Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #120: Flesh (2/22/99)
Riyyh finds the little note he had meant to give to Wolfa (who didn't work at all today).
Riyyh: Oh dear... Colleen's pencils.
Riyyh gets up and hurries out of his office, over to Wolfa's empty office.
Riyyh opens the supplies cabinet and studies the contents.
Anmyn comes into Wolfa's office.
Anmyn: Oh, Sectuib!
Riyyh is staring, aghast at the state of the supplies cabinet.
Anmyn is a bit ~~ surprised ~~ to see Riyyh out of his own office.
Riyyh turns to Anmyn.
Riyyh: Yes, Anmyn, what is it?
Anmyn: Is something wrong?
Riyyh: Oh, it is just, we apparently require some office supplies. With Wolfa's assistant being so new to the job, and Wolfa herself in such a state, well....
Riyyh's tentacles flutter.
Riyyh: Fortunately it is not quite to the emergency stage yet, I will order some immediately.
Riyyh hopes Colleen hadn't wanted matching pencils.
Anmyn: Oh, dear. I hope the supplies will arrive in time.
Anmyn: Shipping can be so slow, this time of year.
Riyyh is glad the problem is with something relatively unimportant like office supplies, rather than something the medical center required.
Anmyn: Will you be coming down to dinner tonight?
Riyyh starts collecting stray pencils from the dregs of the boxes.
Riyyh: Yes, I think I will be. ~~curious~~
Anmyn: Oh, Vissera will be so glad.
Anmyn: It's always a more festive meal, when you came down instead of eating in your own house.
Anmyn thinks Vissera isn't the only woman who finds that Riyyh's presence adds spice to a meal.
Riyyh: I have been doing that too much lately, haven't I?
Riyyh: I'm sorry, I've just wanted to spend time with Rapol, you see, and....
Anmyn: Oh, everyone understands that you've been busy.
Anmyn: But they do miss you.
Anmyn: Particularly when things are unsettled, like just now, with budget problems and Wolfa being ill and all.
Riyyh: Well, that's... that's touching. [fumbling with tentacles full of empty boxes getting passed out of the cabinet, and a bundle of pencils curled in a ventral]
Riyyh: Yes, it is rather, er....
Riyyh wonders if she is getting at something in particular.
Anmyn looks at the pencil collection.
Anmyn: Do you really have that much writing to do?
Anmyn is a bit ~~ amazed ~~
Riyyh chuckles. "These are for Colleen's Genlan class."
Anmyn: Her Genlan class?
Riyyh sighs.
Anmyn: How has that been going?
Riyyh: I think it is going fine.
Riyyh has just noticed that the paper is in an even sorrier state than the pencils.
Anmyn: I wish I was better at Genlan.
Anmyn: ~~ wistful ~~
Anmyn: I always seem to get the words wrong.
Riyyh: That must have been very frustrating for you at Fior.
Anmyn: Yes, it was.
Riyyh knows that Fior, situated directly on the border, depends heavily upon bilingualism.
Anmyn: I understand the language better than I speak it, at least.
Riyyh turns away from the cabinet, carrying the requested supplies... more or less.
Riyyh: I will leave these here on Wolfa's desk, with the note, and then if Colleen comes looking for them or if Wolfa puts in some work, they'll find them.
Anmyn: Colored paper?
Anmyn: Are they doing an art project?
Riyyh: No.
Riyyh takes Wolfa's supplies order ledger.
Anmyn: Oh. I see.
Anmyn blushes as she realizes that she has inadvertently brought further attention to the lamentable state of the office supplies.
Riyyh notices that Anmyn is still there.
Riyyh: Was... were you sent to actually bring me to the Dining Hall now? [kindly]
Anmyn: Well....
Anmyn: I was hoping I could persuade you to come.
Anmyn: Your people have missed you.
Riyyh looks at Anmyn oddly.
Riyyh: I think you are overreacting just a little. ~injured~
Anmyn: Oh, dear. I didn't want to get you upset.
Anmyn: It's just that I get asked about you, when people don't want to bother you personally.
Anmyn: ~~ contrition ~~
Riyyh feels sorry for distressing her.
Riyyh: I wish they didn't feel that way.
Riyyh sighs.
Riyyh: I can come with you, let me just leave this note....
Riyyh places the note on top of the supplies.
Riyyh looks at the ledger in his hand, then puts that down too.
Anmyn is ~~ happy ~~ that she has managed to produce Riyyh at last.
Riyyh thinks he's done the right thing, judging by her nager.
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh: Shall we, then?
Anmyn: Of course, Sectuib.
Anmyn: ~~ demure ~~
Anmyn: I believe Vissera has cooked a special casserole tonight.
Anmyn: And there's pie for dessert.
Anmyn knows Riyyh's fondness for pastry.
Riyyh follows Anmyn.
Riyyh's mind is on the thousands of tiny details that go into an office supplies order.
Riyyh remembers posting some office supplies orders as his father's assistant... about 40 years ago.
Riyyh sighs internally.
Anmyn is proud to be the first person to know that Riyyh is coming to dinner.
Vissera is just checking the serving lines to make sure everything is in order.
Vissera sees Riyyh and Anmyn enter.
Vissera: Sectuib!
Vissera: ~~ happiness ~~
Riyyh: Hello, Vissera.
Riyyh is surprised to find Vissera out from behind the counter.
Vissera: Oh, dear. The bread is already nearly gone.
Enella sees Riyyh and sighs longingly.
Riyyh smiles at a few other people who say hello.
Riyyh smiles at Enella, a particularly nice smile since she seems blue.
Enella decides that the early bird gets the worm, and takes her plate in search of seconds.
Enella: Sectuib, it's good to see you taking a break from your office.
Enella: I do hope that you aren't working too hard.
Enella smiles flirtatiously.
Riyyh: All the better to enjoy my free time. ~~innocently~~
Riyyh winks at her.
Enella: A little bit of relaxation does wonders for the outlook.
Enella: I found a particularly nice bit of poetry in the library the other day.
Riyyh: You did?
Colleen strolls into the dining hall with a smile from ear to ear.
Riyyh: Hello, Colleen. [smiles]
Colleen is one happy Gen.
Colleen: Hello, Riyyh.
Enella: Yes, all about birds and flowers and bunnies and all, in the spring.
Enella: It was so relaxing....
Enella breaks off and blinks, momentarily blinded by the happiness in Colleen's nager.
Enella: Dear me.
Colleen: What's for dessert?
Enella hopes that Colleen isn't going to cut her out, when she finally found a likely Riyyh-lure.
Enella thinks it's completely unfair how Gens can be attractive just by being high-field.
Riyyh: I hear there are some fine pastries. [offers]
Vissera: Dessert? Don't you think you should have dinner first?
Riyyh tries to identify a peculiar scent on Colleen.
Vissera: There's a lovely rutabaga casserole.
Riyyh finds he has been herded over to the food line.
Colleen: Well, I'm not that hungry. Riding often just gives me craving for sweets.
Riyyh: That sounds nice, I will have that.
Colleen thinks, especially when I ride with my rifle.
Riyyh zlins that Colleen is quite full, actually.
Riyyh figures she must have had something stashed in her saddlebags and thinks nothing of it.
Vissera serves Riyyh a Sime-sized portion of casserole, and garnishes it with a bit of fruit.
Riyyh: Thank you.
Vissera: You're quite welcome.
Lucia comes to wait in line behind Colleen.
Vissera: Do let me know how you like it.
Lucia sniffs.
Lucia starts thinking of bacon.
Lucia was on a student exchange program to Gen Territory when she was younger and will never forget certain things.
Lucia: ~~~yum~~~
Vissera: In fact, I've been hoping that you might have a few moments after dinner to discuss some ideas I've had about the menus.
Riyyh: Of course.
Colleen: Can I just have some of the pastries?
Vissera looks at Colleen a touch severely.
Vissera: Pastries are no substitute for proper nutrition, you know.
Vissera: Gens require more than sweets to stay healthy.
Colleen: Well, I'm not that hungry, and I have been thinking about dessert since I started riding back.
Vissera: Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt for one day.
Vissera: Now, I really must get some more bread out.
Riyyh moves up the line.
Vissera: I'll see you later, Sectuib.
Riyyh: Thank you, yes, please.
Lucia: Woo woo!
Lucia: [not quite to herself]
Vissera flashes her dentition in Riyyh's direction and retreats from the field in good order.
Riyyh grins a bit sheepishly and selects some tea for himself.
Colleen is very happy. She had a whole rabbit, now dessert, perfect.
Riyyh puts some tea on Anmyn's tray too, after pointing to find the type she wants.
Enella looks at Lucia.
Enella: Is something wrong, dear?
Riyyh is amazed by the rejuvenating effects of Colleen's ride.
Lucia looks at Enella in confusion.
Lucia: Wrong? ~baffled~
Enella: You seem a bit....distressed.
Lucia: You seem to be hallucinating.
Lucia: Are you OK?
Enella raises an eyebrow.
Lucia was actually having quite a nice day, thank you.
Colleen thinks that's quite a problem around here. Perhaps the water.
Riyyh and Anmyn have left the line and gone to a table.
Enella: I'm quite well.
Enella abandons the conversation in favor of grabbing a table within easy flirting distance of Riyyh.
Anmyn looks at Riyyh.
Anmyn: You see, they are all so glad that you're here.
Lucia wonders what got under her bonnet.
Lucia goes off carrying her tray and thinking fondly of roasted beaver, not really sure what reminded her of it.
Vissera brings a plate of warm buttered bread to Riyyh's table.
Vissera: Here. I've brought you some of the fresh bread.
Vissera bends over Riyyh's shoulder to place the plate of bread on the table.
Riyyh smiles at the flirtatious contact.
Riyyh has always been fond of flirtatious contact.
Vissera is careful to brush Riyyh's shoulder again as she straightens up.
Riyyh's hand comes up to catch her hand as it trails past.
Vissera: Do let me know if you require... anything else.
Riyyh turns the hand to kiss the backs of its fingers.
Riyyh: Thank you, Vissera.
Colleen sits down, attention totally on the sweets in front of her.
Riyyh smiles and releases the hand.
Enella is struck by a sudden craving for sweets.
Colleen is relishing the goodies.
Riyyh picks up his fork and starts on his casserole.
Vissera hurries off to set a premium piece of pie aside for Riyyh.
Turros is polishing off his meal with the singleminded determination of a hungry Gen.
Turros, being male and rather elderly, is much less distracted by Riyyh's presence than the majority of Narosians.
Riyyh: How was your ride, Colleen? [conversationally]
Colleen: Great! I need to do that more often.
Riyyh: Where did you end up going?
Riyyh nibbles on a piece of the fruit.
Colleen: Went into town to pick up something for Eliza, then I went riding in the less populated areas.
Riyyh wonders where that might be, then realizes Colleen might not entirely know, so doesn't ask.
Riyyh smiles instead.
Riyyh: It was a beautiful day for it.
Colleen: Yep, couldn't be better.
Anmyn: Did you see a lot of birds and squirrels?
Anmyn likes to watch small animals at play.
Colleen: Yep.
Anmyn: I do feel sorry for the birds and all, when it's so cold outside.
Colleen: There wasn't so many as in summer, but there were some birds, and snow shoe rabbits.
Anmyn: Rabbits?
Anmyn: Oh, I think rabbits are such dear little animals.
Colleen thinks, dearly delicious.
Anmyn: I saw some baby rabbits playing, last spring.
Riyyh manages to stop wincing every time they say 'rabbit'.
Anmyn: They looked so soft, like a kitten without the claws.
Riyyh isn't sure what it is, about the word, that gets to him so... except that people tend to use it when screaming at him, never a pleasant experience.
Riyyh thinks if it wasn't for that, why, he wouldn't mind the word at all.
Riyyh rather likes the actual animals associated with the name.
Anmyn: Have you ever had a chance to hold a pet rabbit?
Colleen: We don't keep rabbits as pets.
Anmyn: Oh.
Anmyn is terribly ~~ sympathetic ~~ at this deprivation.
Colleen: We keep dogs and cats as pets.
Colleen thinks that dogs and cats make lousy eatin'.
Anmyn: Well, cats are nice, too.
Anmyn: Have you met Sectuib's cat? Her name is Kadi.
Colleen: No, not yet.
Riyyh takes no notice, having been blissfully thinking about nothing even remotely related to work.
Riyyh thoughtfully chews a rutabaga.
Riyyh is thinking of bunnies, soft fuzzy ones.
Turros gets up for seconds, and takes the opportunity to drop by Riyyh's table on the way back.
Turros: Sectuib?
Turros: ~~ sheepish ~~
Riyyh comes out of it, blinking.
Riyyh: Turros? Yes? Oh, I'm terribly sorry.
Turros: Didn't mean to disturb you, but I wanted to say....
Riyyh: Yes, what is it? ~~concerned and encouraging~~
Turros shuffles his feet.
Turros: Well, you were right..
Turros: I guess maybe it is time I started to train a successor.
Riyyh nods seriously.
Turros: I mean, when my granddaughter is all grown up.
Turros is momentarily begging the question of the actual parentage of the progeny of his daughters-in-law.
Turros: Well, a man with grown grandchildren is getting on in years, there's no denying.
Riyyh winces.
Riyyh: Yes, I suppose, er,
Turros: It's time for me to cut back, and let a younger person take on the worries.
Riyyh reaches out and touches Turros' forearm gently.
Riyyh: I'm glad. ~sincerely~
Riyyh: I do think it's for the best, and there is still so much you can do for Naros even so. [smiles]
Turros: I can always grow a bit of a garden, just to keep busy.
Turros: ~~ courage ~~
Riyyh sighs for Turros' belief that involvement in the actual running of Naros' agricultural program is an all-or-nothing proposition.
Riyyh: If you like, yes, of course.
Turros: I wouldn't want to interfere in my successor's plans, you see.
Turros: There can only be one boss.
Riyyh: But Turros, your successor could benefit from your advice.
Riyyh is troubled by Turros' evident intention to drop all his responsibilities without any initial guidance of his replacement.
Riyyh really wishes they weren't talking about this in a crowded lunch room.
Riyyh: Please consider staying on in at least a partial capacity.
Turros: Well, I'll do what I can.
Riyyh: Just until you are certain your successor is doing fine... thank you.
Turros isn't sure he can bear to watch his successor make the same mistakes he spent years learning to avoid.
Turros is, of course, conveniently overlooking the many mistakes which he never did learn to avoid.
Riyyh: Perhaps we could speak of this again, in a... [looks around] a bit quieter setting?
Turros: Oh, certainly.
Riyyh: I look forward to it.
Turros takes his tray back to his table.
Vissera brings out the particularly nice piece of pie she had saved.
Vissera: Are you ready for dessert?
Riyyh sighs.
Riyyh: Oh... thank you.
Vissera: I do hope you enjoy it.
Riyyh smiles at her.
Riyyh: I am sure I will.
Anmyn gets up for some tea, and pauses at Colleen's table on her return.
Anmyn: Excuse me. [in Genlan]
Anmyn feels a tad ~~ diffident ~~ at interrupting the guest's obvious enjoyment of her dessert.
Anmyn: Have you talk time now? [in Genlan]
Anmyn hasn't practiced her English much since joining Naros, and it wasn't that great before.
Anmyn looks at Colleen to see if she managed to communicate.
Colleen: I'm tired. I'm going to sleep now. Good night Anmyn.
Colleen gets up and leaves.
Anmyn looks after Colleen.
Anmyn: Oh, dear. I hope it wasn't something I said.