Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #102: For the Good of the Town (1/17/99)
Mayor Dod arrives at Naros, in search of the truth behind some rather disturbing rumors.
Riyyh hears that Mayor Dod has arrived and hurries down to meet him.
Riyyh is looking very good, thoroughly groomed and nicely dressed, if a bit distraught.
Mayor Dod looks around sharply, searching for signs of trouble.
Mayor Dod: Ah, Sectuib Riyyh. So nice to zlin you again.
Riyyh has been working hard on a daily basis since Wolfa freaked out when Prunida stole her Donor.
Mayor Dod proves it by doing so.
Riyyh is not used to that.
Riyyh: ~~frazzled but very kind and Sectuibly~~
Riyyh: Hello, Mayor Dod. [smiles]
Mayor Dod: I hope you are well today?
Riyyh: Of course, of course. Please come in, have some tea?
Mayor Dod: Thank you. I do like your special blends.
Riyyh leads Mayor Dod back to the administrative building.
Riyyh tries to remember if he'd remembered to cancel all his appointments before rushing out the door.
Mayor Dod keeps his eyes and laterals peeled (ouch!) for the unusual.
Riyyh really misses Wolfa doing about 70% of his work for him.
Mayor Dod: And how has life been treating you, Sectuib Riyyh?
Riyyh: Oh dear.
Mayor Dod: Not good?
Riyyh: Well, I suppose I shouldn't complain....
Mayor Dod: ~~ oily concern ~~
Riyyh leads Mayor Dod into his office.
Mayor Dod: Nonsense. If you can't talk to your friends, who can you talk to?
Mayor Dod: And I do consider you a friend, Sectuib Riyyh.
Mayor Dod's tentacles writhe in an unctuous manner.
Riyyh offers Mayor Dod a seat and goes to fetch some tea for his guest.
Riyyh: Thank you, that is very kind of you. ~sincere~
Mayor Dod is all ears.
Mayor Dod does, in fact, bear a distinct resemblance to an Ancient businessman and political wannabe named Ross.
Riyyh hands the Mayor a cup of tea.
Mayor Dod: Thank you so much.
Riyyh goes to his desk, which is heavily layered in work, and has a leaning tower of In-basket.
Riyyh sits down in his big, Sectuibly chair, and sighs again.
Riyyh: I've been thinking about this year.
Mayor Dod: Doing some reflecting as you prepare for spring?
Riyyh sips his own tea thoughtfully.
Riyyh: I suppose you could say that. [sadly]
Mayor Dod: It has been a tumultuous year for Naros, I understand.
Riyyh: Yes.
Riyyh: A lot of things have happened that make me wonder if... well, I am sure you have come here on important business.
Mayor Dod: Is your current mood just a reflection of the whole years, or was there anything in particular that has come up recently to upset you?
Riyyh adjusts his nager to be more businesslike.
Riyyh: Well, the temporary loss of my assistant, and, a number of personal setbacks. I suppose it all adds up. I don't wish to burden you with this, though.
Mayor Dod: Nonsense, my dear Sectuib.
Mayor Dod: Anything which affects Naros affects the town as well.
Mayor Dod: Good or bad.
Riyyh: Oh, I doubt any of this will have affected the town.
Riyyh flutters nervously.
Riyyh has noticed that some of the ladies who used to visit him regularly from town haven't showed up since he started being so moody, and wonders if he hasn't been pleasant enough in their company.
Riyyh: I do certainly hope not, anyway.
Mayor Dod: Of course it would. If only because of our deep concern for you.
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh: You are too kind.
Riyyh: ~grateful~
Mayor Dod might be less concerned, if he knew that one of the ladies in question was his wife -- and another was his daughter.
Mayor Dod: So, tell me. What has happened to cause your current distress?
Riyyh: Oh dear, well it's complicated I'm afraid.
Riyyh tries to remember when he was last not distressed.
Mayor Dod is the picture of ~~ concerned sympathy ~~
Riyyh: You see, I lost my Companion, as I am sure you have heard, and I am working with another, who I am not sure of yet, and then there is the difficulty with Prunida, well I am not even sure of where to start there.
Riyyh briefly puts a hand to his cheek in dismay as he considers the entire "difficulty with Prunida".
Mayor Dod: Prunida? I don't believe I've met anyone by that name.
Mayor Dod: What has she done?
Riyyh: Well, I suppose the most immediate problem is that she enticed to leaving Naros the Companion of my assistant, Wolfa.
Riyyh: Wolfa has been in a dreadful state, since then.
Riyyh: I'm afraid going after her is quite out of the question.
Riyyh learned his lesson the last time.
Riyyh: And... I suppose this is silly, but....
Mayor Dod makes an encouraging sound.
Riyyh: Well, I've been worried about....
Riyyh tries, but can't make himself say it aloud.
Mayor Dod: Do tell me.
Mayor Dod really would be very upset if he were denied the information.
Riyyh looks helpless, which is in fact one of his most endearing looks, particularly when he is looking as good as he is today.
Riyyh: Aging. [finally gets it out]
Riyyh: I've been worried about aging.
Riyyh is thoroughly embarrassed.
Mayor Dod: Aging?
Mayor Dod: ~~ perplexed ~~
Riyyh: Worried that I'm... [struggles again]
Riyyh doesn't want to say anything that will make Mayor Dod worry too much about what's going on up on the hill.
Riyyh: Perhaps I'm just being insecure.
Riyyh: I am sure I'll get over it, but this is a hard time.
Mayor Dod: Has anything happened to make you feel suddenly older?
Mayor Dod: You're not ill, are you?
Mayor Dod: ~~ alarm ~~
Riyyh: No, no, I'm never ill.
Riyyh can speak with assurance because it's true, he is amazingly robust, aside from being as nervous as anything and frequently having to lie down to calm down again.
Mayor Dod calms at the reassurance.
Mayor Dod: I'm glad to hear that.
Riyyh: It's over a woman, you see.
Mayor Dod: A woman?
Mayor Dod has heard rumors about women and Riyyh, but isn't sure whether he credits them.
Mayor Dod actually thinks some of it must be exaggeration.
Riyyh: I've been quite distraught over her, and considering everything else that's been going on... [gestures helplessly at the piles and piles and piles of work]
Mayor Dod would be rather surprised to learn that the rumors understated the truth, this time.
Riyyh: I know I shouldn't take it so personally, everybody has said so, but....
Riyyh: I can't help but feel it as a personal failure on my part that I couldn't make her happy, don't you see?
Mayor Dod: What happened between you and this woman?
Riyyh looks pleadingly at Mayor Dod.
Mayor Dod: Take it from a married man, you can't please a woman all the time..
Riyyh: But I can!
Riyyh: Or... I thought I could. [looks stricken]
Mayor Dod: In fact, sometimes it's hard to please them at all.
Riyyh: I thought I could please everybody.
Mayor Dod wonders how Riyyh could have been Sectuib for so long and still be under the illusion that everybody can be pleased.
Riyyh: It's what I do, I'm supposed to be good at it.
Riyyh: I don't understand how this could have happened.
Mayor Dod is not, of course, used to the cultural and genetic unanimity found in Naros.
Riyyh is capable of more and greater denial than most, also.
Riyyh: But, as I say, I should not burden you with this.
Mayor Dod: Perhaps if you told me what happened between you and this woman, I might be able to offer some perspective.
Riyyh sighs.
Riyyh: I am not sure. [confesses]
Riyyh: She acted as if she desired me, passionately, and I could zlin it in her. Yet when I touched her, she felt great self-revulsion.
Riyyh: Later, she came to apologize for having believed I could care for her!
Riyyh: But even then, desires were not clear.
Mayor Dod: Self revulsion? Not revulsion at the thought of you?
Riyyh: Does it matter? It happened because of my touch. I should have known I could not overcome it yet I tried anyway. That was my mistake.
Riyyh: ~self-flagellation~
Riyyh: I used to be better at those judgments.
Mayor Dod: My dear sir, it makes all the difference in the world.
Mayor Dod: If she was repulsed by you, because of your age or something else, there isn't much you can do about it.
Mayor Dod: If her feelings were aimed at herself, though, it would mean that she simply felt herself unworthy of your intentions.
Mayor Dod: You said she desired you?
Riyyh waves a pair of tentacles in a gesture of who-knows.
Riyyh: I thought she did.
Riyyh: I would have had no other reason to approach her in that way.
Mayor Dod: If she refused you because she felt unworthy of a Sectuib, or was unsure of your desires, then all you have to do is to convince her that your affection is genuine.
Mayor Dod: And that it is entirely proper for her to return it.
Riyyh: But you see... oh, I can't expect anybody to understand this.
Mayor Dod: Once her doubts are stilled, she will fall into your arms.
Riyyh has tried to get other people to understand this, members of Naros, and nobody seems to ever quite get it.
Riyyh: But I don't want her, you see. My affection is genuine, but anything further than that is up to her.
Riyyh: What bothers me is that I... misjudged the moment.
Mayor Dod: You don't want her?
Riyyh: If she wants me, then I do.
Riyyh: If she doesn't, then I don't.
Mayor Dod is a bit bewildered by the sudden about-face.
Riyyh: I don't want to lead her to a decision about me, or about anything else.
Riyyh: I only wanted to comfort her, and ended up somehow making her more upset than before.
Riyyh: That just isn't like me!
Riyyh can't get over that part.
Mayor Dod: If you want to know what she desires of you, why don't you simply ask her?
Mayor Dod: Unless she doesn't know, herself, what she wants.
Riyyh spreads his hands and tentacles.
Riyyh: I don't think she knows. I did ask her.
Riyyh: But that isn't the point.
Riyyh sighs again.
Riyyh: Never mind, I should not put you through this.
Mayor Dod: Perhaps she simply requires time to consider?
Riyyh: Do not worry on it. It is my concern.
Riyyh can tell that Mayor Dod has no idea what the actual problem is.
Mayor Dod: I do hope that you find an answer to the dilemma presented by this woman.
Mayor Dod: Naros will require your expert attention in the days to come.
Riyyh: To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit this time? Aside from comforting Naros' Sectuib, that is? [manages a smile]
Riyyh rises to fetch the tea pot.
Mayor Dod: Actually, I came because I'd heard rumors that you'd been acting... in an unusual fashion.
Riyyh: I?
Riyyh turns to look at Mayor Dod, curiously.
Mayor Dod: Taking sudden, unexplained trips and so on.
Riyyh: I thought everybody knew all about the trips.
Riyyh of course considers "everybody" to include "everybody in Naros".
Mayor Dod: I was wondering if there was some ongoing emergency about which I was ignorant.
Riyyh tries to think of anything he may have missed.
Riyyh: Well, aside from Prunida's kidnapping Hero leaving my office staff in a shambles and my office assistant in the middle of a nervous breakdown, and trying to get used to a new Donor....
Riyyh: I suppose it is mostly due to Prunida, and the Farrises.
Riyyh: But all of them are gone now, so those particular emergencies are certainly not ongoing, and are indeed quite over with.
Riyyh mentally crosses himself.
Mayor Dod: You called this new Gen a Donor. Does that mean he is from the Tecton?
Riyyh: No no, he is not, he is my new Companion.
Mayor Dod: I'd thought you would pick someone from within your House.
Riyyh: There wasn't anybody suitable, you see.
Riyyh warms Mayor Dod's tea cup, then his own.
Mayor Dod: So if he's not from the Tecton, where did you find him?
Riyyh finally realizes that Mayor Dod must be so hopelessly out of date because whoever his gossip feed was before, must have been one of the people who left Naros permanently and moved far away.
Riyyh feels a certain amount of ~~sympathy~~ for the man.
Riyyh: I found him while I was on the road. He was working as a cook at an Inn.
Mayor Dod: A trained Donor was working as a cook?
Riyyh: He wasn't trained, per se.
Mayor Dod: He is trained, isn't he?
Riyyh shakes his head.
Riyyh: I don't think so. Somewhat, but not completely.
Mayor Dod: You're depending on a Companion who isn't even properly trained?
Mayor Dod: My dear sir, no wonder you're not yourself.
Riyyh: What training he's had has been very good, and he has a lot of practical experience.
Riyyh hastens to reassure him.
Riyyh decides not to mention the severe emotional trauma and possible nerve or mental injuries.
Riyyh: You must not worry on that account.
Mayor Dod: Is he from another House?
Riyyh: Mayor Dod, really. Your concern is touching, but you must not worry yourself over this.
Riyyh sits down near Mayor Dod instead of at his desk, clutching his tea.
Riyyh: Rapol is a very gentle and competent Companion, who dearly treasures a place of safety and a certain level of responsibility.
Mayor Dod: Well, I'm glad that you've found someone suitable at last.
Riyyh smiles, relieved.
Riyyh: Thank you. I am glad also.
Mayor Dod: I don't suppose I could meet your new paragon?
Riyyh: Of course, one day. He is not available at the moment, but we could arrange....
Mayor Dod: Please.
Riyyh nods.
Riyyh is aware of Naros' responsibility to the town, and to the town's sense of well-being.
Riyyh: Then I will let you know as soon as it can be arranged. [smiles]
Mayor Dod: Then I will be in touch.
Mayor Dod: Perhaps you and your Companion would come into town for dinner?
Riyyh: That would be nice.
Riyyh personally would rather not leave Naros again any time soon, but acknowledges he has certain duties with regards to the town.
Riyyh also knows he can't stay holed up behind the walls forever, no matter how much he'd like to. People would think he's dead or something.
Mayor Dod gets to his feet.
Mayor Dod: I look forward to it.
Riyyh smiles and rises also.
Riyyh: I'll walk you out to the gate?
Mayor Dod: Thank you.