Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #91: Decisions, Decisions (1/5/99)
Riyyh has found the safest, calmest, and all around best place he could think of for Rapol to stay: A spare room in his own house.
Riyyh is headed there now, during a break from work, to make sure Rapol doesn't require anything.
Rapol washes his face again, hoping it will help clear his head.
Riyyh has brought a few things just in case Rapol might want them: A new shirt from the tailor, some chocolate, and the latest gossip.
Riyyh: [these being, of course, the greatest luxury gifts available at Naros]
Riyyh: ~nervous~
Riyyh hopes he isn't pestering Rapol too much.
Rapol has had been having a lot of things running through his head that haven't for a long time.
Riyyh has actually been having a very hard time getting any work done, due to the amount of time he has spent thinking about the Gen.
Riyyh hurries up the steps and slips into the house.
Rapol dries off his face vigorously.
Anmyn is hanging out in the living room, and zlins Riyyh's return.
Anmyn: Sectuib! Back already?
Anmyn has learned enough about the customs of her new House to know that she is supposed to be able to report the reason for the return, and exactly what went on.
Rapol combs his hair with his fingers.
Rapol decides to go see if there is something to eat handy in the house, without having to go out.
Riyyh: I just wanted to... drop off a couple of things. ~~rather guilty and embarrassed but also thrilling to the zlin of Rapol's nager upstairs...~~
Anmyn looks at the shirt and chocolates.
Anmyn: New clothing?
Riyyh: For Rapol. [confesses]
Rapol cautiously opens the door a crack and looks out.
Riyyh: You see? It's that dark red thread Meuli was so proud of... and the mirror beads.
Riyyh hears the door open upstairs and tries to control his urge to race up there.
Anmyn looks at the shirt.
Anmyn: You must like him a lot.
Riyyh smiles at Anmyn and touches her shoulder.
Riyyh: You'll understand, when you've... become old enough to have had, and lost, Companions.
Anmyn wonders if she'll ever like her Companion as much.
Rapol steps out into the hall, trying not to make too much noise.
Riyyh hears the light step in the hallway upstairs, and immediately drops everything and bolts for the nearest mirror.
Anmyn: I wouldn't want to lose my Companion, and I haven't known her very long.
Anmyn: Did you know that Rapol was the one for you from the first time you zlinned him?
Anmyn: The cholocates spilled!
Riyyh: Oh dear.
Anmyn kneels down to collect them.
Anmyn picks them carefully off of the shirt.
Riyyh had spent about an hour making sure his look was perfect before leaving the office, but just about anything could have happened during the 2 minute walk to his house.
Anmyn: I think the box got a bit warm. There's a small smear on the shirt.
Anmyn points to a brown spot on the red.
Riyyh is ~crushed~
Riyyh: ...oh.
Anmyn: It will come out just fine. All it requires is a bit of soap and water.
Riyyh: I'll have to give it to him another time, then.
Anmyn: Would you like me to take care of it for you? I can have it back in just a moment.
Anmyn: ~~ eager to please ~~
Riyyh tries to hide his disappointment, rather than ruin her eagerness.
Riyyh: Of course, Anmyn. [gently] Thank you.
Rapol starts down the stairs, holding the railing carefully.
Riyyh looks at the box of chocolates, trying to decide how it could have gotten warm during the subzero walk from the office, and wonders if it was his own passion that had overheated them.
Riyyh: Ah, well. [softly]
Anmyn: Oh, here he comes!
Anmyn hands Riyyh the reconstructed box of chocolates and rushes off with the shirt.
Riyyh takes the chocolates and brings them into the kitchen, where he puts them in a cool spot.
Rapol stops at the bottom of the steps to look both ways in the connecting hall.
Riyyh returns from the kitchen to find Rapol at the bottom of the stairs.
Riyyh is considerably subdued compared to before, but still smiles when he sees Rapol.
Rapol sees a Sime and stops still.
Riyyh: Hello. Are you well rest... ed? [hestitating at Rapol's reaction]
Rapol recognizes Riyyh and ~~ relaxes ~~
Riyyh waits until Rapol relaxes, and then cautiously moves nearer.
Riyyh: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.
Rapol nods.
Rapol: Hello.
Anmyn ducks into the bathroom and starts carefully washing the melted chocolate from the shirt.
Riyyh: I brought you... [gestures helplessly] well, it isn't important.
Riyyh: How are you doing?
Rapol shrugs. "Fine".
Rapol: "Warm."
Rapol smiles.
Riyyh: I came back from work to see if you required anything.
Riyyh's voice and body language make it clear he is all too eager to please.
Rapol makes accomodation for Riyyh in his field.
Anmyn carefully hangs the shirt to dry, not too close to the heater.
Rapol: Food?
Riyyh: Of course! Of course. Would you like me to cook you something?
Rapol is ~~ hungry ~~
Rapol gestures to himself. "Can cook."
Riyyh: Oh... of course you can. I had only thought... well, I can show you the kitchen, how is that?
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh can't believe how amazingly nager-whipped he is.
Riyyh hasn't had it this bad for a Gen since Ruby Established.
Rapol smiles back.
Rapol: "Please."
Riyyh leads the way to the kitchen.
Rapol is more ~~ comfortable ~~ with the thought of cooking. Something non-threatening he can still understand.
Riyyh: It's small, but I've managed.
Riyyh: Here are vegetables... mushrooms, rutabagas, and herbs, fruit is over here... we grow all our own produce [explains].
Rapol follows after, glancing out a window and ~~ shivering ~~ a bit at the obviously frigid conditions.
Rapol is ~~ pleased ~~ at the selection.
Riyyh: And there is some bread left from breakfast, although flour is in here....
Riyyh isn't sure whether Rapol would prefer to bake his own.
Rapol looks over the pantry, picking up this and that to smell and feel it.
Riyyh has never been able to really relate to cooking as anything but a service to others.
Riyyh has never enjoyed doing it for simple utility.
Rapol looks a lot more purposeful and confident handling food then he does talking to people.
Rapol starts selecting items.
Rapol absently asks "What would like?"
Riyyh slips into a chair at the table.
Riyyh looks up at Rapol.
Riyyh: I would like to spend more time with you... if that is all right with you.
Riyyh: [earnestly]
Rapol pauses to process the non-culinary response.
Rapol puts down the items he is holding and looks directly at Riyyh.
Rapol: "Why?"
Rapol is ~~ uncertain ~~ what he is asking why about.
Rapol thinks that this Sime already has his selyn, and isn't in need again yet.
Riyyh's gray eyes are alight with something halfway between yearning and restraint.
Rapol tries to remember what else a Sime might want.
Riyyh: Because our... our transfer was unforgettable.
Riyyh: I admire and... and want, your nager and I wish that I could help you and care for you, as you recover from your past.
Rapol suddenly sits down. ~~ shock ~~
Rapol's thoughts surge around in various direction, in very old memories.
Rapol recalls his childhood.
Riyyh extends a hand toward Rapol's, concerned.
Riyyh: I'm sorry... I shouldn't have.
Rapol: [Factions of Rapol's mind war amoungst themselves, some overjoyed and other suspiscious]
Riyyh tries to speak reassuringly.
Rapol's hand absently reaches out to touch Riyyh's arm as his field offers ~~ support ~~ automatically.
Riyyh: You don't have to say yes. You don't have to say anything at all, if you don't want to.
Riyyh runs out of things to say as Rapol's field touches his.
Rapol nods, glad he can get away without talking.
Linn signals at the door to Riyyh's house.
Rapol looks over at Riyyh and extends his other hand.
Riyyh is overwhelmed by the luxury of this Gen's nager.
Anmyn happens to be passing by, and opens the door.
Riyyh reaches for the hand, neither willing or able to stop himself.
Linn: Is Riyyh in?
Anmyn steps back.
Anmyn: He's in the kitchen.
Riyyh's tentacles tease around the edges of their fingers, delighting in the added sensitivity.
Rapol engages Riyyh's field more deeply.
Linn enters and seeks the kitchen.
Linn: Sectuib Riyyh...
Riyyh allows himself [well actually he hardly realizes it's happening] to move around the table to be nearer to Rapol.
Linn enters the kitchen and sees Riyyh scooting towards Rapol.
Linn: I'm sorry. Am I interrupting something?
Rapol is ~~ welcoming ~~ to Riyyh.
Riyyh becomes aware of another presence in the kitchen even as he feels a nearly irresistable urge to press himself into the center of Rapol's nager.
Rapol senses a distortion in the ambient, but realizes it is a Gen, and therefore not a threat.
Linn: I just wanted to know if there is any news of Snake....
Rapol suddenly breaks concentration on his nager to look around. "Snake?"
Riyyh grips Rapol's arms, disoriented by the sudden shift of attention away from himself.
Linn really notices the other person in the room for the first time.
Linn: Rapol? Is that you?
Linn: ~~ amazement ~~
Rapol looks at Linn, sees she isn't Snake, and keeps looking around. "Snake?"
Riyyh comes duoconscious, opening his eyes.
Riyyh: Rapol...
Linn: No, it's Linn.
Linn: Snake left here about a week ago, with Nick. Sectuib Riyyh was trying to find her.
Riyyh certainly was doing no such thing.
Rapol focuses on Linn.
Rapol: Teacher.
Linn sees that Rapol isn't himself.
Riyyh releases his hold on Rapol's arms, not sure what to do with himself at this point.
Linn: Yes. I'm the teacher who stayed with you, and Snake, and Nick.
Rapol: Nick?
Rapol starts looking around again.
Riyyh tries to hide his ~distress~ from them.
Linn: Yes. Nick is still with Snake.
Rapol is ~~ jealous ~~ that Nick is here to steal Riyyh too.
Riyyh doesn't know whether he should try to calm Rapol's conflicting emotions, or allow Linn to speak to him unhindered.
Riyyh knows which one he would rather do.
Linn: Rapol, how did you get here?
Linn: What happened to you?
Riyyh: Linn... [cautions]
Rapol sits down.
Rapol: "Happened?"
Rapol's eyes go unfocused.
Linn: Yes. How did you get here from Bender Cove?
Linn: Were you searching for Snake?
Riyyh moves over to rub Rapol's shoulders.
Rapol's field ~~ cringes ~~ without any visible sign.
Riyyh's heart goes out to Rapol.
Rapol: No!
Rapol: Ran! Away!
Linn: You ran away from Snake?
Linn: Or she ran away from you?
Riyyh: Rapol... Rapol... it's all right. You're all right. [soothing]
Rapol looks ~~ confused. ~~
Rapol: No. Them!
Riyyh: Linn, he hasn't been able to talk about it. Please, be gentle with him.
Riyyh can't bear to see, not to mention zlin, Rapol's torment.
Rapol starts to ~~ shiver ~~ as he remembers.
Linn: Rapol, I'm very glad to see you again. [gently]
Linn: They can't get you here, you don't have to worry.
Rapol mutters "Can't?"
Riyyh continues to massage Rapol's shoulders.
Riyyh: You are safe here. We are all safe here.
Rapol starts breathing deeply in a conscious effort.
Linn is very curious to know just who was chasing Rapol, and presumably Snake as well, out of Bender Cove.
Rapol twists to look at Riyyh. "Safe?" ~~ plaintive ~~
Riyyh: Yes. [sincere]
Riyyh: Isn't that right, Linn?
Riyyh hopes Linn will overlook the rutabaga missile and the reversed plumbing in the Sectuibal shower.
Linn: Well, safer than most places.
Riyyh: You see?
Riyyh: ~encouraging~
Rapol closes his eyes and breathes deeply.
Rapol: "Safe."
Rapol forces himself to be ~~ calm. ~~
Linn: We were all worried about you, Rapol.
Rapol turns. "Worried?"
Linn: Yes. We didn't know what had happened to you, you see.
Rapol: "You? Safe?"
Linn: Griff and Eliza and I are safe. So were Snake and Nick, when they left here a week ago.
Rapol ~~ concentrates ~~ on Linn, not wanting to go near 'happened' again.
Linn: Did you find them, Riyyh?
Riyyh struggles between his natural inability to tell a lie, and his natural inability to hurt anyone knowingly.
Riyyh: Oh dear.
Linn looks at Riyyh with teacherly sternness.
Riyyh meets the stare with an apologetic shying-away.
Rapol senses Riyyh's uneasiness and returns attention to him.
Linn: Tell me, Riyyh.
Riyyh: Yes, we encountered them.
Riyyh: At... at the same Inn where I found you, Rapol.
Riyyh: [confesses]
Linn: Were they all right?
Riyyh: Yes.
Rapol wrinkles his brow. "Ronaplin?"
Linn: ~~ anxious ~~
Riyyh: They were not interested in returning here, despite Prunida's best efforts, and then they moved on.
Riyyh: Sethan and I returned here some days later. [explains]
Linn: Did they say which direction they were traveling in?
Riyyh hesitates.
Rapol: Sethan? Lucia!
Linn: ~~ confused ~~
Linn: What, Rapol?
Riyyh: Lucia brought him back, Linn.
Riyyh: I sent her when I returned.
Rapol: Lucia. Brought here.
Linn: I see.
Riyyh pushes back his hair, hoping nobody will notice this topic is making him very nervous.
Riyyh surreptitiously dries his hand off behind his back.
Linn wonders how Snake missed zlinning Rapol, since they were apparently staying in the same place.
Rapol tries to sort out all the different ideas he's being bombarded by.
Rapol decides to fall back on his old standby.
Rapol looks at Linn. "Hungry?"
Linn smiles.
Linn: I believe I am.
Rapol nods, getting to his feet.
Riyyh can't hide his ~concern~ for Rapol.
Rapol goes to the stove and opens it to check the fire.
Rapol finds it too small and starts adding fuel.
Riyyh rubs his forearms, and then eases down into another chair.
Riyyh: Linn, [quietly]
Riyyh: They said they were going West, but I don't think she really had any idea.
Linn: Well, that's a place to start.
Riyyh: I don't know that... [glances back at Rapol]
Riyyh: I don't know that it would be a good idea for him.
Riyyh: If the rest of you want to leave, I cannot hold you here, although of course you're welcome to stay as well.
Riyyh: But Rapol....
Rapol selects a frypan and puts it on the stove with some oil in it.
Linn: You want him.
Riyyh closes his eyes briefly, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Riyyh removes his hand.
Riyyh: Yes, I admit it, I want him.
Rapol busies himself with the various vegetables.
Riyyh: And he requires somewhere stable, somewhere safe.
Riyyh: I can give that to him.
Riyyh: I can give him the time he requires, as well.
Linn looks at Rapol, then back to Riyyh.
Linn: I won't push him, but he deserves the chance to make his own decision.
Riyyh: He does, but he won't be ready for that for a long time.
Riyyh hears more pleading in his voice than he had really wanted to put there.
Linn shakes her head.
Linn: He has to choose now, when both choices are truly open to him.
Riyyh thinks that Snake's people will simply talk Rapol into leaving and carry him off, and there isn't much he can do about it.
Riyyh sighs unhappily.
Linn: If you waited until he'd finished healing, he'd already be committed to you, probably for good.
Riyyh had kind of been thinking along those lines, yes.
Linn turns to Rapol.
Linn: Rapol, I'm planning to go after Nick and Snake, to rejoin them. You can come along, if you wish, or stay here and become Sectuib Riyyh's Companion.
Riyyh: Linn, I really don't think...
Linn: I don't know if I'll be able to catch up to them, and it won't be a pleasant journey at this time of year.
Rapol puts down the paring knife he was using to look at Linn.
Riyyh: Oh, dear. [to himself]
Linn looks back at Rapol, in as nonjudgemental a fashion as she can manage.
Rapol: Go after?
Rapol: Stay?
Linn: Yes. You can go with me to find Snake and Nick, or stay here and be Sectuib Riyyh's Companion.
Rapol looks over at Riyyh.
Rapol's nager surges in odd ways as he wrestles with concepts and choices.
Linn waits patiently for Rapol to think it through.
Riyyh tries to smile reassuringly at Rapol, but his heart is heavy.
Rapol steps over to look out the window at the horizon.
Riyyh tries to decide what he'd do without Rapol, without Mytag, and without Ruby, and he just can't think of what that might be.
Riyyh knows intellectually that someone among his recently Established grandchildren will surely be suitable, after a period training.
Rapol turns back to Linn. "No."
Rapol goes over to put his hands on Riyyh's shoulders.
Rapol: ~~ proprietary ~~
Linn looks at Rapol searchingly for a long moment, then nods.
Rapol: ~~ undercurrents of grief/fear/loss ~~
Riyyh looks up, in surprise.
Riyyh: ~disbelief/hope~
Riyyh reaches up to take one of Rapol's hand and squeeze it, partly out of intense relief and hope that it will work out, and partly just to make sure it's real.
Riyyh is unable to hide his relief from his face.
Rapol wraps his nager around Riyyh's hand and the rest of him.
Rapol: "S-Sorry."
Linn smiles wistfully.
Riyyh is getting far too old to be afraid for where his next transfer might come from, and he knows it.
Linn: Do what you feel is right, Rapol..
Linn: I might feel differently about undertaking such a journey, if I had a channel here to take care of.
Rapol: "Cer- tainly"
Rapol is afraid to go out into the dangerous unknown again.
Rapol: [Better a Sectuib in the hand than a Farris in the bush]
Riyyh wraps his tentacles around Rapol's wrist reassuringly.
Riyyh: You are welcome to stay here if you wish, as I said.
Riyyh: So are any of the others.
Riyyh would actually like to lose Griff, but this doesn't seem like the moment to let on.
Linn: Riyyh, might I take a supply of Farris medicines along? They can be hard to find, when traveling in out-of-the-way places.
Rapol is ~~ relieved ~~ at having a home again.
Riyyh: Of course.
Riyyh: We [pauses to make a small prayer] should have no requirement for any more than the minimal kit here.
Linn: Thank you.
Riyyh: Will tomorrow be soon enough to have it assembled?
Riyyh doesn't plan on getting anything else done today.
Linn looks out the window at the sun, which is close to setting.
Linn: Yes. It will take me the rest of today to pack--there wouldn't be time to get far..
Linn is not stupid enough to turn down what is likely to be her last night in a warm bed for some time.
Riyyh thinks without a sadist like Snake or Prunida to drive her, Linn will likely want to travel a reasonable distance each day in any case.
Riyyh nods.
Linn: I'll collect the meds in the morning, then.
Riyyh: Very well then, and if you require anything else, ask at the stables and the kitchen.
Riyyh: We would be pleased to provide you for the road.
Linn: I appreciate that.
Linn: Good luck, Rapol.
Linn: I hope you find happiness here.
Rapol: T-Thanks. Linn.
Linn hurries off to being packing.
Rapol: [overheating oil in pan starts to smoke]
Anmyn checks the shirt again, and is happy to see that it's finally dried.
Riyyh jumps up to move the pan off the fire.
Anmyn hurries to bring the shirt to Riyyh, whom she zlins is in the kitchen.
Anmyn: Sectuib! It's clean and dry now.
Anmyn: And it didn't stain at all.
Riyyh turns in surprise.
Rapol looks over at the Sime coming in.
Anmyn holds out the shirt.
Riyyh sets the pan down absently [fortunately on a non-flammable surface].
Riyyh: Rapol, I brought this for you.
Riyyh takes the shirt carefully.
Riyyh: Thank you, Anmyn.
Riyyh: You're right, it is perfect.
Anmyn smiles.
Anmyn: Chocolate comes out pretty easily, if you get it quickly.
Riyyh tends to be a bit helpless in the area of laundry, preferring to stick to what he knows: Becoming hysterical if anything nice gets stained.
Rapol perks up. "Chocolate?"
Riyyh: Ah, yes.
Riyyh goes over to the cabinet and fetches the chocolate as well.
Riyyh presents both to Rapol.
Anmyn zlins that she is intruding, and quietly leaves.
Riyyh: For you.
Riyyh: I... I thought you might like them.
Rapol takes the shirt and holds it up against himself.
Rapol smiles.
Riyyh smiles back at him.