Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #122: Rooster Envy (2/26/99)
Povhkia signals at the door to Darrel's cabin.
Povhkia looks around self-consciously, then grins as she detects some people hiding behind a tree or two.
Povhkia: ~~mischievous/curious~~
Povhkia is a young female Gen, recently married to Mostan.
Povhkia waves, then mimes a "shhhh".
Povhkia turns back to the door as the giggles are smothered.
Darrel hops out of the shower, and looks quickly around at his scattered clothes.
Povhkia: ~~innocent~~
Darrel: ~~ dismay ~~
Darrel grabs a large towel and wraps it around the essentials.
Darrel then goes to answer the door, leaving a trail of water across the floor.
Povhkia rocks back and forth on her heels, looking button-cute in her fur lined coat and pink polkadotted dress.
Darrel opens the door a crack and peers through.
Povhkia: Brr! Come to the door... oh Hi!! [brightly]
Darrel doesn't recognize the nager.
Povhkia: I'm Povhkia, can I come in?
Darrel: Err....
Povhkia: ~~cute and friendly~~
Darrel: I'm afraid you caught me in the shower.
Povhkia: That's OK.
Povhkia: [smiles prettily]
Povhkia squeezes in the door.
Darrel is a bit taken aback by this.
Darrel clutches at his towel.
Darrel: Can I help you?
Povhkia: I just wanted to be the first to welcome you to Naros. ~~big grin of well-being and friendliness~~
Povhkia: You know, we don't get that many visitors, and all the young people are so interested in meeting you.
Darrel: Umm, that's very nice, but perhaps I should get dressed first?
Povhkia: Oh, go on and get dressed... I can wait here for you. [smiles]
Povhkia plops down in a chair.
Darrel flees for the bedroom with undignified haste.
Povhkia has already taken detailed mental notes as to the bits of his bod that were untoweled.
Povhkia will make up the rest.
Povhkia: He seems awfully jumpy. [to herself]
Povhkia is, of course, used to people more pleased at being interrupted in the shower.
Darrel puts on his last clean outfit, and makes a mental note to inquire about laundry facilities.
Povhkia peers around the living room, seeking signs of whether Riyyh spent the night here last night, or not.
Darrel wishes he had something a bit less conspicuous than a Tecton uniform, but at least he's no longer traveling.
Teeena signals at the door, discreetly.
Povhkia: What! Uchh! I told her to wait.
Povhkia gets up and hurries to the door.
Teeena squirms anxiously on the doorstep.
Povhkia opens it a crack.
Povhkia: Go away! I'm not done yet.
Povhkia: [whispered]
Teeena: Ooo, is he cute??
Teeena: Come on, let me in.
Povhkia: No! I won't, I get him first.
Darrel runs a comb through his hair and returns to the main room.
Povhkia pushes the door closed hastily.
Teeena: Wh... ow!
Teeena nearly falls on her rear as she is overbalanced.
Darrel: Umm... Please, sit down.
Povhkia turns back to face Darrel, grinning sweetly.
Povhkia: Oh, thank you.
Povhkia sits.
Teeena gives up on trying to zlin the visitor through the door and flounces off the step, heading for one of the windows.
Povhkia: So anyway, we were wondering if you'd like to come to a party, later today, to meet some of us....
Teeena's head pops up in one of the windows.
Darrel: A party?
Teeena ogles Darrel, zlinning through the glass.
Povhkia: Yeah. You know, a welcome festival.
Darrel is distracted by movement half-seen out of the corner of his eye.
Povhkia: We often have them when there are visitors, and... what are you looking at?
Povhkia looks too.
Darrel: I thought I saw....
Teeena waves eagerly.
Povhkia: Don't mind her.
Povhkia rolls her eyes.
Darrel goes over to the window and opens it.
Darrel: Are you looking for someone?
Teeena: Oh hi!! [squeals]
Teeena: You are so unbelievably cute.
Teeena: Will you kiss me?
Teeena: ~~quite post~~
Darrel: What?
Darrel: ~~ taken aback ~~
Povhkia: I tried to warn you.
Teeena looks disappointed.
Teeena: You don't like me?
Teeena tries to display her, well, Sime bosom.
Darrel: We haven't even been introduced. How could I know whether I like you or not?
Teeena: Well, then, let me in, and I'll introduce myself! [grins]
Povhkia: Oh, brother.
Darrel is a bit confused.
Povhkia: We may as well let her in, or she'll never give up.
Povhkia gets up and goes to open the door.
Teeena squeals and rushes to the door.
Darrel is also starting to shiver as all the warm air leaves the room.
Darrel closes the window with relief.
Darrel contemplates his young guests.
Povhkia: You're not married, are you?
Teeena looks at Darrel, suddenly much shyer.
Darrel: Um, no, I'm not.
Darrel: Does that matter?
Teeena is a pretty, very young, renSime with light brown hair and beautiful gray eyes.
Teeena: No... I guess not. [smiles]
Teeena: Not for just one time.
Povhkia: Sheesh! Listen to her.
Darrel: Err... I think there was some tea in the kitchen.
Povhkia takes Teeena by the shoulders and gently pushes her over to a couch.
Povhkia: OK... I'll go check it.
Povhkia continues her motion into the kitchen, leaving Teeena alone with Darrel.
Darrel had kind of hoped to escape to the kitchen himself.
Teeena smiles up at Darrel with an expression halfway between hero worship and lost kitten.
Darrel makes the best of the situation, however, and pulls his nager into something resembling that of a professional channel.
Darrel hopes the Tecton uniform he's wearing, wrinkled as it is, will make up for any nageric irregularities.
Darrel tries to remember what one says to young ladies on the prowl.
Darrel's usual solution to the young lady problem is a strategic retreat, which doesn't seem to be practical here.
Darrel: What was your name again?
Teeena: Teeena.
Teeena: ~~grrrrrowl!!!~~
Teeena is definitely quite post, perhaps for the first time.
Darrel: Pleased to meet you, Teeen.... Are you all right?
Teeena: I'm not sure. ~~helpless yet alluring~~ I feel so... so different.
Teeena: I think it's good.
Teeena gives him an unmistakable come-on-look.
Teeena: And I just llllove a man in uniform.
Darrel reconsiders the safety of his Tecton uniform.
Darrel: How old are you, Teeena?
Teeena: Three.... months. [coy]
Teeena: Well... three months and one day.
Darrel: I see.
Povhkia slips out of the kitchen and into the bedroom.
Darrel: Perhaps you should discuss your feelings with some of the young men your age?
Teeena pouts.
Teeena: They're all my half brothers.
Darrel is all of ten years or so older than Teeena.
Darrel: Your half brothers?
Teeena: I want to get nasty with a man who isn't related to my father.
Teeena: Is that so wrong?
Darrel recalls hearing some vague rumors about a genetic scandal in Naros, but he wasn't really paying attention at the time.
Darrel: Not at all, in fact it's highly recommended for genetic reasons....
Povhkia inspects all of Darrel's stuff, after all one doesn't get to harvest points like this just any day.
Teeena: That's just what I like to hear.
Darrel's voice trails off and he gulps as he realizes what he just said.
Teeena glides toward Darrel.
Teeena: ~~~~~hot~~~~~
Darrel backs up hastily.
Teeena stops again, this time clearly frustrated.
Teeena: What's wrong with me? ~unhappy~
Teeena: I'm not ugly, am I?
Teeena looks down at her clothes.
Darrel: Not at all.
Darrel: I just like to get acquainted before....
Teeena looks up, sad eyed.
Darrel's voice trails off again.
Teeena: You do like women, don't you?
Teeena: I mean, because if you don't, I understand....
Darrel actually tends to find women rather daunting, particularly if they are either aggressive or sexually imaginative.
Darrel: It's not that.
Povhkia climbs discreetly out the bedroom window and pushes it shut behind her.
Teeena looks down at her feet.
Teeena: Everybody is going to laugh at me.
Teeena starts crying.
Darrel: Why would they laugh at you?
Teeena sits down in a chair and demonstrates that Riyyh's ability to imitate a faucet is indeed passable genetically.
Teeena: Awwwaah hahh haahh!! I'm a failure!
Teeena: [an inability to get laid, however, has never conclusively been proven to be passable genetically]
Darrel looks at Teeena, ~~ disconcerted ~~
Darrel: Oh, do stop crying.
Teeena: Everybody else is good at seducing people, but I don't know how!
Teeena tries to stop crying, but she is pretty post.
Teeena dabs at her eyes.
Teeena: I'm sorry.
Darrel: Don't you think that you should give yourself a bit of time to get used to being an adult, before you decide you're a failure?
Teeena looks up at him in utter lack of grooving on what he's saying.
Teeena: Wh-what?
Teeena: ~~it's the end of the universe~~
Darrel: Look, you're only three months old, you said.
Teeena: It's supposed to be my first time. I've been waiting... and then, and then, when you came, I thought surely it was meant... bawwwwwww!!!!!!!
Teeena breaks down in tears again.
Darrel: Really, you ought to try asking someone you actually know.
Darrel: It's a lot friendlier that way.
Teeena: But I didn't want it to be my brother!! ~~sulks~~
Teeena: It's not allowed anyway.
Darrel: There must be someone around--perhaps in town?
Teeena: See? You'd rather it be anybody but you!
Teeena is starting to ~regret~ even coming.
Teeena stands.
Teeena's makeup is runny and her nose red.
Teeena: Just tell me one thing. Last night...
Darrel tries to decide whether agreeing or refusing is more likely to annoy Riyyh.
Darrel: Yes?
Teeena: Did you say no to Sectuib too?
Darrel: No to what?
Teeena: You know.
Teeena: Did you say no?
Teeena: Like you did to me.
Darrel wonders if grilling complete strangers about their sexual preferences is standard conversation here at Naros.
Teeena would really like to know, 1) so she has some information that can partly make up for the joking she's going to get over this, and 2) it makes a big difference how to interpret her own failure-to-communicate.
Darrel: Look, we've gotten off to a bad start. Why don't we start over?
Teeena looks suspicious as the question is avoided.
Darrel: Hi, I'm Hajene Darrel, and I'm glad to meet you.
Teeena: I'm Teeena.
Darrel: Hello, Teeena. Would you like some tea?
Teeena: I... guess so.
Teeena takes a wary step away from the door, which she'd been about to flounce out of in a huff, depending on Darrel's answer.
Darrel: Well, then, why don't we go over to the cafeteria and get some? That will give us a chance to become better acquainted.
Teeena: Cafeteria?
Teeena: Oh, the dining hall?
Darrel: The dining hall, yes.
Darrel makes a note of the local term.
Teeena: I have to fix my face.
Darrel: There is a mirror in the bathroom you can use.
Teeena: I'll be right back.
Teeena: Don't you sneak out without me.
Teeena would be totally mortified if he did. Even more so.
Darrel: I won't.
Darrel: ~~ truth ~~
Teeena zlins him dubiously, then smiles tentatively.
Teeena: OK.
Teeena disappears into the bathroom.
Darrel has no intention of leaving this young sex kitten unsupervised in his accommodations.
Darrel then remembers his second guest, and goes in search of her.
Jazzmyn signals at Darrel's door.
Jazzmyn is a mature renSime female, never married, with a good 5 years of childbearing left in her.
Darrel is distracted from his search by the signal.
Jazzmyn has long, lush light brown hair and open, generous gray eyes.
Darrel opens the door cautiously, hoping that it isn't another youngster.
Darrel: Hello?
Darrel is moderately ~~ relieved ~~ at Jazzmyn's appearance.
Jazzmyn: Hello. I'm Jazzmyn ambrov Naros. You must be Darrel.
Jazzmyn has a smooth, mellow nager for a renSime.
Darrel: Umm, yes. Come in, it's cold out.
Darrel steps back to permit Jazzmyn to enter.
Jazzmyn enters.
Darrel zlins Jazzmyn to determine her likelihood of pouncing.
Jazzmyn: My, it's been a while since I've come into one of these. They're really quite cozy, aren't they?
Jazzmyn: ~~mature/elegant/about 3 days til turnover~~
Darrel: Yes, they're very nice.
Darrel: Please, have a seat.
Jazzmyn sits.
Darrel sits also, on a chair across the room.
Darrel: What brings you here?
Jazzmyn: Have you had a chance to see much of Naros? [raising her voice just a little to carry]
Jazzmyn: I'd offer to show you around, if you haven't....
Darrel: That's very kind of you.
Darrel: Sectuib Riyyh offered to show me around yesterday, but I was rather tired from my travels.
Teeena exits the bathroom.
Teeena: There, hair and make up all back to... [squeak of dismay]
Teeena: ~~shock~~
Jazzmyn turns to look at Teeena in surprise.
Darrel: Err... you two know each other, I assume?
Teeena: Humph!!
Teeena flings her chin up and stomps out of the cabin.
Jazzmyn looks after her in some amazement.
Darrel wonders why he feels accused of infidelity.
Darrel pulls himself together.
Darrel: As I said, it's very kind of you to offer to show me around.
Darrel is wondering if he'd be safer out of his cabin.
Jazzmyn looks back at Darrel in amazement.
Jazzmyn wonders how he had time to get with little Teeena in the brief time he's been awake.
Jazzmyn had seen him get up after looking in his bedroom window, then rushed home to change.
Darrel recalls his first visitor of the day.
Darrel: Excuse me a moment, will you?
Jazzmyn: Sure... ~~mystified~~
Darrel checks the kitchen for Povhkia.
Jazzmyn wonders who else he has back there.
Jazzmyn zlins, but this is one of the cabins with that ridiculous Farris insulation.
Darrel notes that the tea is unmade, and Povhkia is nowhere to be seen.
Darrel then starts inspecting the rest of the cabin.
Jazzmyn gets up and follows Darrel.
Jazzmyn: What are you looking for?
Darrel: I had a third visitor this morning--a young woman named Povhkia. She went to make tea, and seems to have disappeared.
Jazzmyn: Povhkia also??
Jazzmyn: ~~taken aback~~
Jazzmyn is beginning to have 2nd thoughts about this Darrel guy.
Darrel: She said she wanted to invite me to a party, and then young Teeena burst in.
Jazzmyn would like to woo an unrelated male, but would rather not get too close to somebody who seems bent on emulating her Sectuib in terms of procreation.
Jazzmyn: A party. Well, how....
Jazzmyn: You know, I really have to get going, I just noticed the time, and I have to get to work.
Jazzmyn: ~apologetic~
Jazzmyn makes an appeasing nager a lot like Riyyh's, only renSime-sized.
Darrel: Of course. It was very kind of you to drop by.
Jazzmyn beats as hasty a retreat she can manage while retaining her dignity... what's left of it.
Lucia nearly runs into Jazzmyn on her way up the cabin's front walk.
Lucia: Oh, hi Jazz.. what's wrong?
Darrel hears voices outside and seriously debates locking himself in a closet.
Jazzmyn: Oh... er... nothing that would concern you too much, I don't think.
Lucia misses the veiled insult.
Lucia: Oh!! Well, I hope you feel better soon.
Jazzmyn: Thank you.
Jazzmyn hurries off.
Lucia: Gosh, she looked like she'd seen a ghost.
Lucia climbs the steps and signals at Darrel's door.
Darrel: ~~ too late ~~
Darrel answers the door.
Darrel: Hello?
Darrel: Oh, Lucia.
Lucia smiles.
Darrel is glad to zlin a familiar nager, even if the acquaintance is only of one day's standing.
Darrel: Come in.
Darrel holds the door wider.
Lucia: Why thank you!
Lucia beams, and enters.
Darrel closes the door behind her.
Darrel appears much calmer than on the previous day, in other words, at least one good crisis from the nervous-breakdown stage, instead of well into it.
Lucia: So, did Sectuib Riyyh get you all settled in last night?
Lucia winks.
Lucia: This sure beats sleeping on the road, doesn't it.
Darrel: Yes, he was most kind.
Darrel: And this is a very pleasant, well-appointed cabin.
Darrel: Such a nice change from traveling.
Darrel: ~~ sincere ~~
Lucia: Say, he didn't... happen to mention where he was going when he left, did he?
Darrel: Um, not in so many words.
Darrel: Are you trying to find him?
Lucia grins suddenly.
Lucia: No!
Lucia: I'm prying for details.
Darrel: Oh. Well, I'm afraid he didn't see fit to give me his itinerary.
Lucia: Did he sleep here last night? Inquiring minds want to know, you know.
Lucia runs a finger along a curtain, then looks outside suddenly catching two young ladies who had been trying to sneak up to the window. [they scatter]
Darrel: Sleep here?
Darrel: ~~ baffled ~~
Lucia: I guess not, huh.
Lucia: Well, you never know.
Lucia: So... I was wondering if you'd like me to introduce you to any Gens while you're here.
Darrel: Gens?
Lucia looks at Darrel curiously.
Darrel thinks he understands.
Darrel: Oh, you mean Sectuib Riyyh has assigned me a Donor?
Darrel: ~~ interest ~~
Lucia looks at Darrel like he's lost his marbles.
Lucia: Why would I ask you if you wanted to meet Gens if you already had somebody?
Lucia: But if you're rather be assigned someone, that's your choice.
Lucia has heard Tecton people are used to it.
Lucia: I'm sure he'd do it.
Darrel: I've never been offered a choice of Donors before.
Darrel: Are you sure its proper?
Lucia: Proper?
Lucia: As opposed to what?
Lucia: Not having any choice?
Darrel: Well, the Tecton usually leaves those decisions to the Controllers.
Darrel: But I'd heard that some Householdings were exempt.
Darrel has actually spent a bit of time daydreaming about having reliable, and compatible, Donor support.
Darrel: If it is allowed here, I would be very glad to meet some of the Narosian Donors.
Darrel: ~~ eager ~~
Lucia: Oh sure! We have lots of Donors who would love to work with a channel. You're a Second, right? Well, there's Zemha, and Doro, and of course, Eliza....
Darrel: I knew a Donor named Eliza back in Bender Cove.
Lucia: Well, how about we go get you some decent clothes, I mean that won't make people pee their pants when they catch sight of you, and then introduce you around. [grins]
Lucia wonders if it is the same Eliza.
Darrel: Clothes?
Lucia: Our Eliza is from Bender Cove, you know.
Lucia: Clothes. You don't want to walk around looking like the walking dead of the Tecton do you?
Lucia: We have some hand-me-downs in communal stores, and then later on you can go and get measured for some real clothes.
Lucia: I mean, if you're going to stay.
Darrel is looking rather like the walking dead, what with learning that he may not have left Bender Cove as far behind as he'd hoped.
Darrel is, however, not about to pass up that magic word, "stay".
Darrel: Of course. I'll be back in a moment.
Darrel returns to the bedroom and changes into the least dirty of his civilian shirts.
Darrel decides his other pair of pants is hopeless, but the uniform pants aren't all that distinctive without the proper shirt.
Darrel decides it will have to do, and returns to Lucia.
Darrel: Is this a bit better?
Lucia: Much.
Lucia: ~~with feeling~~
Lucia: The Tecton is... well... just a teensy bit of a bad guy around here.
Darrel: Really? Why?
Lucia opens the door and leads the way out of the guest cabin.
Darrel isn't too happy with the Tecton himself at the moment, or at least with its representatives in Bender Cove.
Lucia: Well you see, they are always trying to, you know, recruit people.
Darrel: And no one here wants to work for the Tecton?
Lucia: Well, it's not really very traditional.
Darrel: Most people out there [tentacle gesture to indicate outside of Naros] think it's a pretty good deal: Steady work and a good salary.
Lucia: Lately dad has been trying to encourage some of the younger ones to try it. [admits]
Lucia: But it's not for everybody.
Lucia: Mytag liked it the first time he went, but freaked out the second time.
Darrel: Mytag? I seem to remember....
Darrel shakes his head.
Botlie bounces over the snow.
Botlie: Wheee!!!!!
Darrel: Well, I'm at Naros, now. I should follow your customs.
Botlie is a very young boy.
Botlie is wearing a bright red cap.
Darrel: So, lead me to your Donors, if you would, and I will endeavor to choose wisely.
Eliza: Not too fast, Botlie!
Eliza tries to keep up and wishes that Botlie's mother would hurry up and get over the birth of her 14th child.
Lucia: Oh look! There's Eliza now.
Lucia: Come meet her. Or maybe you're already met?
Botlie skids to a halt at Darrel's feet.
Darrel zlins, and is unable to control a wince.
Eliza: Botlie!
Botlie: Who's he???
Darrel manages to avoid being tripped.
Darrel: Careful, there.
Eliza catches up and grabs Botlie's hand.
Botlie: 'Liza, 'Liza, who's the funny man????
Eliza: Don't run off like that! [to Darrel] I'm so sorry, he....
Eliza looks up and goes red.
Eliza: Hajene Darrel!
Darrel: Quite all right.
Darrel: Hello, Eliza.
Eliza: I heard, I mean, I thought. Hello.
Lucia drinks in the scene avidly.
Eliza: Botlie - this is Hajene Darrel, be polite please.
Botlie: Why is his shirt so boring, 'Liza?
Eliza clamps a hand over Botlie's mouth.
Eliza: I'm so sorry, Hajene.
Eliza: Botlie, don't be so rude!
Darrel musters his courage and zlins Eliza, ready to go hypo if it looks like she's going to lose control.
Botlie's eyes widen as his mouth is effectively sealed.
Eliza: ~ slightly embarrassed ~
Darrel kneels to get on Botlie's level.
Darrel: You see... Botlie, is it?
Eliza cautiously removes her hand.
Botlie: My name's Botlie.
Darrel: Well, Botlie, this is the kind of shirt people wear in Bender Cove, where I used to live.
Botlie: Oh.
Botlie turns and hides his face against Eliza's front.
Botlie has suddenly been seized by a fit of the shys.
Eliza pats his hair maternally.
Darrel gets to his feet, brushing snow off his knees.
Eliza: Hajene, are you planning on staying long?
Darrel: That hasn't been decided yet.
Darrel is hopeful that he can at least swing a non-Bender Cove assignment, if he can't stay at Naros.
Eliza: Naros is a very pleasant place, I hope that you enjoy your time here, no matter how long or short it is.
Darrel: I'm sure I will.
Lucia was hoping for something a little more colorful than this.
Eliza: ~ cold ~
Lucia thinks at least she can be the first to know they knew each other.
Darrel stops zlinning.
Eliza: Botlie, we had better get you in out of the cold before you freeze.
Botlie: Can we play blocks?
Eliza wonders where Lucia is taking Darrel and if all the rumors were true.
Eliza can't remember that Darrel was such a ladies man in Bender Cove.
Lucia wonders if Darrel and Eliza ever....
Eliza: Hmmm? I have some work to do now Botlie, you will have to be good for your mum for awhile now, OK?
Botlie: OK 'Liza.
Darrel hopes that the other Donor choices here are more interesting--and less dangerous.
Eliza: Lucia, I was wondering if you had time to go over temporary assignments with me when you have time please?
Lucia smiles, surprised.
Lucia: OK, sure.
Lucia: Whenever you want.
Eliza smiles back, warmly.
Lucia: When I'm on gate duty preferably. [laughs]
Darrel blinks at the warmth, having inadvertently let himself zlin again.
Eliza: When will you be free next?
Eliza: I have to go see Wolfa, ~ sympathy ~ and give Risha her break, then I'm free.
Lucia: OK, well I'll just introduce Darrel to a few people, and then join you.
Lucia: The Dining Hall? Or somewhere more private?
Eliza: We could meet there, have dinner, then use one of the offices.
Eliza: You don't mind if I bring Wolfa for dinner do you?
Eliza blushes and turns to Darrel.
Eliza: I'm sorry Hajene, I didn't mean to hold you up.
Darrel decides that if Eliza is going to be polite, he might as well be polite, too.
Darrel: That's quite all right.
Botlie tugs free of Eliza's hand, and goes bouncing off across the snowdrifts.
Botlie shrieks in excitement as he disappears behind a building.
Eliza: Oh, shen. Nice seeing you again, Hajene!
Darrel watches Botlie disappear.
Eliza takes off after Botlie.
Darrel looks at Lucia.
Lucia: And just think, she's got 13 others just like him!
Lucia: The mother, not Eliza.
Lucia: She must be so proud.
Darrel: Eliza's grown up a bit since I knew her.
Lucia stares at Darrel. "Oh."
Lucia: I see.
Lucia tries to hide her disquiet.
Darrel: She used to be a walking menace.
Darrel: I'd not call her comfortable to be around, but I didn't get the impression she was half a second away from slamming me.
Lucia is getting a really mixed impression here, what with the "knowing" her before she was grown up, and now the bit about slamming.
Lucia: Oh... er...
Darrel: Now, you mentioned several other Donors?
Lucia: Oh... yeah....
Lucia: Sure, right this way.
Darrel follows Lucia towards the Dining Hall.