Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #127: Got Honey? (3/9/99)
Riyyh is aware of being very, very lazy and naughty.
Riyyh is aware of this only peripherally, as he is concentrating on being warm, contented and unpestered at the moment.
Mulla wakes with the delicious knowledge that she doesn't have to report for duty or ride a horse through the icy wind and snow today.
Mulla turns over and snuggles closer to the heater.
Riyyh smiles at Mulla's pleasant nager, and lets her press against him.
Riyyh thinks vaguely of going in to the office, or maybe going home, then his thoughts wander on to less relevant matters.
Mulla is vaguely surprised at the lack of hair in her mouth.
Mulla is reminded of her duty by the thought of hair and mouths.
Mulla mumbles a promise about the imminent availability of kitty food, then turns over again to warm the other side.
Riyyh waits until she's settled again, then cuddles against her in a spoon.
Mulla finally registers the absence of kneading kitty claws piercing her scalp.
Mulla concentrates on her ear--no cold nose inserted to maximize purr volume.
Riyyh feels Mulla's attention shift to her ear, and obligingly nibbles on it.
Mulla decides the cat just isn't all that hungry, yet, and that she can go back to sleep for a bit longer.
Mulla reaches up to pat the nose-nibbler.
Mulla: Good kitty.
Riyyh, encouraged by the caress, nuzzles her neck and kisses it softly.
Mulla slowly realizes that there is something unfeline about the warmth behind her.
Mulla takes stock of the neck-nibbling and spooning, and gradually her memory wakes up.
Mulla: Riyyh?
Riyyh: Good morning, Mulla.
Mulla yawns prodigiously, then stretches.
Mulla: What time is it?
Riyyh enjoys the pleasant feelings.
Riyyh: Towards the end of mid-morning.
Mulla: Mid-morning?
Riyyh has been avoiding work all day, in favor of wallowing in hedonism in Mulla's guest cabin.
Mulla: I was going to start back to Capitol today. How's the weather?
Mulla is sort of hoping that it's turned nasty, giving her an excuse to linger.
Riyyh: It's stopped snowing.
Mulla: Stopped?
Mulla: It snowed last night?
Mulla was too preoccupied to notice.
Riyyh: Yes, about 14 inches. [smiles]
Mulla: Oh.
Mulla considers for a moment.
Mulla: Well, can't travel in that.
Riyyh: Mmmm. [kisses her neck some more]
Mulla: Besides, the horse could use a rest.
Riyyh: Oh, yes. [more kissing]
Mulla reaches out to run a hand down Riyyh's arm.
Mulla: Shen, I could use a rest, too.
Riyyh shivers at the Gen touch.
Riyyh: ~~pleasure~~
Mulla kisses back, showing that rest is not actually what she has in mind at the moment.
Mulla: Mmmnnnnn.
Riyyh has, somewhere very far back in the small part of his mind that handles logical matters, a policy of showing Tecton officials as good a time as possible while they are in Naros.
Mulla lets her hand wander further.
Riyyh generally need not keep that in mind, however, because it comes very naturally to him.
Mulla does a little trick around the laterals that her last lover really appreciated.
Riyyh's eyes close as tingling sensations travel up his arms.
Mulla's stomach growls loudly.
Mulla: Oh, dear, do excuse me.
Riyyh is reminded of the old adage about letting sleeping Gen metabolisms lie.
Mulla hopes Riyyh isn't going to make any snide comments about hungry Gens; she really isn't in the mood for Sime jokes right now.
Mulla knows from experience that Simes don't consider Sime-in-need jokes funny, for some reason.
Riyyh reaches over Mulla and tugs open the drawer of the bedside table.
Riyyh feels around, then pulls out a chocolate-coated honeycomb imported in a trade with Narwhale.
Riyyh hands the exotically wrapped candy to Mulla.
Riyyh: For our guests, [explains]
Mulla's eyes widen.
Riyyh smiles.
Mulla: My goodness.
Mulla's ~~ appetite ~~ picks up at the sight of the luscious treat.
Mulla unwraps the candy and takes a nibble.
Mulla: Mmmnnnnn.
Mulla: ~~ sensuous Gen pleasure in good food ~~
Riyyh lays back to take in the delightful reaction.
Mulla sucks slowly on the comb, drawing out each sticky drop.
Mulla looks at Riyyh coyly.
Riyyh stretches out luxuriously, smiling at her.
Mulla: Oh, dear, there isn't a napkin, and my face is all sticky.
Riyyh: Let me help.
Riyyh pushes himself up and takes her chin gently in one hand.
Mulla: ~~ enjoyment ~~
Riyyh carefully begins to kiss the honey and chocolate off, making sure not to miss any, or leave any of the other spots feeling left out.
Mulla: Umm, yes, can't go out with a sticky face.
Riyyh: Of course not. [murmurs, between kisses]
Riyyh could do this all day, he really could.
Mulla: Unbecoming for a Tecton Donor, and all that.
Riyyh makes sure there's no honey inside her mouth, either.
Mulla ignores the sections in the rule book regarding attention to duty and the error of sloth.
Mulla isn't sure this qualifies as sloth anyway; her tongue is working at least as hard as when she's taking care of Arat's business.
Mulla thinks, however, that Arat's business is seldom this much fun.
Mulla frowns as the thought of Arat wanders around in her brain looking for context.
Mulla: Riyyh?
Riyyh: Mm... yes, Mulla?
Riyyh looks up at her with an expression that can only be described as "enslaved".
Mulla: What's between you and Controller Arat?
Riyyh's expression progresses from "enslaved" to "mildly confused".
Mulla: ~~ moderate curiosity/arousal/partially curbed appetite ~~
Riyyh wonders if Arat Farris always comes into her mind during these sorts of moments, or if she's heard rumors of... no, Arat would never allow it.
Riyyh: Why, Arat grew up in this area. We've known each other for many years, although our association has mainly been in the context of Tecton relations to Naros.
Riyyh: [in other words, as brief and shallow as possible]
Riyyh: [except for one or two notable instances, which would be best left undiscussed]
Mulla: There's something more to it than that. Come on, give.
Mulla moves her hand to his arm again and threatens to tickle.
Riyyh's eyes widen in mock dismay.
Riyyh: Oh, dear. Well, I suppose I must, then.
Mulla: Yes, indeed.
Mulla: ~~ mock stern ~~
Riyyh: There has been a bit of bad blood between us. [admits]
Riyyh: However, that was many years in the past, and....
Riyyh isn't sure Arat has forgotten.
Mulla's eyes light up.
Riyyh: Well, I certainly feel it is of no import now, although perhaps....
Mulla: Arat Farris never forgets a slight.
Riyyh nods sadly.
Mulla thinks, at least he still holds against her that teeny accident with the tea--how was she to know the floor was wet? Besides, it wasn't that hot.
Mulla adds mentally, and it missed his arms, even if it did hit between them.
Mulla thinks self-righteously that it would have hurt him a lot more if it had hit one of the out-T trade delegation instead.
Riyyh: When he was City Controller for New Othwol, we had a run-in over one of our outreach programs there. Arat sent his assistant, Jeniard Chartas, to "straighten me out" on the matter.
Mulla makes a face at the mention of Jeniard.
Riyyh: A nice enough fellow, rather loyal to Arat.
Riyyh uses the term "rather" loosely.
Riyyh decides to leave it at that.
Riyyh wouldn't want to reopen old wounds, after all.
Mulla: So Arat's had it in for you ever since?
Riyyh: I wouldn't go so far as to say he's had it in for me. [gentle chiding]
Riyyh: And it was a long time ago.
Riyyh: I must confess I didn't think his office would be so reasonable on the matter of Darrel, though.
Mulla: Well, no one there knows Hajene Darrel is at Naros yet.
Riyyh: But I wrote... well.
Riyyh thinks it's going to look very odd when that letter arrives in Capitol.
Mulla: The Capitol office only got a request for information that would help Bender Cove deal with his apparent nervous breakdown.
Riyyh nods.
Mulla: Arat may decide that Hajene Darrel must be retrained under Tecton auspices, you realize.
Riyyh: Yes, of course.
Riyyh: Are you sure he is going to be all right with your not bringing Darrel back with you?
Riyyh: He may think that I attempted to obstruct....
Mulla shakes her head.
Mulla: I'll make sure he sees the advantages to the arrangement we worked out.
Mulla: Capitol will be hosting a visit from the New Washington president in the spring. It wouldn't do to have an unstable channel around that.
Mulla: How long would you estimate it would take to cure Hajene Darrel?
Riyyh: Perhaps a year, two years?
Riyyh: Aside from easing his insecurities, he must be retrained as well, and he's been out of First Year for a while.
Riyyh: ~sadness~
Mulla: I see. A time-consuming task.
Mulla: Do you anticipate a successful rehabilitation?
Riyyh: It isn't time consuming, so much as it is important that it be done thoroughly. And yes, I don't see any reason to doubt he could be successfully rehabilitated, given the right program of action.
Mulla is already composing her report to Arat.
Mulla: Have you been able to discover the cause of any of his problems?
Riyyh: I have examined him personally and found no physical cause. I had held off on requesting his Tecton records until I had obtained permission to, but he says he had no problems before this year.
Riyyh: It may be that he was simply traumatized by some events that occurred during his assignment in Bender Cove.
Mulla: Perhaps so. The place has an... odd reputation.
Mulla: Has he mentioned any particular incidents?
Riyyh: Yes, but not in detail. Again, I was holding off on delving into this too deeply, and possibly exacerbating the problem, before finding out what would become of him.
Mulla frowns thoughtfully.
Riyyh might have spoken to him today, but he has been too busy seducing yet another of Arat's minions.
Mulla: It's this phobia about Donors that makes the lest sense.
Riyyh does hope Arat doesn't become terribly angry over this whole thing, especially given the volatile nature of the Jeniard incident so long ago.
Riyyh: I haven't seen enough evidence of that to be sure it's what it appears on the surface.
Mulla: Has he shown any instability around untrained Gens?
Riyyh: He has been nervous in general.
Riyyh: At times - and at other times, he has been fine.
Riyyh: I really do think that this must be examined in a deliberate fashion, rather than guessed at. [gently]
Mulla nods reluctantly.
Mulla: Still, the more information I have, the more... effective... a report I can write.
Riyyh: I am sorry that I cannot offer more.
Mulla intends to slant the report as necessary to justify her decision to leave Darrel where he is, but would prefer to base it as much as practical on reality.
Riyyh: He has only been here a short time, you see.
Riyyh isn't fool enough to pass on the name of the BC Donor Darrel mentioned - a Farris.
Riyyh: Did Bender Cove send along Darrel's file when they inquired?
Mulla: I'm not sure. I was simply told that a Tecton channel with suspected psychological problems had been fixating on you, and that I was to inquire about possible reasons why.
Mulla wishes that either she had more of Arat's confidence, or that he would send her someplace where she could be in the know--this being on the fringes is wearing, and it was only tea, after all.
Mulla hadn't known that he was allergic to lilacs, or she wouldn't have brewed the Lilac Afternoon.
Mulla thinks the rash disappeared in a day or two, so why the fuss?
Riyyh considers.
Riyyh: When you say fixating... what did they base this belief upon, this belief that he was fixating on me?
Riyyh hasn't found that Darrel was particularly interested in spending time with him, and suspects that either the report was exaggerated, or that Darrel's fixation was cured upon his leaving the stressful environment of Bender Cove.
Mulla: I believe he was viewing you, and Naros, as a haven from whatever was bothering him at Bender Cove. However, the Bender Cove Controller's letter didn't have much in the way of details.
Mulla: If there was more to it than that, I wasn't told.
Riyyh: Ah.
Riyyh is pleased by the answer.
Riyyh would hate to think that Arat, still sore about it 15 years after the Jeniard incident, was overreacting to stories about people "fixating" on Riyyh.
Veschapo marches up to the guest cabin Riyyh is purportedly inside of, fuming.
Veschapo is a big, young, muscular Gen with a real chip on his shoulder.
Turros is almost hot on his heels, being only moderately delayed by his bad knee.
Turros: ~~ aggravation ~~
Veschapo throws open the door and marches inside.
Veschapo is too mad to see straight, much less think before acting.
Mulla sits up in the bed, displaying her Gen-generous bod.
Mulla: What was that?
Veschapo has more passion than brains... inherited it from his grandfather, though his physique came from his grandmother's side.
Riyyh's head whips around as Veschapo stomps across the small cabin and appears at the bedroom door.
Mulla squeals and grabs for the blanket to cover herself.
Mulla: ~~ shock ~~
Veschapo: Tell this old fool to go home and tend the fire!
Veschapo points accusingly back at Turros.
Veschapo: He can't keep his meddling hands off everything I try to do!
Turros manages to catch up, limping dramatically.
Riyyh looks stunned.
Riyyh: Veschapo? Turros?
Turros: That's because that young whippersnapper can't manage to get it right without my telling him three times.
Riyyh's nager cringes.
Turros: ~~ aggravated curmudgeon ~~
Veschapo: He says everything three times no matter what! It drives me crazy!
Turros: He's supposed to be learning from me, not ignoring me!
Veschapo: The last time he opened a textbook was 45 years ago!
Veschapo: Agriculture has had a few advancements since then!
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Turros: I bet you never opened a textbook at all, judging from how much you didn't learn!
Riyyh: Please, please.
Riyyh tries to placate them with waving tentacles.
Mulla: Who are these people? And what are they doing here?
Mulla: ~~ upset ~~
Riyyh's voice, unused to bellowing across the length of Naros over the sound of cultivator blades, is pitifully inadequate against theirs.
Turros: He's an ignorant child, and he won't learn!
Veschapo: He's such a control freak, he hasn't let his wife put a new kind of jam on the table since before Unity!
Veschapo is unaware that he has let slip the un-farmerly phrase "control freak".
Turros snorts.
Riyyh places a gentle hand on Mulla's arm, and says aside to her, "I am sorry. I'll get them out of here."
Turros: He can't find a way to dispute my facts, so he drags my wife into it.
Veschapo: How many years in a row does a field have to be in alfalfa? Two should be enough.
Veschapo: Are we going to plant alfalfa until the next war comes?
Turros: That field produces our highest yielding grain--the stuff we show at the fair.
Riyyh climbs out of bed and starts pulling on his clothes.
Turros: But only if it's been in alfalfa for three years, first.
Riyyh: ~~rather upset, but resigned~~
Turros: That's why that area is sectioned into four fields, one of which is in wheat each year.
Turros: If you meddle with it, there won't be a suitable entry for the fair in a few years, and you know how that would cut our prices.
Veschapo: I know that, [exaggerated patience] but you have to look at the big picture!
Turros: But Mr. Newfangled there can't be bothered to listen to an old man, even if he has produced the winning wheat entry more years than not.
Veschapo: I want to move the wheat to the eastern bed where the stock herbs are, and use the current one for tomatoes next year.
Veschapo: Would you stop talking over me! I hate it when you talk over me!! [veins popping out on forehead]
Turros: The eastern bed's soil drains too fast. You don't get prize-winning wheat without good water retention.
Turros: And the tomatoes will grow anywhere.
Riyyh finishes buttoning his shirt, and tries to smooth back his sex hair without much success.
Riyyh picks up his cloak and interposes himself between them, an act which requires a certain amount of denial of what it could result in.
Riyyh: Please, could we continue this discussion outside?
Turros brightens at the suggestion.
Veschapo mutters, then stomps out of the cabin.
Turros: A good idea. You can't make decisions about land if you aren't there walking it, looking at the soil.
Turros ignores the 14 inches of fresh snow covering the soil at the moment.
Turros: I'll show you the place those tomatoes should be put.
Riyyh: Go on, I'll join you shortly. [gentle]
Turros is all too obviously ready to personally inspect each plot-to-be with Riyyh, so he can get his side of the story told--in exquisite detail.
Riyyh waits until Turros has left, and then rushes back to Mulla's side.
Riyyh: I'm terribly sorry about this.
Riyyh appears very very sincere.
Riyyh: Can you forgive me?
Mulla gives a wry grin.
Mulla: Do you get interrupted like this all the time?
Mulla wonders how Riyyh could have fathered his reputedly numerous progeny, if so.
Riyyh: Not quite in that way, no, fortunately.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Riyyh: I must look a mess.
Mulla reaches out and smoothes Riyyh's hair, then straightens his shirt.
Mulla: There. That's the best I can do, for now.
Riyyh: Thank you.
Riyyh: ~grateful~
Riyyh: Don't leave without saying good bye, will you?
Mulla: I won't. Will you come back when you're done with them?
Mulla: ~~ wistful ~~
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh: Yes.
Riyyh straightens a lock of her own hair with a tentacle.
Riyyh: I will.
Mulla smiles.
Riyyh turns and hurries out, pulling on his cloak.
Mulla shivers, and starts to pull on her own clothes.
Riyyh feels a bit silly going to go walk around in fields with his Naros colors on, but all he's got with him is the cloak he originally went to greet Mulla's arrival in.
Veschapo and Turros are still going strong.
Veschapo: How am I supposed to demonstrate I can do anything right if you never let me do anything?
Turros: You young idiot! You've got to think of the long term, not just one year at a time!
Veschapo: I have to think of the long term?
Veschapo: Who's the one who thinks he's going to live forever?
Turros snorts.
Veschapo: If you had your way, I wouldn't even know how to wipe my own butt by the time you... [stops as he sees Riyyh coming]
Turros: It's Naros that has to be planned for, boy...
Turros follows Veschapo's gaze and grumbles to a halt.
Riyyh picks his way across the deep snow and joins them.
Riyyh: Thank you for waiting. Now please, what seems to be the matter?
Riyyh wouldn't dream of saying, "what is so shenned important you had to barge into my bedroom for it?"
Turros: That youngster thinks he knows it all, and isn't interested in learning more.
Turros: ~~ indignant ~~
Veschapo: Bologna! 1 I want to learn as much as the next guy, but all he wants to do is tell me to do something and then take it away and do it himself!
Turros: Listen to him, with his fancy language! But I tell you, fancy language never got a field plowed or planted.
Riyyh: Please, please. Try to remain calm.
Riyyh: I know this is very important to both of you.
Turros: He's supposed to be learning from me.
Veschapo: He thinks I'm a little boy!
Veschapo: ~~irritated~~
Veschapo: It's starting to really tick me off.
Turros: You mean you aren't?
Turros: Could have fooled me, the way you've been acting.
Riyyh: Now, now. [pleading]
Riyyh: Gentlemen, one at a time.
Turros naturally takes that to mean that he, as the senior disputant and the one who knows the real problem, is to present his case free of interruption.
Riyyh: Turros, you have chosen Veschapo as your successor, is that true?
Turros: I thought he might make a farmer some day, with decent instruction. But he isn't ready now, and no amount of bluster will change that.
Turros ought to know, being an expert blusterer himself.
Riyyh: Does that mean you have not chosen a successor yet? [kindly]
Veschapo: What?!
Veschapo splutters and turns red with wrath.
Turros: He can't succeed me as he is, that's for sure.
Riyyh: Turros, nobody is asking for you to name an immediate replacement.
Turros looks at Veschapo.
Turros: I suppose I'd better start looking for another possibility. One who's willing to learn.
Veschapo: You closed minded old windbag, your idea of 'learning' is 'stagnating'.
Veschapo: ~bitter~
Riyyh: Please.
Turros snorts at the insult.
Riyyh turns to Veschapo.
Riyyh: I'm sorry, could I ask you to go back to work for now? I must speak with Turros alone.
Riyyh is aware of his weakness at dealing with more than one person at a time, and these two are obviously pushing each other's buttons.
Veschapo: But it's my... I was the one who....
Riyyh: I will find you and speak to you afterward. Please, go. I'm truly sorry.
Veschapo turns on his heel and stomps off, muttering through his teeth about favoritism and cheap tricks.
Turros looks after Veschapo, with a pang of regret.
Turros: I thought he could do it, Sectuib, or I'd never have raised his hopes.
Riyyh turns back to Turros.
Riyyh: Perhaps... perhaps what is required is a little time.
Turros shakes his head skeptically.
Turros: We're out of time. There has to be a plan before the thaw, or the crops won't be planted in time.
Riyyh glances around them.
Riyyh: Turros... will you walk with me?
Riyyh indicates the direction away from the buildings of the Householding.
Turros nods agreement, knowing the value of being out in the middle of an empty field, with no acoustical shenanigans to worry about.
Riyyh lets Turros go first, both for the older man's pride and also so he doesn't have to break the path.
Riyyh: [primarily the latter, if truth be told, but fortunately it is possible to simply let him assume]
Turros slogs through the snow like the outdoorsman he is, despite his bad leg.
Turros: ~~ twinge ~~ ~~ twinge ~~ ~~ twinge ~~
Riyyh, like everybody else at Naros who can zlin, is more or less used to the twinge, and also well-trained not to mention it.
Riyyh follows him out of the buildings and out across a field.
Riyyh: Turros....
Turros indicates the expanse of snow.
Turros: This'll be sprouting wheat in another two months. Hard to imagine just now, isn't it?
Turros is, as always, partially mellowed at being outside in his fields.
Riyyh finds that plowing awkwardly through snow dunes wearing his better cloak and looking like he's had someone's hands running through his hair all night isn't exactly conducive to a high degree of dignity.
Riyyh: Spring is a joyous time.
Riyyh abandons dignity altogether and augments to keep up and stay warm.
Turros snorts.
Turros: It's busier than anything but harvest, but it's nice enough to be outside again, it's true.
Riyyh: Turros, I don't want you to misunderstand. I never intended for anybody to replace you this year, or even next year.
Riyyh: All I asked was that you select someone and begin training him.
Turros nods.
Riyyh: If you don't feel Veschapo can handle planning this year's crop plan, then don't delegate it to him.
Turros: I'd hoped the boy would work out--he's smart enough, when he wants to be.
Turros: But all he wants to do is argue.
Riyyh: Allow him to watch you in your work. Explain your reasons for each decision to him. Over time, he will learn. Please, don't assume that anyone who couldn't replace you today can never replace you.
Riyyh feels like little brother struggling to tag along with big brother.
Riyyh finds it is a distinct improvement over what he used to feel in Turros' presence: Small boy who has wet his pants and is standing in the puddle looking forlorn.
Turros: I don't demand instant results; I just want to see steady progress.
Riyyh: Of course, but it's only been a month or two.
Riyyh: Surely, over years...?
Riyyh kind of wishes Turros had started grooming a replacement about 5 years ago, and started saving for a cultivator while he was at it.
Turros: You can't talk and listen at the same time. When he's contradicting me, he's not learning anything.
Riyyh: Then hear him out, and when he's finished, state your own reasons for choosing what you have. If you see any merit in what he says, tell him that too so that he knows you've listened.
Riyyh: Honestly, Turros, he cannot ruin your crops by simply talking to you.
Riyyh: He is unsure of himself, and trying to find his place in this situation.
Turros: He can if he tells the crews to plant the wrong things.
Riyyh: But Turros.
Riyyh is whining.
Riyyh tries not to whine, but it comes so naturally to him.
Riyyh: It's nowhere near planting yet.
Riyyh: Surely he will stick the official plan that has been decided upon, when that time comes?
Turros: The plan was finalized a month ago, but he's still quibbling over it.
Turros: A few days ago, I caught him modifying the amount of seed on an order I was placing.
Riyyh: Was he changing the order to be different from that required to carry out the planned crop plantings?
Riyyh, unfortunately, wouldn't put it past Turros to have made a mistake in ordering.
Riyyh had hoped any assistant Turros took on would be able to help head off some of these sorts of things.
Turros: Told me he thought it was supposed to be Kishmish tomatoes, not Keshmesh. As if I could ever confuse the two!
Riyyh: It sounds as if he was only trying to help.
Turros ignores his chronic spelling deficiencies, and the almost complete obscurity of the Keshmesh tomato when compared with its fellow varietal.
Riyyh: Please, give him a chance. Regarding his continuing to speak of the crop plan, perhaps he is just insecure about his own lack of knowledge. You might try stepping through his own version of the plan, and asking him how he would deal with each problem you see with it, to see what he says.
Riyyh: If he cannot answer your questions, he will see the error of his own ways.
Riyyh is trying to be reasonable about this, without getting up Turros' left nostril.
Turros snorts to indicate the unlikeliness of the possibility.
Riyyh: What harm could it do?
Riyyh wishes they were having this conversation in his nice warm office (or Mulla's bed, for that matter) but is well aware of how much more easy to talk to Turros is out here in the fields.
Turros: I'll look at the boy's plan, although from what he's told me, it looks like he's assuming it's going to be a wet year.
Turros: Boy hasn't figured out yet that half of all years have below average rainfall, and you have to prepare for it.
Riyyh: You can help him learn, by asking him how he would handle it if it turned out to be a dry year. [soothingly]
Riyyh feels, bottom-line, that Naros doesn't need a replacement for Turros in the next 2 or 3 years, but it does need to know who it's going to be, no questions asked.
Riyyh is committed to making Turros pick somebody and stick with them.
Turros: Maybe so, maybe so.
Turros: ~~ skeptical ~~
Turros hops over a ditch which is so full of snow that it appears almost level with the field.
Riyyh: When the time comes that you are proven right, later in the summer, be sure to point it out to him, gently. And likewise, if it turns out he was right, be sure to [whumph]
Turros: Careful, there.
Riyyh disappears into the inverted snowdrift, having been paying a good deal of attention to Turros, and none whatsoever to his footing.
Turros sighs, and reaches down to fish Riyyh from the ditch.
Riyyh accepts Turros' help gratefully, covered head to toe in snow and the gray slush that had filled the bottom of the ditch.
Riyyh: Oh, dear. That was terribly inattentive of me.
Turros: Better get inside. Its too cold to wander around out here when you're wet.
Riyyh finds that the small child standing in the puddle wasn't so far from center stage after all.
Riyyh: You're right, of course.
Riyyh: ~~embarrassed~~
Turros leaps back across the ditch, grunting as his weight lands on his sore leg, then starts to break trail back towards the buildings.
Riyyh follows, bedraggled and forlorn.
Turros just hopes Riyyh is able to talk some sense into young Veschapo, or at least teach him some manners, or it's going to be a very long spring.
Notes:
1) 'Bologna': A Gen-Territory word meaning, roughly, 'horse hockey' [return]