Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #88: Hunt the Gen (12/25/98)
Kenmore carries Riyyh into the infirmary and places him gently on an examination couch.
Tictoc hurries over at Kenmore's entry.
Tictoc: Riyyh!
Tictoc: ~ concern ~
Tictoc: What's happened?
Riyyh is relieved to be released.
Riyyh: Really, it isn't such a big thing. ~~embarrassed~~
Riyyh does enjoy all the attention, though.
Kenmore: The prodigal has returned. Riyyh, you're a mess.
Riyyh: I apologize for my appearance, I....
Kenmore: Tell us what happened to get your systems into this condition.
Tictoc has zlinned Riyyh from a distance, not able to get closer with Kenmore hovering like that.
Riyyh had planned on checking in only, before going to freshen up at home.
Riyyh: Oh!
Riyyh: ~apologetic~
Riyyh: I wasn't able to work for most of the time I was gone, except for some self-healing.
Riyyh hopes neither of them can zlin the hints of Prunida's predation.
Riyyh: The nerve damage is due to the transfer I received.
Riyyh: I wasn't able to find out too much about the fellow, but I suspect he was fully trained before, er, whatever happened to him.
Riyyh: ~thoughtful and serious~
Kenmore: I'm seeing some burning here! How the shen did that happen?
Riyyh: He over-rated me somewhat.
Riyyh hopes Kenmore hasn't zlinned where Prunida almost succeeded in branding him.
Tanzarra returns to the infirmary to find Riyyh being fussed.
Kenmore: Who is this person?
Tictoc takes Tanzarra aside.
Tanzarra stays in the background and watches.
Tictoc: Prepare some fosebine and be ready for anything.
Tanzarra: Is he all right?
Riyyh: I don't know for certain, yet.
Tanzarra doesn't want to interfere with the ambient .
Tictoc rolls her eyes. "Physically or mentally? Never mind, forget I said that. He will be fine I'm sure."
Riyyh: His name is Rapol, and he is working as a cook at an Inn some two days ride from here.
Tanzarra goes to the cupboard to prepare some fosebine.
Kenmore continues to manipulate Riyyh's system to help it heal itself.
Tictoc stiffens for a second.
Kenmore turns towards Tictoc. "What's wrong?"
Riyyh: I believe he has been through some sort of trauma that has had a severe effect upon his emotional and mental functions.
Tictoc: Rapol... that name seems familiar.
Tictoc: I think I've seen it written down recently.
Riyyh: There is a Rapol mentioned in Snake's Bender Cove Tecton file, but I don't think....
Riyyh suddenly feels very foolish.
Tanzarra returns with the fosebine.
Kenmore: See if you can remember where. It sounds like.... What?
Riyyh: ~~D'oh!~~
Kenmore takes the fosebine from Tanzarra and drowns it.
Kenmore: Thank you. You better get some for Riyyh too.
Tanzarra rolls her eyes and returns for another dose for Riyyh.
Kenmore: We better get our tentacles on this person, he could be dangerous.
Kenmore doesn't believe in leaving loaded Gens around.
Riyyh: I was hoping to bring him back here for therapy. [cautiously]
Tanzarra pours two, just in case someone else feels they really require a dose.
Kenmore nods. "Good idea. But I want you to sleep for awhile first. Where is that fosebine?"
Tanzarra: Here is some fosebine for Riyyh.
Riyyh was hoping to heal Rapol, gain his deep and undying personal trust, and become his channel forever.
Tanzarra deftly avoids Kenmore and hands a dose to Riyyh.
Riyyh: Thank you, but I... [sighs] Thank you, Tanzarra.
Riyyh accepts the fosebine and drinks it.
Tanzarra Welcome back.
Riyyh smiles at her gratefully.
Riyyh: I'm glad to be back.
Tanzarra zlins Riyyh.
Tictoc zlins Tanzarra zlinning Riyyh and is pleased with her progress.
Riyyh appears to have been through a blizzard, various beatings and restraints, various semi-healings, and had one heck of a transfer (which slightly burnt him out).
Riyyh appears to be in a good mood.
Kenmore: Hmmm. Do you feel well enough to return to your own quarters then?
Tanzarra How did all this happen?
Tictoc: Don't you think he would be better here? ~ concern ~
Riyyh: [to Kenmore] Yes, thank you, I must first check into my office, of course....
Riyyh's voice trails off at Tanzarra's words.
Riyyh: ~worry~
Tictoc wants to keep an eye on him, so he can't wander off again.
Riyyh: [to Tanzarra] You see, when Nick and Snake left, Prunida wanted to follow.
Riyyh: Of course, she wouldn't hear of me staying behind, although, granted, I knew I would be more of a hindrance to her than a help.
Riyyh: At least in the area of her search. [adds]
Riyyh is trying to say, in the nicest way possible, that Prunida abducted him by force.
Kenmore: We had thought that perhaps your rapid and unexplained departure was connected to that of Wise Snake.
Riyyh: Well, Prunida was afraid she'd lose Nick forever. [explains]
Riyyh: She was quite insistent that I come along.
Tictoc: Why didn't you let us know?
Tictoc lets Riyyh see how worried she had been.
Riyyh: Tictoc, I'm terribly sorry, but I wasn't given much of a choice.
Riyyh: I returned as soon as I was able to get free of entanglements I encountered on the road.
Kenmore thinks that it's a terrible thing when Sectuibs are kidnapped right out of their beds.
Tanzarra It looks like you encountered quite a few.
Riyyh: And it was 3 in the morning, the only people out and about were the night gate watch and of course Hero and Ansen.
Riyyh doesn't doubt that any alert sounded by those two was either distorted or completely garbled.
Riyyh: [either that, or utterly ignored by all]
Tictoc: Hero seems always to be around. You know, she was talking about starting a newspaper? "Naros News."
Kenmore shrugs off this piece of gossip as unimportant.
Kenmore: If you feel up to it, there is something I need your help on - now that you are back.
Tanzarra: Oh, I hadn't heard that.
Tanzarra seems to miss out on a lot of the gossip around here.
Riyyh: What is that?
Riyyh: [to Kenmore]
Riyyh gets up.
Kenmore: I received a letter, that is to say that you received a letter, concerning Anmyn.
Riyyh: ~confusion~
Riyyh: What do you mean, I received a letter?
Riyyh wonders if Kenmore has taken it upon himself to read all of Riyyh's mail.
Riyyh: What did it say?
Tanzarra ~~ interest ~~
Kenmore: Of course I took care of your correspondence while you were missing.
Riyyh: ~shock~
Kenmore looks at the others in the room.
Kenmore: I think it would be better for you to see the letter yourself.
Riyyh tries to hide his ~fear and disquiet~.
Riyyh had expected to find Kenmore and company had been gone for days when he returned... and not only are they still here, but Kenmore has taken upon himself to "take care of" Riyyh's correspondence - and who knows what else! - in his absence.
Riyyh: Yes, of course. [unsteadily]
Kenmore steadies Riyyh with a hand on his shoulder.
Tictoc looks miffed.
Tictoc: ~ miffed ~
Tanzarra stands aside, but close, in case she is required.
Kenmore: Then I want you to rest.
Riyyh: Kenmore, I must speak with you regarding your handling of... of events here. [low-voiced to Kenmore]
Kenmore: I'll bring you up to date of events in your absence after you have rested. But this one matter really can't wait.
Riyyh's ~distress~ increases as Kenmore fails to take his request seriously.
Riyyh: Of course.
Riyyh wonders what kind of events he's talking about, anyway.
Kenmore guides Riyyh out of the infirmary.
Riyyh had heard some details from the people who caught up with him outside the stables, before Kenmore broke it up.
Riyyh: [mostly things like who had changed over, started dating, gone on a diet, etc.]
Kenmore: [the important stuff]
Tanzarra takes the glasses back to the sink and cleans them.
Kenmore takes Riyyh to his, errr Riyyh's, office.
Kenmore searches amongst some of the papers filed in neat piles on the desk and pulls out a bright orange envelope.
Kenmore: Here it is.
Riyyh takes the envelope.
Riyyh removes the letter and scans it.
Riyyh pales.
Kenmore: Here, sit down.
Kenmore puts a chair under Riyyh.
Riyyh sits down in a daze.
Riyyh: This can't be.
Kenmore: It only came yesterday.
Riyyh stops for a moment to try to pull himself together.
Riyyh folds the letter carefully and puts it back in the envelope.
Kenmore: I'm glad that you came back in time to deal with it.
Kenmore: ~ honest relief ~
Riyyh seems very subdued.
Kenmore: As soon as you are settled back here we really must leave. We were never meant to stay this long.
Kenmore: I'd like to meet this stray Donor before we leave though.
Riyyh tries to hide his very genuine relief that Kenmore really means to leave.
Riyyh: Thank you for all of your help in... well, I don't know if that is such a good idea. ~worried~~
Riyyh imagines it would be a simple matter for Kenmore to whisk Rapol away, seeing as how Naros has no particular legal hold over the Donor.
Kenmore: We can't leave a damaged Gen of that magnitude loose.
Riyyh: But I had hoped to treat him here.
Riyyh: ~pleading~
Riyyh manages to avoid the "but I found him first!" defense.
Kenmore: ~ hesitant ~
Kenmore: Well, probably that would be the best idea. But I would like to check him over.
Riyyh had in fact hoped to become bonded to the Gen forever, as has been mentioned before.
Riyyh is a good ways toward convincing himself he already is, as a matter of fact.
Riyyh looks nervous and sad.
Riyyh: Well, of course... I mean, there should be no harm in....
Kenmore changes the topic quickly.
Kenmore: Mytag was distraught when you left like that.
Riyyh: I didn't want to leave without him. I didn't want to leave at all!
Kenmore: He left, Riyyh.
Kenmore: ~ gently ~
Riyyh: Left? Left where?
Riyyh: ~alarmed~
Kenmore: He asked for an assignment with the Tecton for 3 months. I saw no reason to refuse his offer, considering.
Kenmore: I made sure it was for a limited time only however.
Riyyh: Ah... yes. ~resignation~
Riyyh does wonder what in shen Kenmore means by "considering".
Riyyh: ["Considering" Mytag's Sectuib and channel has been missing for a few days?]
Riyyh: ~sadness~
Kenmore: Don't worry, please. We will find you a replacement if you haven't one in mind.
Riyyh wonders if Mytag left before, or after, Riyyh's due date and hopes it was after. Is sure it was after.
Riyyh seems more depressed than worried.
Riyyh: You don't have to... you don't have to. You've done far more than your duty in helping us, thank you.
Kenmore: ~ concern ~
Kenmore: [gently] Riyyh, I've come to consider you, and your household members, my friends.
Kenmore: I really do want to help you.
Kenmore: [except for a few of the more annoying ones of course]
Riyyh: That is very kind of you, thank you.
Kenmore: ~ uncertain ~
Riyyh: I - I'm afraid I'm not at my best at the moment. I apologize.
Xenus signals at Riyyh's door.
Kenmore: Come!
Xenus is a newly changed over member of Naros.
Riyyh starts to say "come in," then stops as Kenmore beats him to it.
Xenus nervously opens the door and peers in.
Kenmore: I'm sorry Sectuib. It is, of course your office.
Riyyh: Hello, Xenus. [forces himself to smile and zlin friendly]
Riyyh: Do come in. I heard of your changeover, I am sorry I could not be here for it. Congratulations.
Xenus is caught up in the fields from these two.
Xenus: Wow!
Kenmore brings her duo.
Xenus: Oh! Sorry.
Riyyh thinks Zeor is quicker to teach discipline than Naros.
Kenmore: No problem Xenus, what did you want?
Riyyh sighs and listens as Kenmore questions Xenus.
Riyyh hopes he will have a chance to congratulate her later.
Xenus: Tictoc told me to see Sectuib Riyyh. I'm sorry if I have interrupted.
Xenus is trying real hard to stay duo.
Riyyh: Not at all.
Riyyh: [automatically]
Riyyh: Please, have a seat, if you would like.
Riyyh: ~gentle~
Kenmore hesitates.
Kenmore: Perhaps I could leave you alone with your Householder.
Riyyh: If you cannot wait, I understand. Is there another time we can meet?
Riyyh indicates the correspondence and so forth on the desk.
Xenus sits and zlins in awe at the two channels.
Kenmore: Perhaps you could call me after you have rested?
Riyyh: Of course.
Kenmore: You will make sure to rest won't you?
Riyyh: Yes, I will.
Riyyh: ~truth~
Kenmore makes it clear that if Riyyh doesn't he, Kenmore, will enforce it.
Riyyh cringes slightly.
Riyyh: I will.
Kenmore: I'll see you then. Goodbye, Xenus.
Xenus: Good bye.
Xenus looks back at Riyyh.
Riyyh turns his attention to Xenus.
Kenmore leaves.
Riyyh keeps the shock, disappointment, loneliness, dismay and fear hidden in his core and continues to present a ~friendly and gentle~ showfield to Xenus.
Riyyh: Now then. What was it you required? [kindly]
Xenus: Well... Tictoc says that I should be able to concentrate more, but I am trying.
Xenus: It's just that everything is so....
Xenus: ~~ nervous ~~
Riyyh: That will improve with practice. [gently]
Riyyh: You're only a week old, after all.
Xenus looks to the floor and hopes that Riyyh doesn't zlin that that's not the whole truth.
Riyyh: You're troubled, Xenus. What is wrong? ~concerned~
Riyyh thinks surely Xenus has seen enough of her friends change over to not be too worried about her development as a Sime.
Xenus: ~~ anxious ~~
Riyyh extends his field to offer her ~soothing~.
Xenus figures that if she doesn't say something, Tictoc will.
Xenus: Tictoc is also worried that I am too obsessed with Gens. But I just like to be near them, that's all.
Riyyh: Obsessed?
Riyyh frowns.
Riyyh: What sort of behavior suggests that to her? Surely not simply being near Gens.
Xenus: She says that my asking the Donors what Sime/Gen transfer feels like is dangerous. I'm just curious.
Xenus is a little more than curious, but isn't saying that.
Riyyh is completely baffled.
Riyyh: Tictoc said this?
Riyyh is sure Xenus must have misunderstood.
Xenus: Yes. She said that.
Riyyh: Well, you are very young, and it is important to remember that even though you feel like you might be in love with everybody you meet, it's important to wait to commit to anybody until you have been seen by a matchmaker.
Xenus She said that I shouldn't hang around with Gens.
Riyyh: You should be sure to see a matchmaker before making any commitments to anybody.
Riyyh: Not every Sime and Gen are safe together. I know at your age it feels as if you are in love with everybody you zlin.
Riyyh actually has been that way his whole life.
Xenus Do you think I could ever have Gen transfer?
Riyyh: Of course, if you ever find the right Gen. You're awfully young yet, though. [gently]
Xenus would really like to know the real thing.
Riyyh zlins her thoughtfully.
Xenus ~~ hopeful ~~
Riyyh sighs, knowing that it is nearly impossible convince a young bundle of raging hormones that their feelings aren't unique and that everybody goes through this phase and everything does work out in the end.
Riyyh: I will have a word with Tictoc.
Xenus I'll try to control myself better.
Riyyh: Control yourself?
Riyyh wonders what Xenus means by controlling herself.
Xenus realises that she shouldn't have said that.
Xenus didn't want Riyyh to know about her intrusive zlinning of every Gen she could get close to.
Riyyh: What do you feel you must control in yourself? [gently]
Xenus Ummm, my behavior around Gens, I guess.
Riyyh nods.
Xenus starts to twiddle her tentacles nervously.
Riyyh: Well, that is something everybody must practice. It's a matter of common courtesy to behave properly around your fellow Narosians.
Riyyh: Of course one's first month is a period of learning and growth, and you might make a mistake or two in learning, but so long as you demonstrate an earnest attempt to learn and improve, everybody will be most understanding. [smiles]
Riyyh: ~soothing~
Xenus bows her head.
Riyyh zlins Xenus, concerned.
Riyyh adds finding out what exactly what Xenus has been doing to Gens to upset Tictoc so, to his lengthening list of gossip items he simply must pick up on as soon as possible.
Xenus smiles up at Riyyh.
Riyyh smiles back at her, somewhat reassured.
Riyyh: I will speak to Tictoc, though.
Xenus I'll try. I really will.
Riyyh: Yes, you do that. Thank you.
Riyyh: Are you going to see Tictoc again soon?
Xenus fidgets as it gets harder to stay duo.
Xenus I have to let her know that I have seen you, but she didn't say when.
Riyyh: Why don't you run along and let her know now, and have her come by and speak to me? I will be at my house.
Riyyh thinks he desperately requires a thorough grooming, or he won't be able to go anywhere without people asking him, horrified, what happened to him.
Riyyh would also like to get out of the hated outfit he's been wearing for more than 2 weeks.
Riyyh has washed the same outfit by hand 17 times now and would like nothing more than to never see or touch it again.
Riyyh thinks calling it an "outfit" is a terrible injustice, since it was random clothes grabbed in a hurry when Prunida was dragging him out of the house by force.
Xenus Yes, Sectuib.
Riyyh smiles reassuringly at her.
Riyyh: You'll be fine.
Xenus gets up and smiles a little at Riyyh and heads for the door.
Xenus Thank you Sectuib.
Xenus leaves and goes to see Tictoc immediately.
Riyyh waits the minimum amount of time dignity would require, then hurries out himself.
Riyyh: ~nervous breakdown imminent~
Tictoc puts away some patient files and prepares to make herself a cup of tea.
Xenus augments up behind Tictoc.
Xenus Sectuib wants to see you.
Tictoc leaps into the air.
Tictoc: Xenus! I told you not to do that!
Xenus You said not to do that to Gens.
Xenus ~~ innocence ~~
Tictoc holds her heart. "Well, don't do it to Simes when they are busy either!"
Xenus: Oh. Sorry, Tictoc.
Tictoc: ~ annoyed ~
Tictoc: What did you want, Xenus?
Xenus kicks the ground with a foot.
Tictoc: Don't do that, you will scuff your shoes.
Xenus: I went to see Sectuib Riyyh like you told me and I'm telling you I did, like you told me.
Tictoc: Right. Good. What did he say?
Xenus tries to stand still.
Xenus: He said he wanted to see you.
Tictoc: When?
Xenus twirls her foot on the spot instead.
Xenus: Now.
Tictoc sighs. "In his office?"
Xenus: I think so.
Xenus is distracted as she zlins a Gen nearby.
Tictoc hopes that maybe she can get a cup of tea while she is there.
Tictoc: Xenus!
Tictoc: ~ sigh ~
Xenus: What?
Xenus looks as innocent as possible.
Tictoc: Tell you what. You know Eliza? Why don't you go find her. I'm sure she won't mind you hanging out with her for a bit.
Xenus: Really?
Xenus: ~~ excited ~~
Tictoc: Tell her to tell you how slamming works.
Xenus: Oh. Ummm... all right.
Xenus: ~~ hesitant ~~
Tictoc thinks that might stop the child from annoying every Gen in zlinning range for awhile.
Tictoc: Go on, run along!
Xenus: OK!
Xenus goes in search of Eliza.
Tictoc heads off to Riyyh's office.
Tictoc signals at the door and zlins inside to see if he is alone.
Xenus thinks that she can play "hunt the Gen".
Tictoc doesn't zlin anyone at all inside, and opens the door cautiously.
Tictoc heads back out and asks Wolfa where Riyyh is.
Wolfa: I believe that he went home. I can't believe that he is back and in one piece!
Wolfa: Isn't it wonderful?!
Tictoc: Yeah, wonderful.
Tictoc heads towards the Sectuib's house.
Xenus is once again caught up in the mix of nagers and is swept up in the ambient.
Tictoc climbs the steps and signals at the door.
Tictoc: Riyyh? You there?
Riyyh: Argh.
Riyyh turns off the water and runs down the stairs in a towel with his hair all soapy.
Xenus heads toward the kitchen as that's always a good place to find Gens.
Riyyh had known that Tictoc was coming, but had been weak when he arrived home and saw his own bathroom waiting for him.
Riyyh opens the door for her and a blast of cold air.
Riyyh: Oh hello, Tictoc, I'm terribly sorry to have kept you waiting.
Riyyh: ~sincere~
Eliza is eating spaghetti on toast.
Xenus zlins a mix of hunger and satisfaction in the kitchen.
Tictoc looks at the soapy Sectuib in surprise.
Riyyh: Please, come in?
Tictoc: I'm sorry, were you having a bath?
Tictoc: Xenus said you wanted to see me right away.
Riyyh: Yes, yes, I'm terribly sorry.
Riyyh: Please do come in.
Xenus zlins Eliza and makes her way there, keeping from augmenting.
Tictoc enters.
Riyyh closes the door in relief.
Tictoc: How are you feeling?
Riyyh: I am doing much better, thank you.
Riyyh pushes back his soapy mane.
Riyyh: Thank you for coming. Please, have a seat.
Riyyh sits gingerly on the couch, trying discreetly to augment away the excess moisture.
Tictoc: I won't keep you out of your hot bath. What did you want to see me about?
Tictoc sits down.
Tictoc, slightly embarrassed, waits for Riyyh to say why he wanted to see her.
Riyyh: I spoke with young Xenus a short time ago.
Tictoc nods.
Riyyh: She said you had discouraged her from fraternizing with Gens...?
Riyyh's voice and nager invite an explanation.
Tictoc: ~ surprised ~
Tictoc: Actually what I told her to do was to stop hunting Gens!
Tictoc: She has been augmenting around the place playing "hunt the Gen" while staying hyper.
Tictoc: Annoying half the population, terrifying the other half.
Tictoc: She has been a bloody nuisance, to be honest.
Riyyh is surprised nobody had mentioned this yet.
Tictoc: I think I have found a partial solution - I've told her that she can hang around with Eliza. That might cure her.
Riyyh: I see.
Riyyh: ~nonplussed~
Tictoc: I've been looking at the book "Simes behaving badly." I had thought that she could read it, but I think it might only give her ideas.
Riyyh: She's only a week old, Tictoc.
Riyyh worries that with all of these Farrises around, people are starting to believe there is no such thing as young-adulthood.
Riyyh: Are you sure this is a cause for concern?
Tictoc: If she doesn't stop soon she won't reach two weeks old.
Riyyh: What do you mean?
Riyyh: ~alarmed~
Tictoc sighs. "Well I had thought that if you, as Sectuib, could talk to her and tell her that pestering Gens wasn't polite it might stop her."
Riyyh: Well, perhaps it would.
Riyyh wishes somebody had told him about this before sending the girl over.
Tictoc: I don't think she is capable of hurting anyone here at the moment. We haven't had many visiting Gens who can't look after themselves here lately. But I would hate for an accident to happen.
Riyyh: Of course.
Tictoc: I told her to see the Sectuib - I didn't mean for her to see you the minute you walked in. I'm sorry this has dropped on your lap right away like that.
Xenus stands behind Eliza and zlins her eating.
Riyyh zlins Tictoc more closely, wondering if she has been under undue stress lately.
Eliza pauses... and swings around suddenly.
Xenus is fascinated at the contentment in her nager.
Eliza: What the shen are you doing?
Xenus jumps back. ~shock ~~
Riyyh: Tictoc? How have you been? [gently]
Tictoc: ~ tired ~
Xenus: Uhhh. I was just... umm... Tictoc said to come and hang out with you.
Tictoc: It's not been fun. Nothing has been the same since, well, you know.
Eliza: What the shen for?
Xenus: She said it was all right, and to ask you about slamming.
Riyyh: Since...?
Riyyh: ~concern/caring~
Tictoc: Since the problem with the genetics.
Riyyh has had so many bad things happen to him since the genetics scandal he doesn't automatically think of it anymore.
Riyyh nods.
Tictoc: What has happened to us? It use to be such a nice place!
Riyyh: You've seen the letter from Fior?
Eliza: I'll damn well show you if you sneak up behind me like that again!
Tictoc: Fior? No! What's the matter? Do they want her back?
Riyyh: No... no, I'll tell you about that later.
Riyyh waves a tentacle.
Xenus: But... I... I didn't I just stood here.
Riyyh: But I do think it has been all of the visitors, causing the disruption, I really do.
Xenus sighs.
Tictoc: I wish they would all just go home!
Riyyh: I do too. [confesses]
Riyyh: Snake and Nick are gone, though. Forever, I think. And Kenmore said something about leaving soon.
Tictoc: Oh, we have to find you another Companion for a few months, until Mytag comes back.
Riyyh starts to reach out for Tictoc's hand, then winces at her words.
Riyyh: Ah... yes.
Riyyh: ~disappointment and sadness~
Tictoc: He wasn't coping real well with the Zeor crew around, and when the due date for your transfer came and went and Kenmore said he would take his field down for yet another month....
Riyyh: I wish he had stayed, but his heart hasn't been in it, and I can't really begrudge him his Tecton position if that is what he wants.
Tictoc: Oh Riyyh, he didn't want a Tecton position! He just didn't want to stay here without you!
Xenus thought that Gens here liked Simes, but she keeps getting into trouble.
Riyyh rubs the back of his neck.
Riyyh: He was rather ambivalent about serving me.
Riyyh: It was a struggle for him. He certainly rose to the occasion when I asked him to, but....
Tictoc: I think that was just his way of protecting himself. He was scared that you mightn't want him after Ruby, and didn't want the disappointment.
Riyyh: ~confused~
Riyyh: Do you think so? That wasn't the impression he gave me at all, and I had been begging him to consider it.
Riyyh is belatedly ~embarrassed~ at having admitted the begging.
Tictoc shrugs. "I don't know really. I just know that when time for transfer came around and Kenmore was offering to take down his field for the second month in a row that he decided to leave."
Riyyh: Do you mean to tell me there wasn't one other Sime in Naros who could have taken transfer of him?
Riyyh shakes his head.
Riyyh: Never mind.
Tictoc: Well, we are Companion-heavy at the moment. Sending him to the Tecton really did solve two problems at once.
Riyyh thinks it was a disaster.
Riyyh sighs unhappily.
Riyyh: Well, I shall just have to make do, then.
Riyyh really thinks that no "problems" were solved by sending off Naros' highest ranked Donor when he already outranked that Donor noticeably.
Tictoc: There is one or two new Establishments I'd like you to look over.
Riyyh: Of course.
Eliza: Well, all right, sit down. What did you want to know?
Xenus: I didn't, Tictoc just said to ask you about it.
Tictoc: I think that at least one of them, maybe both, could be brought up to suit you.
Xenus zlins Eliza, and anyone else in her zlinning range.
Eliza watches Xenus's eyes focus and unfocus and drags her duo.
Riyyh: All right, I will have a look at them when I have rested.
Eliza: Try to stay with me for a moment then.
Riyyh: About Anmyn....
Tictoc: ~ worry ~ Yes?
Xenus: All right.
Riyyh looks even more depressed than before.
Eliza: When did you change over?
Xenus was enjoying the fields.
Riyyh: Apparently there was an error in her bloodlines which Fior has only now become aware of.
Xenus: A week ago.
Riyyh: She cannot be Fior's heir.
Tictoc: What? Does it matter?
Riyyh: It does. She's....
Tictoc: She is going to be a great channel, what more is needed?
Riyyh stops, pressing his fingers against his temple.
Eliza: Well, try to concentrate on me and to stay duo.
Eliza: It doesn't matter if you slip every now and then.
Xenus struggles to stay focused on Eliza.
Tictoc: Don't tell me....
Tictoc: She can't be!
Eliza flares her nager.
Eliza: Here, have some tea.
Eliza pushes her cup over to the kid.
Tictoc: ~ shock ~
Xenus picks up the cup as she stares wide eyed at Eliza.
Riyyh: ~despair~
Tictoc tries to remember if Riyyh went anywhere near Fior about 13 years ago.
Riyyh: I didn't know, Tictoc.
Eliza: That's better.
Tictoc: Is there anyone anywhere who isn't your child, Riyyh?
Xenus sips the tea although she is not thirsty.
Eliza: Do you know why Tictoc sent you to me?
Riyyh: She's only my grandchild, but still....
Eliza is amazed. She didn't think that Tictoc liked her.
Riyyh: I'm sorry.
Riyyh: I really didn't know.
Tictoc: So, we have to search again.
Riyyh: Yes. [heavily]
Tictoc: All over again.
Xenus: No. She just said that you wouldn't mind me hanging around.
Riyyh wonders what Tictoc is so sorry about, he's the one who had to do all the work of interviewing and choosing.
Riyyh shoves that thought out of his mind as unworthy.
Xenus is losing her focus again.
Riyyh: I'm sorry. [again]
Eliza: ~ here for you ~
Eliza: Oh. Well, are you being punished or something?
Xenus: ~~ pleasure ~~
Xenus: Na...No. I don't think so.
Tictoc stands up. "You better get back into your bath, Riyyh, then get some rest."
Xenus's eyes light up at Eliza's nageric attention.
Riyyh stands also.
Riyyh looks and zlins cold, sticky, half-dried and dejected.
Riyyh: Thank you, Tictoc. I will be sure to... to speak to Xenus again. [among other very major things]
Eliza wonders how to make a profit from this situation.
Tictoc gets up and heads towards the door.
Xenus: She want's me to stay away from Gens, so this can't be punishment.
Xenus smiles at Eliza.
Tictoc: I'll see you later Riyyh.
Tictoc: I'm - glad that you are back safe.
Riyyh: Thank you. [smiles gratefully] I'm glad to be back.
Eliza: Well, there are more than a few Simes who think that being with me is punishment enough.
Xenus: Really? Why?
Xenus likes being near any Gen.
Eliza: Why did she want you to be away from Gens?
Xenus looks around nervously, glad Eliza can't zlin.
Xenus: She said that I annoy them. I don't mean to.
Riyyh watches her leave, then slowly turns and goes back up the stairs.
Eliza: How do you annoy them?
Xenus: Wellll... I don't know.
Eliza doesn't know if to believe her.
Eliza: How about we go ask Tictoc then?
Eliza stands up as if to go.
Xenus isn't about to tell Eliza she plays "hunt the Gen" thinking the Gens don't realise it.
Xenus wonders why it was all right before to play it, and not now.
Xenus stands quickly to stay with Eliza.
Xenus: Do we have to see her?
Xenus: Can't I just stay with you for a while?
Eliza: Well, if you tell me what you did wrong.
Xenus: I just... I don't know.... I like being around Gens. Is there anything wrong with that?
Eliza: Come on, it has to be more than that.
Eliza: ~ enticing ~
Xenus: Well....
Xenus: You know how kids play?
Eliza: Sure!
Eliza never had much of time to "play" as a kid, but she has heard of it.
Xenus: And they play "hunt the Gen".
Xenus: Well. I have been playing that, but the Gens don't know. I thought they didn't, anyway.
Eliza: Hunt the Gen? Really?
Xenus: I didn't mean to scare anyone or hurt anyone, I just wanted to play.
Eliza: Oh I see!!!
Eliza: How do you play that?
Xenus: It's just that... ~~ embarrassed ~~
Xenus looks away, embarrassed.
Xenus: Didn't you ever play that?
Eliza: No, I come from Gen Territory. That would have earned us a belting!
Eliza: We use to talk about who we would kill if we changed over though.
Eliza: ~ sad ~
Xenus: Someone pretends to be Sime and someone pretends to be Gen and you go bush and chase each other.
Xenus: It's fun.
Xenus: ~~ shock ~~
Eliza: Cool! And now that you are Sime? How do you play it now?
Xenus: Oh, we don't mean it for real when we play. I'd never really kill anyone.
Eliza: Well, would you like to play it with me?
Xenus: ~~ disbelieving ~~
Xenus: What? Really?
Xenus: But you said you're from Gen territory, that would have not been a game for you there.
Eliza: Sure!
Eliza: Sounds like fun!
Xenus: I know I'd get into trouble, but what about you?
Eliza: But didn't Tictoc tell you to stay with me?
Xenus: Yes.
Xenus can't believe there's a Gen who is willing to play with her.
Eliza: Well then! We are only doing what she told you to do.
Xenus: Ummm, I guess.
Eliza: Well then - how do we start?