Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #65: Selyn Slamdunk (11/22/98)
Halawees signals at the door of Snake's cottage.
Nick is trying to keep Snake calm as they wait for Halawees and Kenmore.
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Nick thinks it's just as well that he isn't high field right now.
Wise Snake: Nick, really.
Wise Snake thinks he's getting a bit obsessive about jumping on supporting her every time the Farrises leave for 5 minutes.
Halawees wishes that someone would open the door or something.
Halawees: I don't see why I have to stand waiting out here [mumbles]
Nick raises a questioning eyebrow.
Wise Snake: I'm not going to kill anybody.
Halawees: Shen, I should just walk away, see how they like that.
Wise Snake gets up to answer the door.
Halawees: Well, there you are!
Wise Snake: Halawees!
Wise Snake: ~~boy am I glad to see you~~
Halawees: I thought that maybe you weren't aware that I was out here or something.
Halawees: Here is the book. I hope that it helps.
Wise Snake looks at the book in confusion.
Halawees hands Snake "Addicted to Pain: One Junct's Story."
Wise Snake takes the book.
Nick lets his support drop as Halawees enters.
Wise Snake: Addicted to pain?
Wise Snake hopes she isn't going to have to read this before she's allowed transfer.
Wise Snake enjoys great literature as much as the next person, but it's possible to take Zeor discipline too far.
Wise Snake closes the door and follows Halawees.
Halawees: Now are you comfortable dear? Is there anything you would like? Curtains right for you? Warm enough?
Nick makes a mental note to make sure he gets a chance at the book when Snake's done with it.
Wise Snake: It's fine.
Wise Snake isn't used to making sure the environment is right first before taking transfer.
Wise Snake absently hands the book to Nick.
Wise Snake: Is Kenmore going to be monitoring?
Nick takes the book and puts it on top of the stack of others that Kenmore has brought over.
Halawees: He said so, but I think he got caught up in the infirmary or something.
Halawees: He might be here in time.
Halawees: Do you have any particular position you like?
Wise Snake has never had transfer in any but the standard position.
Wise Snake: The regular one is fine.
Nick: Would you both like some tea?
Halawees: Let me see - do you like this? Or this better? or maybe this?
Halawees makes subtle changes in her nager.
Halawees: Hmmm, how about this?
Wise Snake wonders if Halawees would be offended if she just grabbed her.
Wise Snake: Well, that's, er,
Wise Snake: ~~ambivalent~~
Halawees: ~ taunting ~
Halawees flicks around a bit more.
Wise Snake thinks, that's it.
Wise Snake grabs Halawees.
Halawees: ~ oh my ~
Nick isn't used to seeing Snake so hesitant, and relaxes when she attacks.
Halawees: Now now, not yet.
Halawees: ~ just wait ~
Wise Snake's lips abort mission on seizing a 5th contact at the last possible moment.
Wise Snake grunts.
Wise Snake: Why not?
Wise Snake does have some self-control, fortunately.
Halawees pats her arm, "Because waiting is good for you."
Wise Snake scowls.
Wise Snake: All right.
Halawees: ~ ripples ~
Wise Snake isn't about to let go, however.
Halawees: A cup of tea sounds wonderful thank you Nick.
Wise Snake would have preferred it if Nick had waited a few days and given Riyyh transfer after Snake had had hers, although she does realize there would be certain problems presented by that approach.
Halawees maneuvers Snake around a little to a more comfortable position.
Wise Snake: Tea?
Wise Snake wonders what kind of a game this is.
Nick wonders how Halawees intends to drink tea with her arms occupied.
Halawees: Now, do we have towels ready?
Nick figures that they can drink the tea afterwards, though, and steps into the kitchen to put the water on.
Wise Snake manages to reduce her intil by sheer willpower.
Halawees flicks Snake gently with her nager as she sits.
Wise Snake: Towels? Well, I don't usually....
Wise Snake goes hyper as Halawees' nager teases her.
Halawees: No towels?
Halawees: Well, all right then.
Halawees: ~ hold it ~
Wise Snake somehow ends up duoconscious again.
Wise Snake: ~confused~
Nick sets out cups and measures a Zeor blend into the first, a Narosian froofroo blend into the second, and a cut rate cheap blend into the third.
Halawees: Ready then?
Wise Snake clings to Halawees' arms.
Wise Snake: What do you think?
Wise Snake sounds a bit annoyed, though also unsure.
Halawees smiles and leans forward to make 5th contact.
Wise Snake eagerly meets her halfway.
Wise Snake: ~relief~
Halawees waits for Snake to settle....
Wise Snake's laterals lick out.
Nick stands near the kitchen door and watches.
Halawees: ~ push/shove/slam selyn in there ~
Halawees: ~ here, have this ~
Wise Snake starts to draw, and is taken by surprise when Halawees seizes control.
Halawees: ~ wham ~
Wise Snake's nerves screech as Halawees inputs selyn faster than Snake can comfortably receive it.
Halawees: ~ satisfaction ~
Wise Snake's draw ends rather sooner as usual, due to everything happening much more quickly than usual.
Halawees holds her firmly.
Halawees: How's the tea coming along dear?
Nick: It's steeping.
Wise Snake clutches Halawees as she slides into hypoconsciousness.
Halawees smiles at him and looks back at Snake.
Nick checks Snake for signs of postsyndrome.
Halawees: You all right, dear?
Wise Snake's eyes open.
Wise Snake: That was....
Wise Snake starts to smile, then slumps over forward into Halawees' arms and passes out.
Nick: ~~ alarm ~~
Nick: What happened?
Halawees: Oh dear!
Halawees: I think....
Halawees: Go get Kenmore, Nick!
Halawees lets Snake slump in her arms.
Nick sprints for the infirmary.
Nick pounds into the infirmary.
Kenmore washes his hands after a sticky changeover.
Nick: Kenmore! Snake's passed out!
Kenmore: Oh? She had transfer already then?
Kenmore: ~ concern ~
Kenmore: I thought that they would wait!
Nick: They didn't.
Kenmore wipes his hands and drops the towel as he hurries [but doesn't run] out.
Kenmore: Oh well. Don't get too upset Nick, I'm sure that she will be fine.
Nick strides after.
Nick: Do channels normally pass out after your cousin gives them transfer?
Kenmore: Well, it's been known to happen, usually only the first time though.
Nick takes the steps to the guest cottage in one jump.
Kenmore opens the door and walks in, zlinning Snake as he goes.
Nick does not find Kenmore's remarks about his cousin terribly reassuring.
Halawees shrugs apologetically.
Kenmore: She isn't too far away. [adjusts Snakes field to bring her around]
Wise Snake stirs.
Nick looks to see if Snake is still in hibernation.
Wise Snake: What the... unnh.
Nick hovers anxiously.
Halawees: There you are, dear!
Wise Snake pushes herself up and looks around woozily.
Halawees: Now, how about letting go of my arms?
Wise Snake: Oh, my head.
Wise Snake: What?
Halawees: You have cut off the circulation!
Wise Snake looks down at Halawees' arms, then disengages clumsily.
Wise Snake: Sorry.
Wise Snake rarely says "sorry" for anything.
Kenmore takes Snake's neck in his hand and runs his tentacles across her scalp.
Halawees rubs her arms. "Quite all right, dear."
Halawees: How are you feeling, pet?
Nick would gladly exchange the unaccustomed display of etiquette for even a mild version of what he saw with Riyyh after their transfer.
Wise Snake: Pretty good... and pretty bad. [admits]
Wise Snake tries to grin.
Wise Snake: Thank you.
Wise Snake: I wasn't expecting....
Kenmore: No, you weren't.
Kenmore: How's the headache now?
Halawees gets up and heads for the kitchen to wash her arms and check on the tea.
Nick wonders if he should get fosebine.
Wise Snake: I'm sure it'll be gone in no time.
Wise Snake would gladly suffer for good transfers.
Wise Snake of course knows this can't happen too many months in a row but one is certainly acceptable.
Wise Snake smiles.
Wise Snake thinks, maybe even two or three would be acceptable.
Kenmore zlins her again and is pleased with what he sees.
Nick gradually relaxes as he sees that Snake really is all right, pretty much.
Riyyh crawls stealthily out of bed.
Prunida blinks and opens her eyes.
Prunida: Oh, were you going to get some tea, dear?
Prunida: I do so like having a man around.
Riyyh had been doing to get ready to go in to his office, but....
Riyyh smiles weakly.
Riyyh: Of course.
Prunida stretches smugly like a very elderly cat.
Riyyh: Let me go do that.
Riyyh disappears down the stairs briefly.
Prunida looks around the bedroom, reflecting that it really is more comfortable than an inn, or even her room at home.
Riyyh: [sounds of pot being put on stove, etc.]
Prunida reflects that she could make her own room this nice with the bounty fee the Tecton pays the families of Donors.
Prunida decides that she might as well stick around for a week or two, and enjoy the accommodations as she sees if she can talk some sense into Nick.
Riyyh returns a few minutes later with tea, biscuits, etc.
Riyyh puts the tray on the bed beside Prunida.
Riyyh: Here you are.
Prunida: Oh, biscuits! How thoughtful.
Prunida: You always make me... hungry.
Prunida smiles at Riyyh.
Riyyh smiles at her, looking absolutely charming if a bit rumpled.
Prunida: ~~ only temporarily banked desire ~~
Riyyh: I have to go in to the office. I should prepare... you don't mind, do you?
Prunida sips the tea.
Prunida: Oh, go right ahead. I know you're busy, what with being a Sectuib and all.
Riyyh smiles and gets up, goes into the wardrobe.
Prunida: I expect you have to go take donations and give transfers and things.
Riyyh: Well, a little of that, and of course there's all the administrative work... [calls out]
Prunida: Oh, I don't see why your Donor can't handle the paperwork while he's doing all that standing around that Donors do.
Riyyh: Mytag's not just standing around, Prunida. [admonishes, amused]
Riyyh: He's helping me manage my nager.
Prunida: Ah. Well, I'm sure he's a big help.
Riyyh emerges from the wardrobe and goes into the bathroom.
Prunida think that Riyyh looks delightfully rumpled, and debates waylaying him on the way to the office.
Riyyh begins his elaborate, 2 hour long morning grooming process.
Riyyh would be purring contentedly if he were a cat.
Kadi is purring contentedly, on Riyyh's hand towel.
Riyyh pats her head ritualistically, then goes to fetch another hand towel from the cabinet.
Riyyh couldn't bear to move the cat to get the other one.
Riyyh just isn't that mean.
Kadi stretches, appreciating the way Riyyh really respects a cat's right to sleep where she wants.
Kadi shows her appreciation by moving off the hand towel voluntarily.
Kadi the settles on Riyyh's carefully folded clothes, shedding expertly all over them.
Kadi kneads the pile of clothes, blinking contentedly up at Riyyh as he returns with his new hand towel.
Riyyh sees Kadi lying on his clothes and sighs unhappily.
Riyyh wishes he'd remembered to use the new system he'd set up, involving hanging the clothes on a peg.
Riyyh: [it takes a long time to teach an old dog new tricks]
Riyyh of course knows better than to try to remove the cat from any cloth surface which can be easily ripped.
Kadi is satisfied with the degree of shed, and goes over to sniff Riyyh.
Riyyh puts down the hand towel and picks up his brush, starts fiddling with his long, silvery hair.
Kadi notes a new smell on him, and headstrokes his legs vigorously to assert her own claim.
Riyyh: Oh, hello, kitty.
Riyyh bends down to pet her.
Riyyh is not getting very far in his grooming process.
Kadi purrs and headstrokes the hand.
Kadi figures that now the issue of ownership is over, it's time to start making use of her property.
Kadi goes over to her food dish and yowls.
Riyyh: Oh dear. You've run out again. I'll go fetch more.
Riyyh puts down his brush and goes to the catproof cabinet where the food is kept.
Riyyh fetches the food and fills the cat's dish.
Riyyh: I'm terribly sorry for the oversight. [to Kadi]
Kadi follows just to make sure he doesn't forget which cabinet it is, and then settles down to eating.
Riyyh also rinses and refills the water bowl.
Riyyh returns to the sink and picks up his brush again.
Riyyh is beginning to think he'll have to skip the before-bath hair brushing, as time is ticking away.
Prunida: Oh, Riyyh, dear! [called out from the bedroom]
Riyyh jumps and almost drops the brush.
Riyyh hurries out into the bedroom.
Riyyh: Yes, Prunida?
Prunida: You will come back for lunch, won't you?
Riyyh looks slightly confused.
Riyyh: Weren't you to travel, this morning?
Prunida: Oh, there's no real hurry to get back.
Riyyh: I usually have lunch with Mytag, you see....
Prunida: And I haven't seen you or Nick in years.
Riyyh: Oh, I see.
Riyyh: ~worried~
Prunida: Oh, bring Mytag along.
Prunida: I always like lots of... company.
Riyyh: I don't know if that's such a good... er....
Riyyh blinks.
Riyyh: All right.
Prunida: ~~ anticipatory smile ~~
Prunida: He's such a handsome man. Looks a bit like you, you know.
Riyyh: He's my... well, I'll tell him you said so. [smiles]
Riyyh turns around and goes back into the bathroom.
see note 1
Riyyh has finally made it to his office, about 3 hours late.
Riyyh is, however, impeccably groomed and clothed.
Jamalas is not, however.
Jamalas tends to forget about things like tucking in shirts and shaving.
Riyyh is well aware that rumors are already flying about Prunida Elliss, Nick's grandmother, especially since she has yet to emerge from the house.
Riyyh is putting the finishing touches on the big invoice to Zeor for all the insulation, medicines, pills, doses, special foods, special cleaning supplies, emergency kits, etc. due to Snake, Kenmore and Dahlia's prolonged visit.
Jamalas enters the admin building, and hesitates outside of the Sectuib's office.
Riyyh is glad Kenmore was so kind about the whole financial thing.
Riyyh carefully signs the document, the bit he usually forgets and makes Wolfa rip out her hair over.
Jamalas is not sure that it is a good idea to ask for money for the school, he normally has left that to other people.
Jamalas starts to turn around, walks three steps. Turns back around.
Jamalas straightens back, strides three steps, starts to signal stridently, hesitates... and signals gingerly.
Riyyh: Come in!
Riyyh finishes the last signature and closes the ledger, setting it aside in his "Out" basket.
Jamalas opens door.
Riyyh lays the invoice on top of it.
Riyyh: Jamalas! Hello.
Riyyh: ~kind greeting~
Jamalas opens door, pokes head through.
Jamalas: Sectuib!
Jamalas: May I come in?
Riyyh: Of course.
Riyyh smiles at the teacher.
Jamalas: What did you think of the idea of the Musicale?
Riyyh: I thought it was a fine idea.
Riyyh always supports any ideas for festivals or parties.
Riyyh nods.
Jamalas: Linn sounds enthusiastic.
Riyyh: That is good. She required something to keep her occupied and that sounds like just the thing.
Riyyh: ~pleased~
Jamalas: It will be good to work with her. She understands languages.
Riyyh is troubled by Jamalas' slovenly appearance, but hides it well.
Riyyh: I'm glad the two of you have hit it off.
Riyyh: ~sincere~
Riyyh: Would you like to have a seat?
Riyyh: Some tea?
Jamalas sits.
Riyyh isn't sure if this is a hit-and-run or if Jamalas has to talk about something serious.
Riyyh can never tell with the teaching staff.
Jamalas: Some tea would be great.
Riyyh jumps up to get Jamalas some tea.
Jamalas: Linn had some ideas for the Genlan classes.
Jamalas: Did she talk with you about them yet?
Riyyh measures the leaves and pours heated water into the cups.
Riyyh: No, but I had expected her to be relatively autonomous, or to speak to you and Dennifa if she had any questions, [explains]
Jamalas: Well, some of the ideas involve new books....
Riyyh: Is that so?
Riyyh carefully brings one cup of tea over to Jamalas.
Jamalas: You know the school makes do with what we have.
Riyyh: Yes, of course.
Jamalas: Usually.
Riyyh brings the other up back to his desk.
Riyyh sits down and turns his full attention to Jamalas.
Jamalas: But in some areas it would be a good idea to update.
Jamalas: Like in language studies.
Riyyh: I see.
Riyyh nods.
Jamalas: So the students have a good sense of the current culture.
Jamalas: And not some imagined, obsolete culture that existed 70 years ago, if at all.
Riyyh begins to get the idea that this isn't a friendly visit at the words "some imagined, obsolete culture that existed 70 years ago, if at all".
Riyyh naturally begins to feel slightly nervous.
Jamalas is unsure if Riyyh is really listening, or just appearing to.
Riyyh is always really listening.
Riyyh: Are the current texts really that bad?
Jamalas: Well, I've been making due, with mine.
Jamalas: But it is always easier to add in information about Sime Cultures.
Jamalas: Since it is all around them.
Jamalas: Here, I mean.
Riyyh looks to see if Jamalas brought samples of the offending materials.
Jamalas: But the Genlan books....
Jamalas lifts up a copy of a second group book.
Jamalas got a copy from the school.
Riyyh: May I see it?
Jamalas: Sure. You see here, it isn't even talking about current Gen Territory at all, but about the Ancients.
Riyyh of course recognizes the book, after all the same ones were in use when he was a small child some 45-50 years ago.
Riyyh accepts the book and pages through it.
Jamalas: It pretends that modern Gen culture does not exist at all.
Riyyh: Well, this is fictional of course, but... I see what you mean. You would like some literature that teaches both the language and the current society?
Jamalas: Yes. Linn had several book ideas. But we wait so long for books, Linn might have to teach out of these for years, if we just put her books on order.
Riyyh wonders why, year after year, decade after decade, people come to him after harvest with additions to the budgets they should have submitted wholly 2 months before.
Jamalas wants very much for Linn to get what she wants.
Jamalas wants Linn to like it here.
Riyyh hands the book back to Jamalas thoughtfully.
Jamalas: I am not sure what can be done....
Jamalas: I don't generally handle book orders. I just thought.
Riyyh: Well of course, as you certainly know, the reason it takes so long is because we must wait until we are prepared to pay for new acquisitions before we can order them.
Riyyh: And as you also must know, Mytag has spent a considerable amount of time updating the agricultural and Donor training texts this year.
Riyyh: Are you sure this can't wait until next year?
Riyyh's voice is kind and gentle as always.
Riyyh is ~sincere~ as always.
Jamalas: Perhaps we could order just one or two books, that Linn could use as a basis.
Riyyh considers.
Riyyh: Well, that sounds reasonable.
Jamalas: So she wouldn't have to start from absolute scratch.
Riyyh: Of course, her own background, having lived in Gen Territory and so forth... well.
Riyyh: Do you have a list?
Jamalas remembers some of the names.
Jamalas: Linn has the whole list, I could get it from her, check which ones she most wanted.
Riyyh: That would be fine.
Jamalas: I didn't want to bring it up with her if there was no chance!
Jamalas: So we could order a few?
Riyyh thinks, he'll see how much is left after the summer tools are repaired and/or replaced, the pump is replaced, the snowplow is sharpened, the new stallion is purchased, the road outside the walls is repaired, the new people are acclimated and the money from the fall crops comes back from the brokers.
Riyyh: Of course. ~kindly~
Jamalas thinks, at least that way Linn wouldn't take his home for completely out of touch!
Jamalas: Oh that is good! Thank you Sectuib.
Riyyh smiles, pleased that Jamalas has been satisfied.
Jamalas: By the way, are there any songs you would like for the Musicale?
Riyyh: I am sure that whatever you choose will be splendid.
Riyyh is constitutionally unable to dislike any music.
Riyyh: [especially when performed by people he knows]
Jamalas wishes Linn would share some of the songs she knows, however "unsuitable".
Riyyh: Ah... that reminds me.
Riyyh: There is a fellow, Bumanuel Altavista. Have you met him?
Riyyh: One of Wise Snake's people?
Jamalas: I don't think I have.
Jamalas: My project takes up so much of my time, you know.
Riyyh would not ordinarily insult a Narosian by implying they might not be up on the local gossip or know somebody who has been there for 2 months, but then Jamalas is a bit, er, focused on his work.
Jamalas: Why do you ask?
Riyyh: Bum Bum seems to be a bit of an expert on, er, the sorts of words and songs that interest you.
Jamalas: Does he sing?
Riyyh: Not for the musicale, mind you. [hastily]
Riyyh: For your personal work.
Jamalas: Oh! Good! Where can I find him??
Jamalas: ~excited~
Jamalas: ~ready to rush out the door as soon as he gets information~
Riyyh: I think he's in the Medical Center working right at the moment, [gently] but do look him up sometime.
Jamalas: Working?
Jamalas: ~restrains himself~
Riyyh smiles.
Jamalas: I guess I can wait. Do you know when he gets off shift?
Riyyh reaches for his schedule book and opens it.
Riyyh: I show him as there until noon, but you'll want to check the Medical Center's schedule to make sure.
Jamalas gets up a bit to peer over Riyyh.
Jamalas realizes he's doing it and sits down again.
Jamalas: Thank you.
Riyyh sets the book aside.
Jamalas stands up.
Jamalas: And thank you for the books, Sectuib.
Riyyh: It was my pleasure. [smiles]
Jamalas hasn't called him Riyyh since the revelations.
Jamalas: Um, I'll see you later, then.
Riyyh: Thank you for stopping by. It was good to see you. ~sincere~
Jamalas opens door.
Riyyh misses the days when Jamalas would come to him for more than just money.
Jamalas is uncomfortable, now that his purpose is accomplished.
Jamalas: Er. I'll see you later then.
Riyyh nods graciously.
Riyyh: ~it's all right~
Jamalas realizes he's been repeating himself. and ducks out the door.
Jamalas: Good bye then.
Riyyh sighs.
Notes:
1) These were technically two different sessions, but they happened end-to-end on the same night so have been combined into one episode. [return]