Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #80: Whips and Bridles (12/15/98)
Prunida paces back and forth in the common room.
Prunida: ~~ need ~~
Prunida's tentacles weave restlessly.
Riyyh finishes setting up the room for Prunida's transfer, including the romantic dinner with candles set to one side.
Riyyh then heads out the door to go collect her.
Wise Snake comes into the common room.
Wise Snake: Ah... there you are.
Prunida thinks about getting that tea she came down for, but it doesn't seem so appetizing now.
Wise Snake marches over to Prunida.
Wise Snake: Do you want it right here, or somewhere else?
Prunida zlins a strong field and turns towards it automatically.
Wise Snake is already reaching for Prunida's arms.
Wise Snake: ~~entran ridden Farris with delusions of having permission to do this~~
Wise Snake projects a soothing Gen field.
Prunida tries to back away from the channel who stole her grandson, but ends up grabbing the offered hands instead.
Riyyh walks into the common room.
Riyyh: ~surprise~
Wise Snake zlins Riyyh come in and hastily completes the transfer grip so there's no chance of losing the bit of work to the other channel.
Prunida is ~~ confused ~~ by the advent of Riyyh's field.
Wise Snake: ~~glee~~
Nick wanders in to see where Snake went, and is instantly ~~ alertly supportive ~~
Wise Snake walls off any possible distractions with a ~~lush high-field Gen~~ projection.
Prunida attacks, as the Snakeishness of the projection becomes more Genlike.
Riyyh simultaneously looks outraged (a rare sight indeed!) and astonished, and adjusts his field to not interfere.
Wise Snake: ~~eager to give~~
Nick works to keep the ambient stable, getting closer to Snake to shield Riyyh somewhat.
Prunida: ~~ almost as eager to take ~~
Wise Snake delivers a quick, joyous, bursting-with-need-to-give-Oh-God-it's-coming-yeah! type transfer.
Prunida is staggered by it, since her life has not contained all that much joy.
Riyyh is let down, but tries to take the disappointment philosophically.
Prunida blinks at Snake, able to see again.
Prunida: ~~ disbelief ~~
Prunida: That was you?
Wise Snake: Hello. [grins]
Wise Snake: Last time I checked.
Wise Snake feels no guilt whatsoever, not that anybody there would have been able to zlin it if she did.
Prunida looks at Nick.
Prunida: Is that what she gives you?
Riyyh hangs back, looking unhappy but graciously keeping his field from interfering.
Riyyh: [and keeping his line of escape free in case anything bad happens]
Nick wonders how to explain that a renSime's transfer is pretty tame compared to a channel's.
Wise Snake snorts.
Wise Snake disengages her hands and tentacles.
Nick shrugs.
Prunida looks beyond Snake and Nick to Riyyh.
Prunida: ~~ blatant appraisal ~~
Prunida quite obviously approves of the results of Riyyh's return to a semblance of proper grooming.
Prunida: So, when will your transfer be again?
Prunida grins in a predatory fashion.
Riyyh now looks nervous and embarrassed, though a bit pleased by the attention, if a bit entran-harried.
Riyyh smiles apologetically.
Riyyh: Congratulations on a fine transfer.
Riyyh: [to Prunida]
Prunida smiles at him like a well-aged coquette.
Riyyh consoles himself with the prospect of some self-healing in the near future... that ought to take care of the entran for at least a little bit.
Riyyh: There is some food in our room, if you feel...?
Prunida: Of course, Riyyh. How sweet of you.
Wise Snake watches this exchange with an expression halfway between a smirk and illness.
Prunida: Will you come and share it with me?
Riyyh thinks Prunida's actually asking, instead of simply dragging him over there, is a definite improvement.
Riyyh: Why of course. [smiles]
Prunida grabs onto Riyyh just in case he changes his mind, and sets out for their room.
Riyyh winces as the dry bony fingers dig into his wrist, and is yanked out of view.
Nick turns to Snake.
Nick: Feeling any better?
Wise Snake is smiling like the cat that got the canary.
Nick: ~~ soothing support ~~
Wise Snake: At the moment, yes.
Nick reaches for Snake's hands.
Wise Snake is wondering if they'll still be snowed in when it comes time for the rabbit-King's own transfer.
Wise Snake wonders if she can finagle enough selyn from here and there to do it.
Nick approves their steadiness.
Nick: Good.
Wise Snake thinks it might be prudent to grab him and force an early transfer if it looks like the storm is going to let up too soon.
Wise Snake is wearing a vague, thoughtful expression.
Nick: Snake, how bad off is Riyyh?
Wise Snake: Hmm?
Nick: I don't think he's ever gone this long without support--how close is he to breaking?
Wise Snake: Errmmm....
Wise Snake: Probably not close, as long as nothing traumatic happens.
Wise Snake: I mean, he's reasonably robust as channels go.
Wise Snake doesn't say, "just not as men go".
Nick continues to provide ~~ solid support ~~, in hopes of preventing Snake from getting the wrong idea.
Nick winces.
Nick: If Grandma in the grips of the strongest postsyndrome of her life isn't trauma, what is?
Wise Snake: Well, ~dubiously~
Nick would personally much prefer being dragged across the country by a rogue-addicted Farris channel.
Wise Snake: As long as he doesn't have a heart attack or anything.
Nick is struck with a thought.
Nick: Do you think she'd try.....? When he's in hard need?
Wise Snake: Try what?
Wise Snake: [deadpan]
Nick: ....Seducing him?
Nick realizes that during the first half of his cycle, this takes no effort whatsoever, but thought it was physically impossible within a week of transfer.
Wise Snake: I suspect in her condition she won't be too picky about whether he's actually aroused or just providing a good simulation.
Nick: Umm.
Nick: ~~ just a tad nauseated by the thought ~~
Nick: Well, for his sake, I hope he provides an acceptable stimulation... I mean, simulation.
Wise Snake considers.
Wise Snake: For his sake?
Nick: Yes. Grandma can be rather difficult to live with when she's thwarted.
Wise Snake tries to decide whether she's willing to have the death of Naros' sectuib on her conscience.
Wise Snake: Do you think we should go interrupt?
Wise Snake is assuming that Nick's "rather difficult to live with when she's thwarted" means, in comparison with Snake herself who of course would be the center and balance of all Nick's being.
Nick: No, that would just make her take it out on us, instead.
Nick is 75% Riyyh, after all, and hasn't completely escaped the cowardice genes.
Nick: Snake, can you serve Riyyh if there isn't time for him to get back to Naros?
Nick is trying to guesstimate how much selyn Snake is carrying.
Wise Snake: I was just thinking of that.
Wise Snake: And the answer is yes, if we strip everybody here and get him to take transfer a day early.
Wise Snake grins.
Wise Snake: Everybody except you, of course.
Wise Snake plans on using all of Nick's selyn herself.
Nick grins suggestively and runs a careful finger down Snake's lateral.
Nick: ~~ damped down need-to-give ~~
Nick: Well, then. Perhaps we should talk to our host, and get organized?
Wise Snake smiles, well in control this far before her due date.
Riyyh emerges into the common room, with his hair mussed, lipstick kisses all over his throat, and his shirt half torn off him.
Riyyh sees they're still there and smiles apologetically/sheepishly, before hurrying in the direction of the kitchen.
Nick's eyes widen at the sight.
Nick: ~~ just a touch of guilt ~~
Wise Snake: Well, he didn't zlin like he was running in terror. [thoughtfully]
Nick: No, he doesn't.
Riyyh returns a short time later with a bottle of intoxicating beverage and two glasses.
Riyyh disappears once again.
Wise Snake wonders if there is such a thing as entran for getting lots of attention.
Nick: Well, I suppose he's got the experience to handle the situation, if anyone does.
Mogan comes out of the kitchen, wearing a flour-smudged apron.
Mogan is carrying a fresh teapot.
Mogan: Hello!
Mogan: I thought I'd see if anyone wanted some tea.
Nick's nostrils flare.
Nick: Thank you.
Nick: ~~ pleasure ~~
Wise Snake: Yumm.
Mogan: How are you all this afternoon?
Wise Snake loves the Inn's cheap tea.
Wise Snake was getting so sick of Naros' poofie stuff, or worse yet, the Zeor blends.
Mogan pours three mugs full and puts the pot by the fire.
Nick: Well enough.
Mogan: I hope you don't mind if I sit down a moment. Bread is rising just now.
Nick picks up two cups and hands one to Snake.
Wise Snake: Say, how many Gens are staying here? [conversationally]
Wise Snake may have skipped a few steps in the conversation, most notably the pleasantries steps, but since she's a Farris she didn't notice.
Mogan purses his lips and looks thoughtful.
Nick: Please do.
Wise Snake sips the tea appreciatively.
Nick is used to covering for Snake's Farris manners.
Mogan: ~~ nager pulses as he counts to himself ~~
Nick: ~~ pleasant nager ~~
Riyyh staggers into the common room, breathing heavily.
Mogan looks up.
Riyyh is now wearing mere shreds [with his cloak hastily wrapped around] and bears obvious fingernail-scorings, as well as more lipstick.
Nick finds the sight a bit disquieting.
Riyyh: Oh, hello, [a little desperately] You wouldn't happen to have any chocolate, would you?
Riyyh smiles.
Nick wonders if he should have gotten Snake to intervene.
Mogan: Yes, some, but it's unsweetened chocolate. I use it for baking.
Riyyh: Oh dear. Well, do you have any sugar and butter?
Mogan: Of course! The finest butter in the district!
Mogan gets up.
Riyyh: Oh! Wonderful! How long would it take you to make a batch of chocolate cookies?
Riyyh is practically begging Mogan.
Mogan: [to Wise Snake] In answer to your question, Hajene, 7 Gens at the moment. Not counting the 2 who work here, of course.
Wise Snake: Of course.
Wise Snake mentally adds them in as well.
Mogan: No more than an hour, I think.
Nick makes a quick calculation.
Wise Snake zlins Riyyh absently.
Riyyh: An hour??
Riyyh: ~agonized~
Nick: You'd have to strip them pretty far down, I'd imagine. Particularly if some of them aren't high field.
Riyyh: OK... thank you, oh if you could do that I would be very grateful.
Riyyh: ~sincere~
Mogan: They take 40 minutes to bake properly.
Riyyh: How long does it take to make whipped cream?
Mogan hopes Riyyh's gratitude is still in force when he gets the bill for his stay here.
Mogan: Ten minutes, but that would delay the cookies unless I wait till they are in the oven.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Riyyh's hands and tentacles flutter nervously.
Riyyh: All right, I'll see what I can do.
Riyyh starts to leave, then pauses as he notices the honey pot on the tea tray.
Mogan: I only have eight tentacles, I'm sorry.
Riyyh: Of course. Er, you don't mind if I... [points a tentacle at the honey]
Mogan gestures assent.
Riyyh seizes the honey and hurries off again.
Mogan thinks that Prunida must be very hungry.
Mogan: But the bread won't be ready till later, I'm afraid. ~~ apologetic ~~
Nick: Please, the bread is less important than keeping Grandmother happy, believe me.
Wise Snake: The man is a genius. Whipped cream?
Wise Snake was culturally deprived in certain ways by her street kid upbringing.
Nick: ~~ heartfelt sincerity ~~
Wise Snake looks at Nick.
Wise Snake: Since when did you care if your grandmother is happy?
Mogan has never heard of mixing honey with liquor, and they don't have any tea in there....
Nick: You saw how unpleasant she gets when she's unhappy.
Wise Snake: She's a lightweight. [dismissively]
Wise Snake: Er... no offense intended.
Wise Snake isn't sure how much pride Nick places in the other 25% of his genetics.
Nick accepts the uncharacteristic apology with a wave.
Mogan: Did either of you require anything before I go back there? [gestures at the kitchen]
Nick: About the Gens....
Wise Snake: Oh... yeah. We'll have to strip those.
Nick is actually appalled at all 100% of his genetic background.
Wise Snake: Of selyn.
Nick: It's rather an emergency, you zlin.
Wise Snake: You see, the Slave to Her Happiness, there, Prince Bunnyrabbit, will come due in, er, 3 days.
Wise Snake: You should see what he's like when he's Post. [adds]
Wise Snake: Maybe you shouldn't. [adds quickly]
Mogan: I don't?
Nick absentmindedly crumples his shirt, as if to wring it dry.
Wise Snake: He's a First Order channel. His Companion isn't here. If he comes due while we're all snowed in here....
Mogan: Uh, I think several of the guests got caught here on their way back from donating, I'm afraid.
Mogan: ~~ worried ~~
Wise Snake: Well, we'll be able to get a few days' worth off of them, anyway. [thoughtfully]
Wise Snake: OK, well he may not get a full transfer then.
Nick: And perhaps the local channel wasn't all that good.
Wise Snake shrugs.
Wise Snake: That part isn't as big a deal as getting it somewhere close.
Nick: ~~ concern ~~
Wise Snake may be uttering the most unbelievable sentence of the Century for a semi-Zeor trained Farris.
Wise Snake's "pursuit of excellence" regarding Riyyh petered out some time ago.
Nick: So, if the Gen staff is available, perhaps we could start with them?
Wise Snake: Um, Nick, don't you think we ought to wait a couple of days?
Wise Snake is all for groping as much work as possible, but after all they are trying for the max harvest possible.
Mogan: Of course. Shall I send them here?
Wise Snake: Then again,
Wise Snake isn't one to pass up work if it actually falls in her lap.
Nick: It won't hurt to get to know them.
Mogan looks over at Snake at her objection.
Wise Snake figures she'll have to eke the rest of it out of them while they sleep night after next.
Nick: And it wouldn't do if Riyyh got to them first.
Nick: That is, if Grandma ever lets him go long enough.
Wise Snake: How long do you suppose... hmmm.
Mogan: I'll just go get them.
Mogan goes out.
Nick: Grandma is enthusiastic, but she's old enough to require a break eventually.
Wise Snake: When is eventually?
Wise Snake remembers the times she kept Nick trudging through snowdrifts in Bender Cove for 48 hours at a time, and tries to decide if Nick inherited the stamina from Riyyh or Prunida, or both.
Wise Snake winces as a pretty picture is not painted.
Nick: I don't know. I haven't lived with her since I Established, really.
Wise Snake: Sounds like that's just as well.
Nick: Well...
Nick: ~~ conflicting feelings ~~
Wise Snake looks at Nick curiously.
Nick: Snake, she's a horrible old woman, most of the time, but she did provide me with a stable home for my childhood.
Wise Snake: Egads. Weakness for the old bag actually runs in the family! ~disbelief~
Wise Snake: It's just a good thing... well.
Nick: I don't want anything to do with her, but I don't want her to be harmed, either.
Wise Snake in a rare show of prudence fails to actually voice what she was going to say about Nick's transfer date being several days after Prunida's.
Wise Snake: Of course not. [nods]
Wise Snake: So what are you saying, do you think we should enforce a break?
Nick considers.
Nick: Well, we might have to, eventually.
Wise Snake had been thinking more along the lines of taking bets on which would give out first.
Nick: But so far, Riyyh seems to be coping.
Wise Snake: You don't suppose... well.
Wise Snake: It isn't important.
Nick: Even Riyyh can't do what's physically impossible, Snake.
Nick: Although from the looks of things, he's got plenty of alternatives.
Wise Snake: Ummmh.
Wise Snake: Say, Nick, how long did Riyyh and your grandmother know each other when they were younger?
Nick: From what I heard, she just grabbed him when he was drunk at a party.
Nick: I don't know if they kept in touch after she knew she was pregnant with my mother.
Wise Snake: Ah, good. I had been concerned that, if it has been like this all along, that you may have uncles and aunts.
Wise Snake: Er, half-brothers and sisters who are also your.... well, whatever.
Wise Snake: ~relieved~
Nick thinks that he is oversupplied with half-brothers and half-sisters, as well as a whole lot of other relationships with the second generations backcrosses that aren't defined in the dictionary.
Mogan comes out of another door to the common room.
Nick: As far as I know, my mother and I are the only Riyyh-progeny in Prunida's family.
Mogan stops and looks back at the open door.
Mogan says soothingly "It's all right, Amia. No one is here but me and Hajene Wise Snake and her Companion."
Amia tentatively steps a little into the room ~~high Gen field, fearful~~
Nick notes Mogan's return and pours the last of the tea into his and Snake's glasses.
Nick thinks about asking Mogon for a refill.
Wise Snake smiles, doing a creditable impression of a half-mad rogue channel who sometimes scares even herself.
Wise Snake: Hello.
Mogan stays close to Amia. ~~ worried ~~
Nick wishes Linn had had a chance to nag Snake into a little grooming.
Amia nods ~~rich field, fearful ~~ "Hello."
Nick sees Amia's lack of confidence and offers ~~ support ~~
Nick also looks at Mogan to see if he's being affected by the Gen fear.
Amia looks to Morgan for guidance.
Wise Snake: Don't worry, I won't bite you. [laughs]
Wise Snake gets up and walks over to Amia.
Nick follows at Snake's elbow.
Amia holds her ground, neither running nor getting closer.
Mogan: This is Hajene Wise Snake, Amia. She's very nice.
Amia: If you say so, Father.
Mogan has long experience with coping with Amia's fear.
Nick wonders if Snake's been offering huge tips, to win such an endorsement.
Wise Snake of course has been leaving everything on Riyyh's tab.
Wise Snake: Has your father told you why I wanted to talk to you?
Wise Snake studies Amia curiously.
Amia is terrified of strangers, and hopes her father will guide the conversation.
Amia: He told me a little, but I don't know if I can do what you want.
Mogan: I told her you required her help. That you could help make her less, err, conspicuous.
Wise Snake is baffled by Mogan's wording.
Wise Snake: She's never donated? She doesn't know what selyn is?
Mogan wouldn't be doing this if he wasn't worried about having a channel in need loose here.
Mogan: Yes. No.
Mogan: I mean, she knows what it is, but...
Wise Snake looks at Mogan incredulously.
Wise Snake: But?
Amia ~~fearful, puzzled at the conversation~~ but still does not move.
Mogan: She hasn't donated.
Nick tries to keep Snake ~~ calm ~~ so she won't disturb their first customer.
Wise Snake: OK... Amia, I think you and I should have a little talk.
Mogan: I didn't think she should just yet.
Amia looks panicked at the stranger.
Wise Snake: Nick, could you ah, speak to Mogan about the logistics for our trip out, for me?
Nick: Of course.
Mogan is ~~ reluctant ~~ to leave Amia's side.
Nick reaches out with his hand and nager to draw Mogan away from Amia.
Nick: If you would come over here?
Wise Snake: It will just be for a few minutes. [to Amia] Please, come here, sit down on the couch by me.
Wise Snake uses a nice-channel-being-soothing voice, something she considers a tool, not a religion.
Amia looks at her father's retreating form, but still won't move, her hands crossed in front of her.
Mogan lets himself be pulled away, more by Nick's nager than hand.
Nick places himself between Mogan and Amia, blocking the fields.
Amia turns to look at Wise Snake, but says nothing.
Wise Snake realizes she is dealing with not only fear, but obstinance.
Wise Snake sighs.
Wise Snake: Have it your way, then.
Nick: Snake can handle her better if you're not hovering. [quietly]
Wise Snake crosses over to the couch and lounges on it.
Amia: Tell me what you want. I'll listen.
Wise Snake studies Amia from the distance.
Wise Snake: Do you know what donating is?
Amia nods.
Wise Snake: That's what I want. I want you to donate to me.
Mogan: She hasn't been around many Simes.
Amia: Never had to before. So I don't have to now.
Nick: You don't get many Sime customers?
Amia: ~~ sheer terror~~
Mogan: Other than family, of course.
Wise Snake wonders what in shen happened to this girl.
Mogan: She doesn't come into the public areas when we do.
Wise Snake: OK. Well, you're no use to me then. Riyyh will just have to do without his transfer this month.
Wise Snake: You can go now.
Amia stays put to wait for her father.
Wise Snake stretches out on the couch and picks up one of the teas, sips it.
Nick: Why is she so terrified of donating, Mogan?
Mogan whispers "She, uh, saw a kill."
Mogan: ~~ shame ~~
Nick: A kill?
Amia just watches the strangers but her fear remains steady, neither lessening nor increasing.
Nick walks over to Amia.
Amia looks at Nick.
Mogan nods, "Her ... My ... "
Mogan chokes up.
Nick: Amia, has your father told you that there is another channel, besides Snake, staying here?
Amia: Yes.
Nick: Did he tell you that Sectuib Riyyh will require a transfer soon, and that his Companion is back at Naros?
Mogan is glad Nick has moved away so he doesn't have to talk more .
Mogan: ~~ Sorrow ~~
Amia nods.
Wise Snake picks her teeth with a fingernail.
Nick: Snake is willing to give Riyyh transfer, but she's not carrying enough selyn.
Amia waits to see what the point of this discussion is.
Nick: Unless you and the other Gens here will donate, that is.
Amia: But Gens die under ..... (lets the thought die unspoken)
Nick shakes his head.
Amia: ~~ terror slightly controlled ~~
Nick: I promise, if you donate to Snake, you won't feel a thing, and you'll be healthier than you are now.
Amia: I've seen it! My Mother ..... (another thought uncompleted)
Wise Snake is truly amazed that a person could grow up 500 miles inside of Sime Territory and still think like this.
Nick: Amia, was your mother a channel?
Amia: No. A Gen like me.
Nick: Was the Sime who killed her a channel?
Amia: I don't know.
Mogan just stands watching from across the room.
Wise Snake sits up curiously as she spots Riyyh creeping out of the hallway again, behind Amia and Nick.
Amia: No way to tell one Sime from another.
Riyyh's hair is standing up in all directions, he's limping, and holding his back.
Riyyh disappears in the direction of the kitchen.
Wise Snake shakes her head and slumps back down on the couch again.
Nick sighs.
Nick: Snake is a very good channel, Amia. She doesn't go around hurting donors.
Nick: But if she can't get enough selyn to serve Hajene Riyyh, it could get... very ugly.
Nick: Do you really want to be high-field, a walking target, if that happens?
Amia: I don't know any of you. Why should I believe you? ~~fear a bit lessened~~
Wise Snake: Why not? [idly]
Mogan glimpses someone with wild hair out of the corner of his eye, and wonders how Snake can be in two places at once.
Wise Snake: Anyway, there are other advantages to donating.
Amia turns to look at Wise Snake.
Mogan doesn't waste much selyn on it, and returns to ~~ brooding worry & sorrow ~~
Wise Snake studies Amia with weird, white eyes, from her position sprawled on the couch.
Amia: I do my work. You didn't even know I was here.
Wise Snake: Actually, I did.
Nick stays close to Amia, hoping that she'll find his Genness reassuring.
Wise Snake doesn't think Amia really wants to know just how well some Simes can zlin, though.
Amia thinks on that.
Amia: I still don't know.... ~~steady fear not as strong as at first~~
Wise Snake: Anyway, I'm not 100% up on the legal aspects of restaurant ownership in this particular area, but I'll bet the health code says something about Gen live-ins donating.
Wise Snake: Even if you don't care about your father's business' future, there are other, more personally gratifying reasons to donate.
Nick wonders how Mogan has managed to dodge the law so long, if so.
Amia walks over to Morgan.
Amia: What should I do?
Amia for the moment ignores the strangers and concentrates on her father's advice.
Wise Snake: Money, health issues, and then there is... huh.
Wise Snake notices Amia has walked off on her and shrugs.
Wise Snake: Ah well, that was a bust.
Wise Snake gets up and wanders off.
Amia is torn. "What is best for us? For you?"
Mogan looks sadly at Amia. "It's up to you Amia. I'll take care of you no matter what, I promise."
Mogan: But you would be safer.
Amia nods.
Amia: I'll try Father, since you say I should....
Nick catches Snake's attention with a Farris-sized nageric "yoo hoo" not zlinnable by Mogan.
Mogan: Amia I won't be around forever. Sooner or later you'll have to start donating. Or move to Gen Territory.
Amia looks at him stricken at those prospects.
Mogan manages a forced smile.
Mogan: "That's my brave little girl!"
Amia smiles at her father.
Wise Snake notices Nick's nageric "yoo hoo" and waits in the doorway, wearing a dreary expression.
Wise Snake thinks the idea of raising a little girl in this way is appalling and finds Amia herself disturbing - damaged, even.
Wise Snake supposes she has seen worse, at Bender Cove, but that was a border town.
Nick offers ~~ confident support ~~ to Snake.
Amia walks back to Nick and looks at him.
Amia: My Father thinks it would be in my best interest to donate ~~fear somewhat controlled~~
Nick: He's right, you know.
Nick: It's the only way to get past your trauma, so you can live a normal life..
Nick isn't sure about that at all, but thinks it sounds persuasive.
Riyyh limps out of the hallway from the kitchen, clutching his now-tattered robe with one hand and a large bowl of whipping cream in the other arm.
Amia shakes her head, not sure whether to believe this or not.
Riyyh has somehow also come up with a bridle and a riding crop from the stable.
Nick: Wouldn't you like to be able to enjoy the people who stay here, instead of hiding from them?
Amia: I don't hide. What they do is their own concern, not mine.
Amia considers.
Nick thinks they'd better get this kid low-field quick, and then go rescue Riyyh.
Amia: You could be right.....
Riyyh slips across the edge of the room to the other door.
Nick nods towards the couch.
Nick: Why don't you sit down, then, like Snake asked, and she'll take care of you.
Wise Snake turns to look at Riyyh as he squeezes past her.
Wise Snake: ~disbelief~
Amia nods ~~trying to control the fear~~
Amia walks over to the couch and sits down.
Nick turns to Snake.
Wise Snake turns back, shaking her head.
Nick shrugs, then nods towards Amia.
Wise Snake: Good grief, she's still scared silly.
Nick: She's decided she wants to try donating, after all.
Wise Snake: I'm not going to touch her.
Mogan thinks he should feel guilty about not getting Riyyh his food, but can't be bothered now.
Amia waits.
Nick wishes that the Farris tendency towards entran weren't so frequently in conflict with the Farris tendency to be mulishly stubborn on a seemingly random schedule.
Wise Snake: Look at her, she doesn't even see me as a human being. No, thanks. I have my pride to consider.
Nick looks at Amia.
Wise Snake: Riyyh can do it, or he can do without.
Wise Snake shrugs.
Wise Snake figures Riyyh will do it gladly - he has no pride whatsoever.
Nick tries to ~~ soothe ~~ the ruffled pride.
Wise Snake grits her teeth, but doesn't object to Nick's soothing influence.
Amia doesn't understand why all the fuss before, and why the wait now.
Nick: Do you really think he could get half the selyn you would?
Wise Snake: He'd be more motivated. [points out]
Nick: What's motivation compared to skill?
Nick: ~~ pride in Snake's skill ~~
Wise Snake: Nick, the girl is positively screaming fear, resentment and intimidation. Why do I want to get with a nager like that?
Wise Snake: I mean, nothing is going to change how she thinks about Simes.
Nick thinks "entran", but has the sense not to say it.
Wise Snake's main problem with Amia is the fact that the girl chose to ignore her in the middle of a conversation, something that never, ever happens to Snake.
Wise Snake: Anyway, there's a couple of days left.
Wise Snake: Let her think about it for a while.
Wise Snake: I'm going back to the room.
Wise Snake leaves.
Nick turns back to Mogan and Amia a bit apologetically..
Mogan comes over to put a hand on Amia's shoulder.
Amia looks up at her father.
Mogan: I don't understand. What happened?
Nick: Snake feels very hurt when someone is that afraid of her, that unwilling to let her touch them.
Amia looks to Nick ~~confused~~ "I said I would try!"
Mogan: I'm sure it isn't anything personal, it's just that Amia sees Snake as a monster, not a human being.
Mogan though channels were supposed to be able to ignore fear. That's the whole point of channels.
Mogan: No, she....
Amia looks down at the floor, sure she's disappointed her father.
Mogan wants to say Amia thinks all Simes are monsters, but can't think of the proper phrasing.
Nick: She has her reasons, I know, but it hurts Snake to be feared by someone she only wants to help.
Amia just sits there thinking.
Nick: Amia, you aren't afraid of your father, and he's just as much of a Sime as Snake.
Mogan bristles slightly, since it was Amia who was trying to help Snake and Riyyh.
Nick is glad Snake isn't around to hear that, as he's confident that she considers herself ten times more of a Sime than Mogan.
Amia: (quietly) I don't like strangers and I told you, I can't tell one Sime from another.
Amia: I also told you I was going to try... but no one heard that.
Nick: Perhaps you'd feel more comfortable with Snake if you got better acquainted with her?
Mogan squeezes gently "I heard you, sweetest. You're very brave."
Amia: ~~fear more controlled~~ (thinking)
Amia looks to her father. "Maybe I should get to know her?"
Nick: Well, think about it. There's still a day or two before the situation becomes critical.
Amia sighs.
Amia: No one listens to me.
Mogan: That might help.
Amia nods.
Amia: I told her I would listen to what she had to tell me. I'll be in my room if you want me Father.
Amia rises.
Amia waits to be dismissed.
Mogan: All right. I'm very proud of you, Amia.
Nick nods farewell to Amia and Mogan, and heads off to find Snake.
Amia smiles at her father and heads back to her room.
Mogan watches her go and sighs.
Mogan looks up. "I haven't done as well as you would have, darling. I'm sorry."
Mogan wipes at his face with a ventral before going towards the kitchen.