Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #126: Lucky Lackey (3/8/99)
Mulla draws her horse to a halt in front of Naros's gate.
Mulla shivers, wishing the subController had had the sense to send a Sime, if the errand required a winter trip. 1
Mulla is not convinced that it does.
Riya looks down at Mulla.
Riya isn't sure what to do; she has never had anyone actually come to the gate on her shift before.
Riya is a 13 year old female Gen, 3/4 if you are interested, and yes, she was named after him.
Riya thinks she was picked for today because conditions are so unbelievably miserable, that nobody would be traveling.
Mulla: Halloo the gate!
Mulla: ~~ cold/impatient ~~
Riya can think of better things to be doing on such a day than sitting out on an exposed stone edifice, which come to think of it, may be another reason she got stuck with the job.
Riya unsticks her tongue.
Riya: Hi!
Riya waves.
Riya wonders if that's a Tecton emblem on Mulla's cloak.
Riya: Do you want to come in?
Riya: Or something?
Riya: [belatedly]
Mulla thinks its just typical that she gets sent on a fool's errand, and this sort of thing happens.
Mulla: Yes, I want to come in. It's freezing out here.
Riya thinks if that was the only criteria to being allowed inside, she'd be indoors herself.
Mulla should technically have said "well below freezing", but what the hey.
Riya collects the all-important tablet of expected visitors (empty today) and climbs down the stairs inside the wall.
Mulla pulls her Tecton cape around herself in an effort to stop shivering.
Riya opens one side of the huge gate.
Riya: Wow!
Riya can see what's on the cloak, now.
Mulla nudges her horse through the gate.
Riya: Can I can I can I get your name and business here, please?
Riya: ~nervous now~
Riya gets out of the way, then drops her pencil which slices into the snow and is utterly gone from sight.
Mulla: I'm Mulla Spiran, from Controller Arat's office in Capitol. I'm here to talk with your Sectuib.
Riya: Oh sh....! dear!
Riya: I'm... uh oh.
Riya fumbles for the pencil, then pulls off her glove and tries again.
Mulla holds out the reins to her horse.
Mulla: Here, you take care of my horse, and tell me where I can find Hajene Riyyh.
Lucia comes by with a cup of hot cocoa she had been planning on bringing to Riya, and overhears that last.
Lucia: ~~yikes!~~
Riya grabs at the reins, glad for something to do that is more up to her speed.
Lucia: Hello, I'm Lucia ambrov Naros. [to Mulla]
Mulla: Mind he has a blanket and a warm mash. He's worked hard today.
Mulla turns to Lucia.
Mulla is glad to see someone a bit more experienced.
Riya gives the tablet to Lucia, beet red in the face, then leads the horse away.
Mulla: I'm Mulla Spiran, assistant to the Regional Controller, here to speak with Hajene Riyyh.
Lucia is none to happy to see that Riya has let in a Tecton official.
Mulla shivers.
Lucia: Of course. [smiles]
Lucia: Would you like to warm up and rest a little bit first? You've had quite a journey.
Mulla: I wouldn't say no to a cup of tea, either. It's beastly weather to be traveling in.
Lucia: Certainly.
Lucia would love to divert Mulla for long enough for Riyyh to get whatever ducks he has left to him in what could believably be called a row.
Lucia: Come right this way, let's get you a nice cup of tea before we go see Riyyh.
Mulla sighs in relief, and follows Lucia.
Riya, due to the terrible weather, gets nearly halfway back to the stable before being mobbed by curious question-askers.
Lucia brings Mulla to her own house.
Lucia makes hand waving motions behind her back to warn people off of bugging them.
Mulla, being ignorant of Narosian customs, doesn't realize the signals are being passed.
Anmyn soon gets the news--sort of--and rushes to warn Riyyh.
Anmyn barely remembers to pause and signal at the office door.
Mulla: You really do have quite a pleasant place, here.
Lucia: Why thank you! [genuinely pleased]
Lucia: I made all the weavings myself.
Mulla: You tend not to accumulate much when you work for the Tecton--too much traveling.
Mulla thinks that at least most of the time, that doesn't include long trips along on horseback to the back end of nowhere.
Lucia: Oh, yeah, I suppose you wouldn't.
Lucia: I used to travel more, but....
Lucia: Do you want to have a seat here, or come into the kitchen?
Lucia goes into the kitchen to put some water on.
Anmyn wonders if rumor was wrong, and Riyyh isn't in his office after all.
Anmyn: ~~ worry ~~
Riyyh is at home getting pretty.
Riyyh: [and has been for the last 3.5 hours]
Mulla: Personally, at the moment, I could wish for a great deal less traveling.
Lucia: Oh, dear. ~~sympathy~~
Lucia offers Mulla a chair in the kitchen.
Lucia puts some small logs in the stove to warm the place up a little.
Mulla smiles ruefully as she takes her cloak and gloves off and holds her reddened hands out to the stove.
Mulla: Oh, don't mind me. It's an appalling time of year to have to travel.
Lucia: What brings you to Naros?
Mulla: I'm just following up on a report Controller Arat received.
Lucia hears the burst of suspenseful music many Narosians hear when Arat's name is mentioned, and gets a chill.
Lucia: My, it must be terribly important to have made you come all this way.
Lucia sets out saucers, cups, cream, etc.
Lucia: Do you like honey in yours?
Mulla inspects her hands critically for impending frostbite, and decides that there is probably no permanent damage.
Mulla: Please. The calories will help.
Lucia wonders if that is Tectonese for "I'm hungry also".
Lucia places the honey on the table, then two or three jars of tea leaves.
Lucia: Do any of these look good to you?
Mulla's eyes widen in pleasure.
Mulla: "Lilac Afternoon" is my favorite blend!
Lucia smiles.
Lucia turns and starts poking around to see if she can find where her sister hid the left over corn muffins.
Lucia: This couldn't be anything to do with Darrel already, could it?
Mulla: Darrel? Already?
Lucia: That's what I thought.
Mulla looks at Lucia sharply.
Lucia nods, and pulls the muffins out of a ceramic jar labeled "prunes".
Lucia: She hides these so I don't snarf them all.
Mulla's stomach growls loudly.
Lucia places them in a bowl on the table, and supplies a small plate as well.
Mulla: Oh, dear. I don't mean to be rude, but breakfast was a long time ago.
Lucia: Let's see... butter? Soft cheese?
Lucia: Or, I have some strawberry jam. [grins]
Mulla grins back.
Mulla: I've always been partial to strawberries.
Mulla: But one hates to eat them in front of the Simes, poor dears.
Lucia sets the jam out also, then sits down.
Lucia: So what are you here about? I could probably give you some general idea what to expect from Sectuib.
Mulla sips her tea, then busies herself in spreading jam on a muffin.
Lucia isn't above scoring gossip points off an outsider.
Mulla: I'm sorry; it's a personnel issue, and therefore confidential.
Lucia's eyes widen.
Lucia: It's about him?
Lucia: I thought that was all cleared up!
Mulla: ~~ apologetic ~~
Mulla blinks in confusion.
Mulla: No, the inquiry has just begun, as far as I know.
Lucia: Oh.
Lucia: Couldn't be Ruby either, then... Oh! Mytag!!!
Mulla: Mytag?
Lucia had heard that Mytag had left his Tecton assignment in a ball of fire.
Lucia: No?
Lucia: Wow, who could it be?
Lucia: ~~stumped~~
Lucia: Or is it just the general issue of not producing enough personnel?
Lucia knows the Tecton will never get enough of that particular issue.
Lucia has twice been asked by Riyyh if she'd like to volunteer for Tecton duty... no way.
Mulla: I'm afraid that I'm not supposed to discuss the matter with anybody but Hajene Riyyh.
Lucia: ... Oh.
Mulla: You do understand that privacy is important, in these cases.
Lucia looks slightly put out.
Mulla: It wouldn't do to have inaccurate rumors flying around, ruining reputations, when the facts are unknown.
Lucia thinks at least Mulla knows who she is investigating, and could part with that information.
Lucia: Well, I was hoping I could help you out, but....
Mulla: I'm sure your Sectuib will be able to tell me everything Controller Arat wishes to know.
Mulla hopes so, anyway: It's a long trip to make for nothing.
Lucia: Able, yes.
Mulla: You think he might refuse the information I'm seeking?
Mulla is genuinely surprised at this.
Lucia smiles as she thinks fondly of her Sectuib's way of winnowing the chaff out of a conversation with a Tecton official, and making sure that's all that rises to the surface.
Lucia: No, I don't think he'd refuse, as such.
Mulla: Well, then, where's the difficulty?
Lucia: You'll see what I mean. [smiles sympathetically]
Mulla has little experience with the sorts of obfuscatory strategies a Narosian develops in self-defense.
Anmyn's frantic search for Riyyh brings her to his door.
Anmyn doesn't bother to signal, since she lives there too, but just runs in, zlinning for his nager.
Anmyn: Sectuib! Are you here?
Anmyn: ~~ frantic ~~
Riyyh: ~~emulating a peacock~~
Riyyh is startled out of his reverie.
Riyyh: Anmyn?
Anmyn: Sectuib, there's a woman here from Controller Arat's office!
Anmyn: And she wants to talk to you.
Anmyn: Do you think she's here to take people away?
Anmyn: Or might they be trying to get you back?
Anmyn: Or maybe Mytag and Ruby are in trouble?
Riyyh is wearing an elaborate feathered creation somebody had made for him for a festival last year; with the budget cuts, he is considering wearing it again this year.
Riyyh: ~~stunned~~
Riyyh: They can't be here already! I only sent....
Riyyh: I don't even think Darrel's letter would have gone out yet.
Anmyn: It hasn't.
Anmyn suspects that it hasn't even been written yet.
Riyyh gropes for his chair and sits back down again.
Riyyh: She hasn't said why she's here?
Anmyn: She didn't tell Riya.
Riyyh tries to rally his composure.
Riyyh: I'll have to speak to her, of course.
Anmyn: But Lucia took her home for a cup of tea--I heard she was half-frozen, how can they send a Gen to travel in this weather?--so there's a bit of time.
Riyyh: I must... [looks down at himself]
Riyyh: I must change, for one thing.
Anmyn: You look very nice.
Riyyh is momentarily distracted from the emergency.
Riyyh: Do I? ~~preen~~
Riyyh: You are too kind, Anmyn, you really are.
Riyyh: ~~no you're not, you're just right~~
Anmyn: Do you want to see her here?
Anmyn: Or should I drop by Lucia's and tell her to bring our guest to your office?
Anmyn thinks they seem to be acquiring a lot of Tecton guests, lately.
Riyyh: Perhaps it would be best if I go Lucia's before she has a chance to talk to anybody else.
Anmyn: Oh. Yes, of course.
Riyyh removes the peacock-feathered robe.
Anmyn had rather planned on being the first to debrief Lucia after she delivered her charge to Riyyh.
Riyyh: I must say, you are doing quite well on gossip lately. ~pride in her~
Riyyh: I believe this is the third or fourth time you've been the first to tell me something important.
Anmyn consoles herself by noting that Lucia is experienced, and wouldn't tell whatever she'd managed to pry out of the visitor until there were enough witnesses to prevent the gossip from being attributed to anyone else.
Anmyn straightens with ~~ pride ~~
Riyyh dresses in the clothes he'd put on before almost leaving to work.
Riyyh: [hours ago, alas, but what can one do?]
Anmyn hangs around, intending to accompany Riyyh if possible.
Riyyh: I don't look like I dressed in a hurry, do I, Anmyn?
Riyyh: ~~earnestly concerned~~
Anmyn reaches out and adjusts the shoulder of the shirt by half an inch.
Anmyn: You look very Sectuibly.
Riyyh smiles, gratefully.
Riyyh: Thank you.
Riyyh puts on his real cloak, the Sectuibly one.
Anmyn already has her own cloak on.
Riyyh pauses to make sure not a hair is out of place.
Riyyh: [his own, or Kadi's]
Riyyh: Oh, dear. We had better go before I see too much.
Anmyn: It blends in well.
Anmyn: ~~ reassuring ~~
Riyyh is aghast.
Riyyh: You can see it?
Riyyh had been hoping he was overreacting.
Anmyn: Well, I can zlin it, but the visitor is a Gen.
Anmyn: I don't think she'll be able to notice it.
Riyyh: Unless she's allergic to cats...
Riyyh has been living in a wardrobe nightmare since becoming a cat owner.
Riyyh: Oh dear, never mind, I'll never leave this room if I don't leave now.
Riyyh hurries for the stairs.
Anmyn rushes after.
Mulla finishes her tea, and the second muffin.
Mulla: Ahh, that hit the spot. Thank you.
Lucia: I enjoyed having a guest here. [smiles]
Lucia notes a subtle change in the peeping-tomism around her house: Instead of staring raptly inside, people are dashing away from the window, then back up again, in a fitful excited fashion.
Lucia: Well, either Sectuib is on his way, or someone's coming to fetch you to his office.
Mulla sets her cup down immediately.
Mulla: Really?
Lucia: Probably.
Mulla gets to her feet and bends over to hastily brush a bit of road mess from her pants.
Lucia: Shall we wait in the living room?
Mulla tries to appear businesslike, which is rather hard when you've been on the road in freezing weather and not had an opportunity to change.
Mulla: Certainly.
Lucia glances at the table, hopes her sister can forgive her leaving a mess - again - and leads Mulla back into the front room.
Mulla's efforts would also be improved with the removal of the telltale smear of strawberry jam around her mouth.
Mulla follows Lucia.
Lucia starts to tell Mulla about the jam, then decides not to in favor of seeing exactly how Riyyh handles it.
Mulla pats her hair into place, and hopes that the Tecton insignia on her uniform makes up for any deficiencies in the rest of it.
Mulla: Well, I suppose I'm as ready as I'm going to be.
Riyyh steps lightly up onto Lucia's porch, having been informed by several reliable (and excitable) sources that the Tecton official is, indeed, in there.
Anmyn tags along, hoping that he will forget she is there.
Lucia sees all the peepers looking in the direction of the door.
Lucia accordingly goes over to the door before anybody has a chance to signal.
Lucia opens it.
Lucia: Ah! Sectuib, what excellent timing.
Lucia thinks any timing that involves him talking to the woman inside her house, with her there, is more than excellent, it's a miracle.
Riyyh smiles.
Mulla assumes from the greeting that this is the channel she came to see.
Riyyh: Hello, Lucia. Thank you for taking care of our guest, that was most accommodating of you.
Mulla smiles at Riyyh.
Mulla: Sectuib Riyyh, I appreciate your willingness to see me so promptly.
Riyyh: Welcome to Naros. [smiles back at Mulla, a trademarked kind-generous-and-still-stunning-after-all-these-years Sectuibly smile]
Mulla: I'm Mulla Spiran, with the Regional Controller's office. 2
Riyyh: ~~oh, dear~~
Riyyh: Yes, thank you, I've been expecting you.
Mulla: ~~ surprise ~~
Mulla: You have?
Riyyh has been expecting the entire Tecton to fall upon Naros like wolves for the last 10 months actually.
Riyyh: You have been refreshed, yes? Would you like to speak here, or in my office?
Mulla: Lucia here has been most hospitable, but my business is confidential. Perhaps your office would be more private?
Riyyh: Of course.
Riyyh is the perfect picture of courtesy.
Lucia: ~D'oh!~
Riyyh means "more private" in the sense of, less distraction from seeing the people who are listening to you.
Mulla smiles.
Mulla: Thank you.
Mulla wonders why Arat seems to regard Riyyh as uncooperative; he seems very nice to her.
Mulla picks up her trail-worn cape and wraps it around herself.
Riyyh leads the way back down the steps.
Mulla follows.
Anmyn tags along in the rear, as inconspicuously as possible.
Anmyn: ~~ just another piece of background here ~~
Riyyh has schooled himself to ignore the road-muck, but feels compelled to do something about the bright red jam on Mulla's face.
Riyyh feels somewhat inhibited due to her being a Tecton official.
Riyyh touches her arm and draws her to a halt on Lucia's front walk.
Mulla looks at Riyyh curiously.
Mulla: Is something the matter?
Riyyh: There's something... [his hand reaches up softly, a tentacle reaching hesitantly toward the offending substance]
Riyyh: May I?
Mulla: What?
Mulla: Oh.
Mulla blushes, and wipes off the offending jam.
Mulla: Better not. It's strawberry.
Riyyh withdraws his hand self-consciously.
Mulla feels slightly guilty for having been caught point-blank indulging in Sime-poison.
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh: Thank you for the warning.
Mulla wipes her hand on her handkerchief.
Riyyh is glad he was able to restrain his initial impulse to take her in his arms and remove the jam with his lips.
Riyyh continues on toward the Admin building.
Riyyh: I apologize for not being present when you first arrived.
Mulla follows, looking around.
Riyyh: I hope your wait wasn't a lengthy one.
Mulla: No, just long enough to warm up a bit from the ride.
Mulla: You really do have quite a pleasant compound here.
Riyyh: Why, thank you. [touched]
Mulla: I can see why your people prefer not to work for the Tecton.
Riyyh's expression alters subtly.
Mulla: I don't think I'd care to leave this for the average Sime Center.
Mulla: ~~ slightly wistful ~~
Riyyh: Perhaps your schedule will permit you to make the most of the visit?
Anmyn is ~~ sympathetic ~~, knowing that Mulla will never have a real home while she serves the Tecton.
Mulla: I really should head back tomorrow morning, if I can.
Mulla: ~~ reluctance ~~
Riyyh: Well then, we will have to make sure you receive the best of Naros tonight. [smiles]
Mulla: I do appreciate your hospitality.
Riyyh holds open the back door of the Admin building.
Mulla enters the warmth gratefully.
Mulla: Sometimes, I think spring will never get here.
Riyyh: I do hope it does, this year: everybody will be positively devastated if we are unable to try out our new cultivator.
Mulla chuckles.
Riyyh takes her upstairs to his office.
Mulla: That's what I mean: Where else could a channel actually know something about farming?
Anmyn follows, unobtrusively.
Riyyh chuckles self-deprecatingly.
Riyyh: I'm afraid I am more involved in the administrative side of things.
Mulla: ~~ sympathy ~~
Riyyh thinks Turros would choke if he heard her say that about him.
Riyyh shows her into his office.
Mulla: There's never an escape from the paperwork, is there?
Riyyh: Please, have a seat. No, there doesn't seem to be. [sadly]
Anmyn tries to slip in the door behind Mulla.
Riyyh: Anmyn, would you be a dear and go see if Rapol is awake?
Anmyn's face falls.
Anmyn: Of course, Sectuib.
Riyyh: ~~kind~~
Riyyh: Thank you. ~hint of apology~
Anmyn reverses course, reluctantly.
Anmyn wonders if she can turn that guilt into a special briefing, before the rest learn what's going on.
Riyyh: [to Mulla] My Companion. He's fighting off a bit of a cold, and I put him to bed for the morning.
Mulla: Oh, dear. I hope he improves rapidly.
Riyyh is stretching the truth quite a bit there: What really happened was, Rapol decided to go back to bed after Riyyh became hopelessly enamored of the mirror.
Riyyh: Thank you. Please, have a seat.
Mulla drapes her cloak over one seat and sits in the other.
Riyyh: Would you like some more tea?
Mulla: Please. I'm still not completely warm.
Mulla: Do you have any Lilac Afternoon?
Riyyh: Of course.
Mulla is not the type who reads cereal boxes, and so she hasn't caught on that Lilac Afternoon is a Narosian brand.
Riyyh: If you like that, you may also like Tempest Rose. It's a new blend we are experimenting with, based upon Lilac Afternoon and Passion-Dark.
Mulla: Passion-Dark?
Riyyh: It's a bit sour for my taste, but... oh, haven't you tried Passion-Dark? It's simply delightful.
Riyyh: Do have a cup, I am sure you'll enjoy it.
Riyyh likes talking about tea, especially after being reminded of subjects he doesn't know like the back of his own hand, like farming.
Mulla: Thank you, I will.
Riyyh selects Passion-Dark.
Riyyh pours a cup from the ever-ready pot of simmering water, glad somebody thought to keep it going while he was missing in action.
Mulla accepts the cup and sniffs gingerly.
Mulla: Hmm, it smells delightful.
Mulla sips.
Riyyh, somewhat disappointed that her cloak is occupying the chair most handy to her person, smiles and goes to his desk.
Mulla: Quite... stimulating. Is that ginger I taste?
Riyyh: Why, yes.
Riyyh: You have a very perceptive tongue.
Mulla reluctantly sets the cup down.
Mulla reaches for the pocket in her uniform shirt and pulls out a paper.
Riyyh laces his fingers and tentacles together on his desk and looks attentive and open-minded.
Mulla: Controller Arat received a rather disturbing communication recently, from Bender Cove. I believe you visited there, not too long ago?
Riyyh: Yes, I did.
Mulla: Do you recall meeting a Second Order channel named Darrel?
Riyyh: Yes.
Riyyh: Darrel is here now.
Riyyh: A fine fellow, if a bit nervous.
Mulla: ~~ startled ~~
Mulla: Here?
Riyyh: Yes, Darrel is here.
Riyyh: Actually, I had meant to write to Controller Arat about him, because I am concerned about his state of mental health.
Riyyh: Darrel's, that is.
Mulla: However did he get here? The report Controller Arat received said that he was under close observation, and asked our cooperation in determining if you know anything about the cause of his apparent breakdown.
Mulla: Apparently he'd mentioned you a time or two.
Riyyh's eyebrows raise.
Riyyh: Well, some time ago I receive this letter.
Riyyh opens a desk drawer and fingers through some files looking for it.
Riyyh: It was from Darrel... ah, here it is.
Riyyh passes it over the desk.
Mulla: Purple ink?
Riyyh: It's nice, isn't it?
Riyyh wonders why he never thought of that.
Riyyh: As you can see, he was asking me to exert some influence on his behalf. Get him transferred, or given some sort of reprieve.
Mulla: What was he writing with, grape juice?
Riyyh: I... pardon me?
Riyyh: Yes, I believe so.
Mulla tests the ink with one finger, and shakes her head at the faint stickiness.
Riyyh frowns slightly to himself.
Mulla scans the note.
Mulla: My goodness, how could they let a channel reach this state before doing anything about it?
Mulla: ~~ disapproval ~~
Riyyh feels safe in not answering that one.
Riyyh concentrates upon appearing sincere instead.
Mulla: Tell me, what is his current condition?
Riyyh: I wrote back to him telling him I was not in a position to help, not in the way he asked. But apparently he was already loose of Bender Cove at that point, because he showed up on our doorstep only days later.
Mulla: I see.
Riyyh: He seems rather unstable at this time. He was very nervous when he first arrived, but calmed after a day or two here. Everything was fine until a couple of days ago, when he panicked in the presence of a First Order Donor, my Companion.
Mulla: Is he still raving, as in this letter?
Riyyh: He says he is afraid of them.
Mulla: Afraid of Donors?
Mulla: Are you sure?
Riyyh: I found this rather alarming, not only for what it is, but for the way the fear surfaced. He was fine for nearly a week, and then....
Riyyh winces at the memory.
Mulla: That wasn't mentioned in the note from Bender Cove.
Riyyh: I do not know that it is even a recurring problem. [admits]
Riyyh: He said it was at the time, but it is possible it was only the expression, as it came out at that moment, of some greater problem. It might be different at other times, I cannot know.
Riyyh spreads his hands and tentacles apologetically.
Riyyh: At any rate, I have arranged for him to be watched full time by one of our channels here, someone with Tecton experience.
Riyyh: And I intended to write to Controller Arat about getting him into some sort of rehabilitation.
Mulla: Yes. He's certainly no use to the Tecton in the state you describe.
Riyyh: Darrel is extremely wary of the Tecton at this time. He feels he will be sent back to Bender Cove without the benefit of treatment or concessions to his wishes, if he allows himself to fall into Tecton hands.
Riyyh: I had hoped that he might be more cooperative if he knew it wouldn't be that way.
Mulla shrugs.
Mulla: I'll pass your recommendations on to Controller Arat, of course, but the Tecton must send channels where they are needed.
Mulla: And a channel who's broken his oath and run away isn't in a strong position to bargain for a choice assignment.
Mulla: It's too bad, really. This should have been caught long before the situation became critical.
Riyyh: Perhaps with a little bit of retraining and rehabilitation?
Riyyh sighs.
Riyyh: Very well.
Riyyh: You can try persuading him to return with you, but if that proves unworkable, Naros can house him in the interim.
Mulla: I do appreciate your cooperation.
Mulla knows that the appropriate training centers are snowed in at present, and she certainly doesn't want a problem channel loose in Capitol.
Riyyh nods, glad that went so well.
Mulla: If he proves reluctant to return to Capitol with me, could you provide him with appropriate treatment for his various problems?
Riyyh: We can begin to examine his difficulties, and try to prepare an appropriate course of treatment.
Riyyh has no illusions that the Tecton will let him hold onto the patient long enough to actually accomplish much, but at least there will be a chance someone will follow up on what Naros does for him, if there's a coherent plan.
Mulla nods.
Mulla: That would be an immense help.
Mulla: Of course, we would ask that you keep the Regional Controller informed as to his progress.
Riyyh: Of course.
Riyyh doesn't plan on it.
Mulla: Has he been cooperating with you, as far as diagnosis and treatment go?
Riyyh: To the extent which his condition allows him to, yes.
Riyyh: During his lucid times he is quite reasonable.
Riyyh has heard the same thing said of Arat.
Riyyh hopes Mulla doesn't recognize the quote.
Mulla is getting the distinct impression that this is a patient she would rather not be responsible for.
Mulla: ~~ trepidation/reluctance ~~
Riyyh zlins Mulla, looking somewhat concerned.
Mulla: In his rants, according to Bender Cove, Hajene Darrel referred to Naros as a paradise without garden ornaments, whatever that's supposed to mean.
Mulla: You say he appears relatively content here?
Riyyh thinks back to the panic attack in his office.
Riyyh: I would have to reserve judgment on that until I have had a chance to study him further. ~apologetic~
Mulla: I see. So you can't predict the effects of removing him to Capitol, as opposed to leaving him here for a while?
Riyyh: As I say, I have only had about a week in which to observe him, and he wasn't displaying any symptoms during most of that time.
Riyyh: He seemed content enough during those times, but it may be he had moments of peace in Bender Cove also.
Riyyh: Perhaps... [hesitates]
Mulla: Yes?
Riyyh: Perhaps the less changes, the better.
Riyyh: He seems to crave stability.
Riyyh thinks, stability in living situation, Donor nagers, and employment.
Mulla: As does half the Tecton.
Mulla smiles wryly.
Riyyh spreads his tentacles.
Mulla: I envy you, you know, having a real home.
Riyyh looks at her, his emotions indistinct.
Mulla, being Gen and thus unable to zlin, looks back and thinks Riyyh is pretty cute, for a guy his age.
Riyyh zlins her appreciation and his expression clears, becoming pleasant and sincere.
Riyyh smiles at her, gently.
Mulla: It really is kind of you, to offer to take on a problem channel.
Mulla: Particularly since he won't be much use to you until he's more dependable.
Riyyh becomes aware, for the first time, that Mulla has been actually trying to ditch Darrel at Naros.
Riyyh looks somewhat surprised by that realization.
Riyyh: We... try to help, where we can. It is the Naros way.
Riyyh wonders if Mulla is expecting something in return for this.
Riyyh had planned on offering a number of concessions to the Controller's office, but hadn't thought it would happen in this order, and now he's a bit off stride.
Mulla: As long as he's getting the help he requires, I don't suppose it matters much where he is.
Riyyh nods.
Mulla thinks that after he's recovered it will be a different story, but she won't be around to take of care it by then.
Riyyh: Very well. If that is how you feel about it....
Mulla: Well, Controller Arat may have a different opinion, but for now, my orders were to bring back information on Hajene Darrel, not the channel himself.
Riyyh: I will tell you anything I can.
Mulla: If you could prepare a copy of your notes on the case, for me to take with me tomorrow?
Riyyh thinks that Arat will throw a perfect fit when he learns Mulla has obeyed the word, not the spirit, of his orders.
Riyyh: Of course. I will get somebody started on that right away.
Mulla: Thank you.
Riyyh: You've had a long journey. Would you like to rest a while before seeing more of Naros?
Mulla: That sounds marvelous. It's been a long, lonely ride.
Mulla smiles invitingly at Riyyh.
Riyyh's initial surprise is quickly replaced by a pleased smile.
Riyyh: In that case, may I show you to one of our guest cottages?
Mulla: I would be delighted.
Mulla wonders if Narosian hospitality really does extend as far as rumored.
Mulla kind of hopes so; Riyyh is cute.
Riyyh's smile grows as he basks in the attention. A shame about the workday, really, but some days a person just isn't meant to do more than be themselves.
Notes:
1) In light of the additional background revealed in further episodes, the "subController" is probably actually District Controller Arat Farris. [return]
2) Subsequent play determined that she actually works for the District Office, but perhaps her trip was ordered by Arat at Regional Controller Neptude's request. [return]