick: Grandmother Pru. I thought I'd seen the last of her ten years ago.
Prunida: The boy's never had manners.
Prunida then realizes what that implies about her childrearing skills.
Mostan is ~~ amused ~~
Prunida: Not that I didn't try to teach them to him, mind you.
Riyyh takes Prunida's hands and looks earnestly at her.
Riyyh: Of course... of course.
Mostan reaches for his tea.
Riyyh: You have done everything in your power to shape him and guide him.
Prunida: And he ran away, and ended up with a street child, instead of being a real Donor.
Riyyh: I zlin your disappointment. I'm sorry.
Riyyh: ~sincere~
Prunida: You always are.
Wise Snake, who is much calmer now, considers.
Wise Snake: Are we, er, going to be having more of these surprises?
Prunida: Oh, why couldn't he have turned out like....
Prunida: Well, like him.
Prunida nods at Mostan.
Riyyh does a double take, then looks at Mostan.
Prunida: At least he's polite enough not to interrupt.
Mostan politely raises his glass.
Riyyh seems to recall that, according to his file, Mostan didn't even know he was a channel until he'd been nabbed for running a Gen transfer ring in the seediest part of Bender Cove.
Riyyh: He is very polite. [agrees]
Mostan thinks 'If you only knew.'
Nick: Well, it seems that Grandma and Riyyh are my only relatives, back two generations.
Nick: I hope so, anyway.
Wise Snake: Hmmm.
Nick: I'm not sure how many more of these surprises I can take.
Wise Snake studies Nick.
Wise Snake: You know, you don't look that much like him.
Wise Snake: Too masculine.
Wise Snake: Perhaps that was your grandmother's contribution.
Nick: It's the beard.
Wise Snake: Ah. [nods]
Nick strokes his chin.
Wise Snake pauses.
Wise Snake: When did you grow a beard?
Mostan sips at his tea, thoughtfully considering if he should yield to the temptation to tell this woman just how conventional his life has been.
Nick: When you were unconscious, of course. I couldn't leave you long enough to shave. You mean you never noticed?
Wise Snake looks sheepish, a rare expression for her.
Wise Snake: Well, actually I do remember somebody mentioning....
Nick looks at the snake in sheep's expression.
Nick: Trust you not to notice.
Nick: ~~ affection ~~
Mostan decides not to, thinking that it isn't prudent to antagonize your Sectuib.
Riyyh zlins Prunida to make sure she is doing better now.
Prunida: Now if... that girl... had been raised like him, she'd have known it was her duty to let Nick seek his proper destiny.
Mostan realizes what he was just thinking.
Riyyh blinks.
Riyyh: Well, yes, I imagine that might be true, but she can't help having been an orphan.
Riyyh: ~kindness~
Mostan realizes that he has made his decision to pledge Naros, without realizing it.
Prunida: Right, young man? You'd send any promising Donor-Gen straight to the Tecton for training, wouldn't you?
Prunida: Not try to keep him for yourself.
Riyyh: Er...
Riyyh: ~~pleads the 5th~~
Riyyh feels sorry for Mostan having gotten dragged into this.
Riyyh: Mostan, this is Prunida Elliss, Nick's grandmother.
Riyyh: Prunida, Mostan is a Third Order Tecton channel.
Mostan: Pleased to meet you.
Prunida beams at Mostan.
Prunida: Such a polite young man.
Mostan is still trying to assimilate that they are talking about Nick and Wise Snake here.
Mostan: Thank you.
Mostan hopes she won't notice he didn't answer her question.
Prunida: I tried to raise Nick right, but he never would listen.
Prunida is struck by a thought.
Prunida: You don't think it was....
Prunida: No, no, it couldn't be.
Prunida: Listening is one thing you do have in abundance, Riyyh.
Riyyh smiles, genuinely flattered by the compliment.
Riyyh: Thank you.
Riyyh's tentacles curl around her wrists, reinforcing his thanks.
Mostan doesn't see any difficulty in deducing where Nick got his bullheadedness.
Mostan reflects that Nick certainly must require it to handle Wise Snake.
Prunida looks down and reclaims her hands.
Prunida: Well, it's too late to start back tonight.
Prunida: I suppose I'll have to stay over.
Riyyh looks truly regretful.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Riyyh: We've kept you too long, my apologies.
Riyyh: And the guest cabins are full, oh dear.
Prunida eyes Riyyh speculatively, gauging his condition.
Riyyh thinks the number of guests they have on hand is quite preposterous.
Riyyh thinks the number of really difficult guests with peculiar health requirements and/or political agendas is even more preposterous.
Prunida: At least my scapegrace grandson appears to have done something right.
Riyyh has the grace to look somewhat embarrassed.
Prunida: I seem to remember that there is plenty of room at your house.
Riyyh: Yes, he out rates me considerably, and... ~surprise~
Riyyh zlins her again to make sure he didn't misunderstand.
Prunida reaches out and clamps a tentacle around Riyyh's wrist.
Prunida: I already had my bags delivered there.
Riyyh: ~astonishment~
Riyyh winces at the tight grip.
Riyyh has always been a wimp.
Riyyh: You did?
Riyyh: ~flabbergasted~
Riyyh realizes she must have planned to stay overnight all along.
Prunida thinks that she may be old, but she's not lost all her juices, and she might as well get some satisfaction out of the trip.
Prunida: Why, yes.
Prunida: Did you have other arrangements?
Prunida's nager implies that he had better not.
Mostan thinks that Riyyh has no chance. No chance at all.
Riyyh: Wh... I... I....
Riyyh: ~help me!~
Prunida: Good.
Mostan gets up.
Riyyh grins weakly.
Riyyh: That is,
Riyyh: Are you sure it's a good....
Mostan: Excuse me, I have to get back to the dispensary.
Riyyh: Oh, er, well, good day then, Mostan, ~help me!~
Prunida gets to her feet, pulling Riyyh along.
Prunida: Of course I am.
Prunida: You go right ahead, young man.
Prunida: It's been a pleasure meeting you.
Prunida: Come now, Riyyh, show me the way.
Prunida ignores the Sime inability to become lost.
Riyyh: ~eep~
Mostan turns to go, but then pauses. "Oh, Sectuib Riyyh? I've decided to accept your kind offer of the other month."
Riyyh looks over his shoulder as Prunida drags him toward the door.
Riyyh: My offer...?
Mostan figures Riyyh could use some good news.
Riyyh: To pledge Naros?
Mostan: ~~ Yes ~~
Prunida waves Mostan away.
Riyyh is receding rapidly into the distance.
Prunida: He's mine for tonight, young man.
Prunida: You can have him in the morning.
Riyyh: Oh... we'll talk about this later! ~helplessly~
Riyyh gets dragged out the door.
Riyyh: Really, you don't have to hold on so tightly.
Mostan just doubts Riyyh will be in condition for important business tomorrow morning.
Mostan shrugs and busses his tray.
Prunida heads briskly for Riyyh's house, dragging him behind her.
Riyyh augments slightly to keep up, and close enough to not lose the hand.
Mostan heads back to the dispensary.
Riyyh: Well, you've certainly remained... vigorous.
Prunida: That I have. There's life in the old girl yet, never fear.
Riyyh tries to pry off the painful tentacle, without much success.
Prunida has no trouble finding the way to the house, despite her request for an escort.
Riyyh: ~~appeasing~~
Riyyh: Would you like some tea?
Riyyh: It would only take a few minutes to prepare.
Prunida decides that it has been a strenuous afternoon for both of them, and tea for two is romantic enough to be a good preliminary.
Riyyh opens the door for Prunida.
Prunida: Yes, please. You always did have good tea, Riyyh.
Prunida: That was the first thing I noticed about you.
Prunida: Well, almost.
Prunida surveys Riyyh's bod and nager with proprietary interest.
Riyyh appears to have been treated extremely well by the years, or at least has put a good deal of effort into cheating them.
Riyyh has recently had a really good transfer.
Riyyh: Please, would you like to have a seat?
Prunida smiles at the zlin of Riyyh's nager.
Riyyh gestures to the couch.
Prunida: My grandson really did well by you, didn't he?
Riyyh: [with his free hand]
Riyyh: Well yes, he's quite a, quite a Gen.
Riyyh avoids the inflammatory "D" word.
Prunida lets the hand go, caressing it lightly as she does so.
Riyyh smiles at her, trying to hide his nerves, and massages the hand also. [mostly to bring some circulation back into it].
Riyyh: I'll be right back. [promises, as he backs away toward the kitchen]
Riyyh turns and scurries in.
Prunida is actually rather proud of the way her grandson managed to get around her plans for him while fulfilling them at the same time, but she'd never admit it.
Riyyh puts some water on to boil and selects the tea, then dawdles nervously over arranging a tray of cut vegetables.
Prunida waits with the patience of a cat by a rabbit hole, keeping the kitchen door in full sight at all times.
Riyyh was terrified of Prunida when she was 13, terrified of Prunida when she was 26,and some things just never change.
Riyyh sighs as the water starts boiling, and carefully removes the pot and pours the water into the cups of leaves.
Riyyh adds the tea to the tray and comes back out into the living room.
Prunida: ~~ nostalgia ~~
Riyyh: It's been a long time since we were both in this house.
Riyyh: I'm a little nervous. [admits]
Riyyh sets the tray down on the coffee table.
Riyyh may have just made the understatement of the month, if not the year.
Prunida reaches for a veggie.
Riyyh smiles apologetically.
Prunida: Don't be. I can't blame you for Nick's stubbornness.
Prunida: We both know he got that from me.
Riyyh sits down, turning his full attention to Prunida.
Prunida pours tea for both of them.
Prunida: My favorite blend. You remembered.
Prunida: ~~ gratified ~~
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh: [some part of Riyyh's mind does wonder why he's working so hard to please her, when all she's ever done is driven him crazy and caused him trouble, but he really doesn't know any other way to act around a person.]
Riyyh: How could I forget?
Riyyh: ~gentle~
Prunida smiles and extends a tentacle to trace Riyyh's chin.
Prunida: You always were a romantic.
Prunida: ~~ looking for a little romance ~~
Riyyh's eyes and nager take on a little bit of a glint at the feel of that caress.
Riyyh: And you, my dear, were always anything but. But I expect that is what makes you so effective.
Riyyh: ~fondness~
Prunida chuckles and sits back.
Prunida: Finish your tea, Riyyh. And then I'll show you just how effective I can be.
Prunida: ~~ promise ~~
Riyyh doesn't reach out to her, remembering she prefers to set the pace.
Riyyh picks up his tea cup instead, and sips, smiling into it.