Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #67: Howdy, Neigh-bor (11/24/98)
Mostan tries for get his new Naros cloak to hang properly.
Prunida makes her way across the garden to the administrative building.
Prunida is pretty sure that Riyyh has been avoiding her, which is a shame, considering his condition.
Prunida licks her lips.
Mostan tries to zlin if it is hanging to the right length.
Prunida brushes some cat hair off of her sweater as she enters the building, and pats her hair to make sure it's in place.
Prunida makes her way to Riyyh's office and tries to zlin through it to make sure he's there.
Riyyh is in his office, trying to read the nearly unintelligible letter written by the woman who was sent to buy 1 stallion and came back with 2 stallions and 2 mares.
Riyyh rubs his forehead and re-reads it; the language is clear enough, it's the woman's excuse that's difficult to comprehend.
Prunida of course lacks the sensitivity to zlin through even non-Farris channel-strength insulation.
Prunida gives up and signals.
Riyyh: Come in!
Riyyh is distracted and doesn't even try to tell who it is.
Prunida opens the door.
Riyyh looks up, ready to greet the person...
Riyyh: Oh.
Riyyh: Hello, Prunida.
Prunida: Oh, Riyyh...
Riyyh looks a little bit alarmed because this is the first time she's nabbed him in the office and he's afraid this could turn into a habit.
Riyyh: How are you?
Riyyh says this as if they hadn't seen each other just 2 hours before.
Prunida smiles like a flirtations piranha.
Prunida: I'm... fine.
Riyyh: ~oh dear~
Prunida: But lonely.
Riyyh: Homesick?
Riyyh tries not to sound hopeful.
Prunida: Oh, no. Naros is so scenic, with all the fields and the garden.
Mostan wishes the colors were something other than yellow and white, but you can't have everything.
Prunida does not mention the excess of Riyyh-copies among the residents.
Mostan decides to try walking boldly through the compound to see if it will swish right.
Prunida: And it's not as if this is the busy season for me.
Prunida: My daughter is perfectly capable of handling what business there is for a few weeks.
Riyyh: Oh, I see.
Riyyh sighs, but his voice is kindly.
Prunida: And besides, what else is my son-in-law good for?
Riyyh puts down the letter.
Riyyh: Pardon me?
Prunida thinks: He proved useless enough at breeding children.
Prunida: He's good enough for helping my daughter out.
Riyyh nods.
Riyyh: Of course.
Prunida goes over to Riyyh and strokes a possessive tentacle down his well-preserved cheek.
Prunida: And I haven't seen you in so long.
Riyyh looks up at her, and smiles gently.
Riyyh: It's been two hours...
Riyyh on the one hand finds her a pest and a rather dangerous one at that, but then again he always was a softie for people giving him attention.
Riyyh: Oh, you mean since Nick was born.
Prunida smiles.
Prunida: Oh, you always were one for your little jokes.
Prunida: Yes, Nick.
Mostan moves back and forth, gauging how he looks.
Prunida: I don't suppose you'd care to try to talk some sense into the boy?
Prunida: You are his father, after all.
Riyyh wonders which jokes she is talking about, but returns the smile anyway.
Prunida considers.
Prunida: And his grandfather, as well.
Riyyh: I don't think that gives him much respect for me, [admits]
Riyyh: However, I could try.
Riyyh: What... [he wants to ask, "which brand of sense did you want me to talk about this time?"] ... what would you like me to say to him?
Prunida: Well, you say he has the potential to be a Donor, after all?
Prunida: I mean, when properly trained.
Riyyh thinks he already is one, more or less.
Riyyh: Well, yes, I think so.
Prunida: In that case, perhaps you could convince him that he should get himself a real job with the Tecton, and settle down.
Riyyh has no idea why Prunida imagines Nick would be willing to change; he is, after all, carving out his own little kingdom in the world, much in the way Prunida did herself, and there probably isn't much that will stop him.
Prunida: I mean, partnering a rogue channel may sound romantic, but it doesn't put food on the table.
Prunida: At least, not the kind of food a Gen consumes.
Riyyh: Actually, it probably does. Most channels generally can't stand the zlin of a hungry Gen.
Riyyh chuckles.
Prunida: Well, but that assumes that there's food available, and money to buy it with.
Riyyh is sure Snake doesn't let the money problem stop her.
Riyyh: Of course.
Riyyh nods.
Riyyh: Well, I will speak to him if you like.
Prunida: Oh, thank you.
Prunida purrs almost as well as Kadi as she strokes Riyyh's cheek again.
Prunida: You certainly don't look like a grandfather.
Riyyh beams, flattered.
Riyyh: Why thank you. You are so thoughtful, Prunida.
Riyyh thinks that sounds ridiculous considering who he's talking to, but one must stick with the forms of speech, after all.
Prunida: I hope you won't stay in this dreary office shuffling papers all day.
Riyyh: I promise I won't. ~promise~
Prunida construes that to mean that Riyyh plans to stop by the house in a bit.
Prunida: I'll see you later, then.
Prunida waves in what she fondly believes is a girlish fashion and slips out of the office.
Riyyh thinks he can have that talk with Nick on the way to speak to Rachel about the horses.
Riyyh is amazingly good at doing one chore to avoid doing a more heinous one.
Riyyh carefully folds the excuse-ful letter and sticks it in his pocket.
Riyyh checks and makes sure Prunida hasn't mussed his hair, and studiously combs a few strands just-so.
Riyyh knows a House wants to see a healthy, cheerful, and neat Sectuib.
Riyyh then leaves his office, heading for the last place he saw Nick.
Mostan sweeps past the administration building.
Riyyh: Mostan! Hello. [smiles]
Riyyh: You look quite grand today.
Mostan bows formally. "Good Morning, Sectuib."
Riyyh grins at the greeting.
Riyyh: How have you been?
Riyyh is even better at totally avoiding all chores and simply being nice to people he happens to run into.
Mostan: I've been doing well since the ceremony.
Riyyh: That's great. [nods]
Nick is still on the porch of the guest cottage, reading Addicted to Pain while Kenmore and Snake do their morning exercises inside.
Mostan: How are you today?
Riyyh: A little tired, but otherwise excellent.
Mostan: Glad to hear that.
Riyyh had a great transfer a few days ago and has been harassed by Nick's rather, er, active Grandmother ever since.
Mostan is a week short of need and in good spirits despite it.
Mostan reflects that as he saw there other day, there is a downside to being such a lady's man as Riyyh.
Riyyh smiles ruefully.
Jasin rides slowly down the road towards Naros.
Riyyh spots Nick sitting on the porch, in the distance, and tries not to hear Prunida's voice asking him why he never got around to talking to Nick.
Riyyh: Where are you off to?
Riyyh thinks Mostan was actually going somewhere when they ran into each other.
Jasin is a young channel with a bad attitude who is contemplating various and sundry ways of doing away with a few Tecton officials.
Jasin straightens in his saddle as he approaches the gates of Householding Naros.
Jasin runs tentacles through reddish brown hair in a useless attempt to groom it.
Hero: Oooh!!! I want to get the gate I want to get it!!
Hero rushes down the stairs, finally leaving the poor gatekeeper at peace.
Jasin: I sure hope my informant was telling the truth, Jasin mutters.
Mostan: Nowhere, why?
Hero bounces up and down eagerly, waiting for it to open so she can glom the helpless fellow on the other side.
Hero does enjoy greeting the new people. Who wouldn't? That way you get all your information first.
Mostan: Oh, the cloak. Just getting the hang of the new colors.
Jasin pulls up in front of the gate and waits, sure that his presence has been noted.
Riyyh: You look great in it. ~sincere~
Hero flies out the gates as soon as they're open wide enough.
Hero: Hi!! You must be Jasin, I read your name off the list, I'm Hero. How are you? Where's your stuff? Is that your horse?
Mostan: Thank you.
Hero is a 12 year old female Gen with a big smile and an even bigger mouth. Really!
Hero: ~~cheerful~~
Mostan: No, I'm just resting between collectorium shifts.
Jasin smiles. "Hello Hero, Yes my name is Jasin."
Jasin: I'm fine, don't have much stuff, and yes this is my horse.
Jasin: ~now anyway~
Jasin slides off the horse and smiles at the youngster.
Hero: Well if you're going to Pledge it'll be the House's Horse.
Hero likes the sound of that and starts singing it to herself.
Jasin: Are you the gatekeeper today?
Hero: What?
Hero: Oh no! He's up there.
Hero: He checked you off the list.
Jasin: Well, young lady, that remains to be seen.
Hero: It does??
Nick turns a page in the book.
Hero: ~surprised~
Hero: How come?
Jasin: ~confused~ What? Who checked me off what list?
Jasin shakes his head, sure he's missed something.
Hero: You are a Tecton channel who's been "reassigned" here, aren't you?
Jasin: Do you suppose you could take me to see your Sectuib?
Hero: Well, Yeah!!
Jasin is reasonably sure that's the correct thing to do.
Hero: Wait, I'll find someone to grab your horse.
Jasin: No not exactly. I was a Tecton channel.
Hero: What's his name?
Jasin: Thank you.
Hero bounces off, leaving Jasin and his horse standing there.
Jasin: I call him DandyRandy.
Jasin shakes his head. He doesn't really know how to deal with precocious youngsters.
Riyyh: Well, there's Nick... I suppose I really must speak to him.
Riyyh: ~apologetic~
Riyyh: Have a nice rest of your shift. ~sincere~
Mostan: Thank you Sectuib.
Hero returns a short time later with another kid who seizes Jasin's horse's reins.
Hero: Come on! [to Jasin]
Hero: Bring all your... well, if you had any stuff.
Mostan swishes off across the compound.
Jasin: Thank you Hero.
Hero is going to tell all her friends that Jasin arrived with like no stuff.
Riyyh pauses to admire the effect, then continues on to speak to Nick in a much better frame of mind.
Jasin pulls a small bag off the horse. "I travel light."
Hero: Wow, what do you put in that tiny bag??
Nick looks up as Riyyh approaches.
Hero: I helped carry Sinda's bag, and it was filled with tools.
Nick: Oh, hello Riyyh.
Hero: I almost fell down!
Jasin: The few things I require. Clothes and a comb.
Hero: Then she let me carry the littlest... oh.
Hero loses interest in the bag.
Jasin: Tools can be heavy. Bet you could carry this though.
Nick is a little surprised to see him at the guest cottage after yesterday's... forcible exchange of views with Snake.
Hero: It's over here... [starts to lead Jasin toward the admin building]
Jasin follows Hero towards the admin building.
Riyyh is a little nervous about approaching the cabin since the last time he was there, Snake gave him a thorough reacquaintance with its floor... and not in one of the more pleasant ways.
Nick: What brings you here today?
Riyyh is fairly confident, however, that the reason Nick is sitting outside is because Snake and Kenmore are doing something extremely absorbing within and won't come out for a while.
Riyyh: Hello, Nick.
Riyyh smiles nervously but kindly.
Nick sets the book aside.
Jasin: Hero, is this a good time to see Sectuib? If he's busy I can wait.
Riyyh: I just spoke to your grandmother.
Riyyh: ~apologetically~
Nick thinks, better Riyyh than him.
Riyyh's voice, attitude and body language pretty much says it all: She browbeat him into talking to Nick for her.
Nick: And what did she have to say?
Riyyh: She is terribly worried about you, Nick. You know she always wanted you to have a nice stable job with decent pay.
Hero: Oh look!! It's Ansen!
Hero: Ansen, Ansen, come here!!
Hero waves her arm in excitement.
Hero: Look a new person!
Nick: So she's said. Many times.
Jasin: And who is Ansen?
Hero: [to Jasin] Ansen is my friend.
Jasin: I see.
Ansen comes running over, skidding to a stop.
Hero thinks Ansen is a good enough friend to be let in on the First Gossip of a person and besides, then he'll owe her one.
Jasin: Hello Ansen.
Hero: This is Jasin. He's a channel and he used to work for the Tecton.
Hero: He says he's not going to pledge necessarily but, I mean, why else come?
Nick: I suppose she thought you could do a better job of convincing me than she has?
Nick: ~~ sympathy ~~
Hero has just scored beaucoup gossip points on Ansen.
Jasin: I said it remains to be seen. I'd like to talk to the Sectuib before deciding.
Jasin shakes his head.
Hero: Everybody wants to talk to him. ~swoon~
Hero: Oh look! There he is!!
Hero points at the guest cottages, where her sharp eyes have picked out Riyyh talking to Nick.
Hero: Come on!
Hero bounces in that direction enthusiastically.
Jasin chuckles at the child's obvious hero worship.
Jasin follows Hero at a slightly slower pace.
Ansen: Can I help you? Can I carry something for 'ya?
Riyyh: I do think she cares for you, deeply, Nick.
Hero: He's only got one bag.
Hero: Look how small it is!! [points]
Hero: Why is it orange, Jasin?
Hero: Huh? Huh?
Jasin: Thanks Ansen, but I don't have much.
Nick: Well, tell her that I've already got a channel, and if she really cares for me, she should be glad of it.
Ansen: Oh. yeah. ~~ disappointed ~~
Jasin: That's not orange. That's pumpkin. Just because, I guess.
Nick looks over his shoulder at the guest cottage.
Riyyh thinks Nick sure did inherit quite a bit from his grandmother.
Riyyh sighs unhappily.
Nick: Speaking of which, it's about time I made Snake and Kenmore take a break.
Riyyh: But... all right,
Ansen: You made it from a pumpkin? Won't it stink?
Riyyh: All right. Thank you for speaking about this.
Nick stands and picks up his books.
Ansen looks at the alleged vegetable-derived bag.
Jasin: The color is pumpkin. [patiently] It's not made from one.
Riyyh ordinarily would have been more persistent than that, but he has just zlinned what's headed their way.
Nick: Believe me, I do sympathize. My grandmother can be a trial at the best of times.
Ansen: Oh.
Nick: Do have a good day.
Riyyh: Thank you.
Riyyh: ~graciously, if a bit nervously~
Nick ducks back into the cottage before his grandmother can arrive to reinforce Riyyh's pleading.
Jasin: Now, children, where is Sectuib Riyyh?
Ansen: Why did you want a pumpkin colored bag?
Hero: Right there!
Hero points dead ahead.
Hero: Standing on that porch.
Ansen looks around. 'He might be inna office.
Riyyh: Oh dear.
Jasin: It was cheap.
Riyyh is sure he will have to find a better time and really give Nick the full "kind, fatherly Sectuib" treatment, and soon, or Prunida will be quite displeased.
Jasin zlins in the indicated direction. "Ah, OK, thanks kids."
Ansen is ~~ deeply chagrined ~~ at being one-upped by Hero that way.
Jasin walks slowly towards the cottage unobtrusively studying the channel on the steps.
Riyyh sighs, and turns to face the oncoming Hero, Ansen and the red-haired channel.
Riyyh is a low-First, with a not particularly Tecton-trained zlinning field.
Riyyh is about 55 natal years of age, appearing about 10 years younger than that, and obviously spends at least 2 hours each morning on grooming.
Jasin: Sectuib Riyyh?
Jasin is a high 3rd just past turnover. Field is fluctuating.
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh: Hello, and welcome to Naros. We've been expecting you... Jasin?
Riyyh: ~~warm greeting~~
Jasin: Yes, I'm Jasin.
Riyyh's smile flickers as he zlins Jasin's flickers.
Riyyh hopes the fellow is OK.
Ansen: So, Hero, is he a channel? or a wenSime?
Jasin smiles back then sobers.
Hero: He's a channel.
Jasin: I'm a channel. Ansen.
Hero: But he doesn't work for the Tecton.
Hero: I guess that makes him a good guy, huh.
Hero: Oops.
Jasin gives Hero an annoyed glance.
Jasin: Er, Sectuib can we talk? ~a bit uncomfortable~
Hero covers her mouth, always a posed gesture for her.
Riyyh smiles apologetically at Jasin.
Riyyh: Of course. Hero, Ansen, would you excuse us?
Riyyh: We can speak in my office.
Riyyh gestures toward the administrative building.
Jasin: Thank you ~relief~
Riyyh: Do you have any luggage or anything to be taken care of?
Jasin is not sure how Riyyh is going to take what he has to say.
Jasin: Oh no. All I have is in this bag.
Ansen: He's just got a pumpkin bag!
Jasin rolls his eyes.
Hero giggles.
Hero: Do you suppose it's full of seeds? [whispers to Ansen]
Jasin: The kids took care of my horse.
Riyyh: Wonderful, how kind of them.
Riyyh: ~pleased~
Riyyh: This way, then....
Riyyh leads Jasin toward the Admin building.
Jasin: Yes I was given a rather interesting welcome.
Jasin follows Riyyh.
Riyyh zlins Jasin, fearing that was "interesting" in the usual sense people mean when they are talking about Hero.
Riyyh: I'm terribly sorry, but they do get so enthusiastic.
Riyyh: ~sincere apology~
Jasin: ~a little nervous~
Jasin: Oh they're fine. Just full of questions. Typical I guess.
Riyyh: Are you all right? Your field....
Jasin: Oh, sorry, I'm fine.
Jasin schools his field to a more professional mode.
Jasin: I'm just past turnover.
Jasin hopes that will suffice.
Ansen watches them walk off, then says to Hero "Too bad they put a lock on that hatch into the attic over there."
Riyyh lets it pass but plans to find out what the deal is at another time.
Ansen: "Otherwise we could crawl up there and listen."
Hero: That is so unfair.
Hero: Just because Sidie had to go and fall through on purpose.
Ansen: Yeah. Sidie.
Riyyh: This is our administrative building.
Ansen: So, where's he from?
Riyyh: The Medical Center is over there, and the Dining Hall, and over here is where the worksheds are. Behind them, the houses.
Jasin: Very impressive.
Riyyh: Thank you. ~pleased by the compliment to his House~
Riyyh leads Jasin inside and to his office.
Hero won't admit she doesn't know.
Hero: He's from a mysterious land.
Jasin nods. "This looks like a great place to be."
Hero: He came in riding his horse, not on the train wagon.
Riyyh: Would you like a seat? Some tea, perhaps?
Ansen: Riding alone? Like an explorer?
Jasin: Thanks. Tea would be nice.
Riyyh: I confess I don't have food prepared, but if you would like something from the Dining Hall, I can have some delivered...?
Jasin: No, that's fine. I'm not really hungry.
Riyyh: All right.
Hero: Yeah! Or a spy.
Ansen: Oooooh!
Riyyh fetches Jasin some tea.
Ansen: What's he got in the bag, then?
Riyyh then returns to his desk and sits.
Jasin sips the tea.
Hero: Tools?
Hero: He said it was only clothes and stuff, but, I mean, spies never have that in the books.
Jasin wiggles his tentacles nervously.
Hero: Or Explorers either. [adds, after a thought]
Riyyh: ~reassuring kindness~
Jasin: Sectuib, I, well, er, there's something I should tell you.
Jasin: ~relaxation~
Riyyh: Yes?
Ansen: [scornfully] Spies never tell you what they've got though. That'd ruin it!
Hero: We should have carried his bag, then we could have looked.
Hero marks that down as future advice for herself.
Jasin: I'm no longer with the Tecton. I ....
Jasin: ~embarrassed~
Riyyh listens attentively. ~encouragement~
Jasin: I lost my temper and told off a Controller. He was going to punish me with a short delay of transfer. So I told him I quit and walked out of the Center.
Jasin spreads his hands. "So if you no longer want me here, I'll understand."
Riyyh's eyebrows raise.
Jasin tries to look harmless.
Riyyh's nager remains unintimidating.
Riyyh: I see... was this before or after your transfer orders to Naros came through?
Jasin: After. They probably weren't rescinded. He claims I can't quit.
Riyyh thinks it hardly matters where Jasin or his former Sime Center is concerned, but if they report back that he won't be able to make it to his new assignment, somebody at Tecton Central is going to figure out about the forged transfer orders for all 5 new personnel.
Riyyh: Oh dear.
Riyyh sighs.
Riyyh: Well, I am sure something can be worked out.
Jasin digs in his pocket and hands Riyyh the transfer papers.
Riyyh accepts them and looks them over.
Jasin sighs. "I shouldn't have done it, huh?"
Jasin: I'm sorry, Sectuib. I just lost my temper with the Lorsh.
Riyyh thinks the Tecton is going to turn into a large, enraged beast when it figures out that, prior to his accusing Wise Snake of forging papers, he had actually engaged her services in a similar falsification to suck people out of the Tecton.
Riyyh: Well, what's done is done.
Riyyh: There is nothing to be done about it now, right?
Riyyh smiles at Jasin, unhappily but kindly.
Riyyh does hope Jasin doesn't lose his temper a lot.
Riyyh tends to fall to pieces when people lose their tempers.
Jasin: I'm not sure. I didn't sign anything, just stormed out.
Riyyh nods.
Riyyh: All right, I'll look into it. Whatever happens, though, you are still welcome here.
Jasin: ~relief~
Jasin: Thank you, Sectuib. I was hoping you would feel that way.
Riyyh: And I'm not saying that just because we are eagerly awaiting your help in the area of geriatric transfers. ~smiles~
Jasin grins. "Of course, Sectuib. The truth is I enjoy working with older people."
Jasin: They can be rather interesting.
Riyyh: Of course.
Riyyh enjoys working with them himself, mainly because they refer to him as "young man".
Jasin chuckles.
Riyyh: Would you like a tour of the Householding's land? I remember you are from the country yourself.
Riyyh thinks tours are a nice slow way to get a person exposed to Naros and what goes on there.
Riyyh figures by the time a person has been around the whole grounds they have had ample time to figure out that gossip and inbreeding are rampant and that people are nice and won't chew their heads off for saying the wrong thing.
Jasin: That would be wonderful. Sectuib. I understand you have a fine herd of horses.
Riyyh: Herd? Well, [chuckles uneasily since that is a rather sore point with him today, and a loose end which has yet to be tied up]
Riyyh: We have some horses used for work, and several belonging to visitors, but....
Riyyh: Well, you can see them of course. [smiles]
Riyyh thinks maybe he can have a word with Rachel while they're there.
Jasin: That's what horses are good for.
Riyyh has found that introducing new people to each other often causes them to form friendships, and feel more at ease in their new surroundings.
Jasin: I'd like that, Sectuib.
Jasin relaxes. He's really beginning to like the Sectuib in Naros.
Riyyh has already had to break up two promising relationships between new people and remind them they are supposed to be dating Narosians.
Riyyh sighs to himself.
Riyyh: Great. [smiles]
Riyyh gets up.
Jasin: ~concern~ Something wrong Sectuib?
Riyyh checks his pocket for the letter.
Jasin hastily rises.
Riyyh: Not at all.
Riyyh: Why don't we start with the stables, since you are interested in horses? [kindly]
Riyyh: ~reassuring, calm~
Jasin isn't so sure about that, but isn't going to question a Sectuib.
Jasin: Wonderful.
Jasin smiles happily at Riyyh.
Riyyh leads Jasin out of his office.
Riyyh: Everything is being refitted for snowplowing now, [explains]
Jasin follows Riyyh.
Riyyh: We got the last of the harvest in last week and the fields have been put to rest for the winter.
Jasin: Yes it's about that time.
Riyyh makes a mental note to ask Dendig, gently of course, what progress they've been making on that project.
Riyyh: There may be quite a few scraps and bits of things around the stable and various children working on them....
Riyyh takes Jasin out by a different door than they'd come in.
Jasin: I see. Do the children help with the horses then?
Riyyh: This garden next to the Admin building is quite beautiful in summer. As you can see, the roses are all.... yes, they do. [smiles]
Riyyh: Everybody in Naros works.
Riyyh thinks, to the extent that anybody in Naros works.
Jasin: You must have some talented gardners.
Jasin is quite impressed.
Riyyh: Oh yes, gardening is a much loved pastime here, and we do have some people who work on it full time.
Riyyh: ~pride in his people~
Riyyh: I am particularly fond of roses. This one - [indicating a lump underneath some mulch] is a different color each branch.
Riyyh laughs, a little embarrassed to admit this to an outsider.
Riyyh is not used to people with objective viewpoints.
Riyyh: Those are the guest cottages. Normally we would have put you up there for the first week or so, but since you are replacing somebody, I am giving you her house.
Riyyh thinks, also the guest cabins are chock full of insane Farrises, their equally daft followers, and one very persistent lovelorn multimillionaire.
Jasin: Oh, OK.
Jasin is surprised. He's used to dorm rooms.
Jasin: Thank you, Sectuib.
Riyyh: There is plenty of room for a family.
Riyyh: Four bedrooms.
Jasin: ~wow~
Riyyh: I'll show it to you before we go to the stables, if you like... or would you prefer the stables first?
Jasin: Well, at the moment I don't have a family.
Riyyh: Of course not.
Riyyh wouldn't have picked Jasin for Naros if he wasn't single and fertile.
Jasin: Either way, Sectuib. I'm yours to command.
Riyyh: Jasin, Jasin, so formal. This is your new home. ~welcome, chiding~
Jasin grins. "Sorry."
Riyyh: Here are the stables.
Riyyh indicates a long, low building smelling of hay and horses.
Riyyh starts to enter, then spots Rachel down at the other end of the aisle.
Riyyh: Oh! Please excuse me for a moment, Jasin? I see somebody I really must speak to.
Riyyh hurries down the aisle.
Riyyh: ~apologetic~
Jasin smiles after Riyyh, then turns to pet one of the horses.
Jasin: Hello girl. You and I are going to be great friends.
Riyyh: Rachel, I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to you, my deepest apologies.
Riyyh: I received your note, and I wanted to talk to you about it.
Rachel: That's all right. I know you are busy.
Rachel: What kind of questions do you have about the new stock? I thought my letter was rather specific.
Riyyh: Er... well you see, actually,
Riyyh's tentacles flutter.
Rachel looks at Riyyh.
Riyyh: I found the details most interesting and certainly sufficient [actually maybe overcopious for somebody with his limited knowledge of the animals, but...]
Riyyh: However, I remain somewhat unsure as to the justification for purchasing four animals instead of the one that was budgeted. [confesses]
Riyyh is aware that he is setting himself to look like a lily-livered accountant type, but then, well, that would only be the truth.
Riyyh smiles apologetically.
Riyyh: Do you think you could go over that with me again?
Rachel: First of all, they were a bargain....
Riyyh nods studiously.
Riyyh has always been a little bit fuzzy on why they call it "saving money" when you get a good bargain on something you weren't going to buy in the first place.
Rachel: And the additional bloodstock will prevent genetic problems in the new foals.
Riyyh: I see, but, I thought that was why we had mares sent out on occasion.
Rachel: Yes. But the new bloodline crosses will help stabilize what stock you still have.
Riyyh: Still have??
Riyyh: ~nervously~
Riyyh wonders if something has happened to some of the horses that he didn't hear about.
Rachel: Even your work horses can still be used for breeding.
Riyyh would hate to think he has dropped a ball gossip-wise.
Riyyh: What was that about the horses we still have? Has anything happened to....
Rachel: No. Nothing has happened. The young stock has been sold for this year.
Riyyh: Ah, I see.
Riyyh nods, anxious to appear open minded and cooperative rather than a penny-pinching hard sell.
Rachel hands him a purse with some money in it from the sales.
Riyyh: Oh... thank you.
Riyyh is ~nonplussed~ by the informality.
Riyyh: You do have written records?
Rachel: Is there anything else you would like to know? I found you a wonderful young Percheron cross which has promise.
Rachel: He'll produce some strong draft animals for you.
Riyyh: Yes, yes, I am sure he is quite a fine animal, and I am entirely confident that you are a superb breeder and keeper of horses.
Riyyh nods.
Riyyh: However, there is the matter of the budget...
Riyyh: I confess I am not sure how to handle this, I don't usually experience this kind of difficulty....
Riyyh: ~apologetic~
Riyyh: But you see, if extra expenditures occur without warning, it throws everything else off.
Riyyh hopes he isn't offending Rachel.
Riyyh isn't used to dealing with so many near-strangers, and non-relatives come to think of it.
Rachel: I don't see any forthcoming problems from the purchases. As you know, I brought you back some additional money so the Naros should see no losses from my selections
Riyyh: Yes, but that income from sold stock is already part of the budget, [explains]
Riyyh: Your predecessor wrote up this next year's budget for me and submitted it before harvest.
Rachel nods.
Riyyh: I will go have a look at it, but unless you sold different stock than he'd planned to, this money was probably already accounted for.
Riyyh hopes that the art of breeding horses is logical enough that they would have selected the same beasts for sale, but then he can't pretend to be particularly knowledgeable on the subject.
Rachel: If these horses don't produce for you, then we can sell them as well. They come from excellent bloodlines.
Rachel: You will make back anything you think you might have lost.
Riyyh thinks she sounds so imminently reasonable, but this doesn't really help him with the budget right at the moment.
Riyyh: ~oh dear~
Riyyh: I see, well, that is certainly good to know,
Rachel is not sure how to explain this in a way a non-horseperson can understand.
Riyyh isn't sure how to explain this to someone who doesn't have everybody in Naros coming and asking her for a little extra for some unbudgeted "emergency" purchases like new Genlan books.
Riyyh: All right, then. [finally, if reluctantly]
Riyyh: We'll leave it at that for now, since they have already been bought.
Rachel: I appreciate that. I'm sure you won't be unhappy about how the breeding will come out.
Riyyh wishes Rachel weren't quite so gung-ho on new breeding and were a little more gung-ho on adhering to the specs of what Naros needs its animal husbandry program to do for Naros, but then everybody has hobbies and you can't squash a person's interests or they get bored with their job.
Riyyh: I am sure it will come out splendidly.
Riyyh sighs.
Rachel: If it doesn't the horses go up for sale again.
Riyyh: Could we possibly agree to no more large out-of-budget purchases until you've had a chance to submit a formal revision to your predecessor's plan?
Riyyh: [pleadingly]
Rachel: I see no problem with that.
Riyyh: ~relieved smile~
Rachel: Is there anything else I can do for you?
Rachel is ready to get back to her work if the Sectuib has no other questions.
Riyyh sighs for her desire to end the conversation.
Riyyh: Well, no, I suppose not.
Riyyh: Thank you for your time.
Riyyh hopes that the new people come to love him as their Sectuib and, if not father, at least friend. Someday.
Rachel: I'm at your service any time.
Rachel ~~sincerity~~
Riyyh: Thank you.
Riyyh turns and leaves the stables.
Riyyh takes Jasin with him.