Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #128: The Straggler (3/10/99)
Styain finally arrives at Naros after fighting his way through the thick snow.
Eliza is in admin taking over while poor Wolfa has a little lay down.
Styain brushes the excess snow off himself and enters the admin building.
Eliza looks up from the book she is reading (Gentle Hands, Gentle Nager, by the Sectuib in Naros)
Eliza: Hello, can I help you?
Eliza: ~ welcoming ~
Styain: Ah, yes.
Styain: I'm hoping to be able to stay for awhile if possible?
Styain certainly hopes so after all the time it took to get here.
Eliza: Are you one of the new applicants for the Household?
Eliza pulls out the list of "new applicants" application forms.
Styain: Yes. My name is Styain.
Eliza: I'm pleased to meet you, Styain. I'm Eliza. If you would just fill out this form, and this one, and this one, give me the copies and then we can go from there.
Eliza smiles brightly at him.
Eliza: Would you like to remove your coat? You seem to be defrosting.
Styain: Thank you I would, it's rather chilly out there.
Styain takes the forms and grimaces.
Styain hates filling out forms.
Eliza: Once you have done that, I'll take you to see the Sectuib. We are rather informal around here, you don't have to be nervous.
Styain: Ummm, I'm not nervous, but thank you for your concern.
Eliza: Uhhuh. I'll leave you to fill them out then.
Eliza hands a pen into a reluctant tentacle and goes back to "Gentle Hands, Gentle Nager"
Eliza thinks that he certainly looks nervous to her, but then what does she know, she is only a Gen and can't zlin.
Styain takes the pen as he zlins the Gen.
Styain reads some of the questions on the form.
Styain: [Name... Larity... sex... ]
Styain: [Junct... dis-junct... non-junct....] ["oh dear."]
Styain ticks non-junct.
Styain: [Date of last transfer..]
Eliza gets to an interesting bit in the book about the use of the nager in healing.
Eliza: ~ interested ~
Styain knows that to the second.
Styain looks up from his forms to see what's so interesting.
Eliza sits there absorbed in the book.
Styain hastily fills in the rest of the forms and puts pen and forms on the counter.
Styain: I've finished.
Eliza: Hmmmm?
Eliza: Oh, right. [reluctantly puts down the book and takes the forms]
Eliza takes the pink copies out and hands them back to Styain. "You keep those ones."
Eliza: You can leave your bags behind the desk here if you like, while we go see if Sectuib Riyyh is busy.
Styain takes the pink copies and stuffs them in his pack.
Styain: Yes, that'll be fine.
Styain: What were you reading by the way?
Eliza shows him the book.
Eliza: It was written by the Sectuib here. It's very educational.
Eliza helps him stow the bags behind the desk away from general view.
Eliza: You won't need your coat, I'm certain that the Sectuib is still in the building.
Styain isn't really feeling the cold much anyway, being in need as he is.
Eliza: Follow me.
Styain: Ahh, all right.
Styain wonders if she says that to Simes a lot.
Eliza heads off down the corridor with a skip in her step and a song in her heart and joy in her nager.
Styain follows the inviting nager.
Eliza signals at the Sectuib's door.
Styain: Umm, I didn't catch your name by the way.
Eliza: Eliza.
Styain: That's right, sorry I'm not thinking too clearly at the moment.
Eliza smiles at him and signals again.
Riyyh: Come in.
Eliza opens the door and waltzes in. "Sectuib, this is Styain, here are his papers."
Eliza: Styain, this is Sectuib Riyyh.
Eliza: ~ warm loving kindness ~
Styain follows Eliza into the office.
Eliza hands the papers over.
Styain bows politely.
Styain: Sectuib.
Riyyh: Hello, Styain.
Riyyh takes the papers.
Riyyh: Hello, Eliza. Please, have a seat. [to Styain, but he doesn't tell Eliza to piss off either]
Eliza: Did you want me to stay Sectuib?
Eliza hovers about the doorway.
Riyyh: Yes, please, Eliza.
Riyyh would like to have a word with her when he is finished with Styain.
Styain takes a seat while still dusting off the now melted snow.
Eliza perches on the end of the desk and smiles at Styain.
Riyyh gets up to fetch tea for Styain.
Eliza: Oh! Let me do that for you Sectuib!
Riyyh: Thank you, Eliza. [kindly]
Riyyh sits back down.
Styain: I hope I'm not interrupting anything.
Eliza bounces over to the sink, making the ambient go all afluttery.
Styain shudders.
Styain: [that feels good]
Styain keeps zlinning this enjoyable field.
Eliza puts the water on and looks through the cupboards for the tea. The cleaning staff have rearranged everything again.
Riyyh wonders what Eliza's looking through his cupboards for.
Styain turns his attention back to the Sectuib.
Riyyh: No, of course not.
Riyyh smiles kindly.
Styain: I'm sorry it took so long to get here.
Riyyh: We had almost given up, we were expecting you a few weeks ago.
Riyyh: Did you run into travel difficulties?
Styain: The snow got a little thicker than I though and I ended up staying in a small town not far from here.
Riyyh nods.
Riyyh: That has been a bit of a problem this year. ~sympathetic~
Styain: Well, I'm here now.
Riyyh: Yes, and of course we can still talk about Naros and immigration, although I'm afraid the taking in of new people has been officially closed for some time now.
Riyyh: There is no rush, so if you would like to rest and recuperate for a day, and speak more after your transfer?
Riyyh feels a great deal of empathy for anybody forced to be on the road during this weather.
Eliza find the tea and finishes making it.
Styain: Yes, I was afraid the delay would make me too late. I hope you don't mind if I were to stay till the weather clears?
Riyyh: Of course, that would be fine. Naros welcomes travelers.
Eliza brings the tea over and puts it on the desk in front of the two of them.
Riyyh: Something can be worked out, regarding transfers.
Eliza: There you go.
Riyyh: Thank you, Eliza. [smiles]
Styain: Thank you.
Styain takes the tea and sips a little of it although he isn't really thirsty.
Styain certainly hopes something can be worked out.
Styain: Is there anything I can do that would be helpful while I'm here?
Riyyh thinks it sounds as if Styain is definitely not interested in becoming a member anymore.
Riyyh: I am sure there is. ~~reassuring~~
Riyyh: Extra help is always welcome.
Riyyh: Especially during the winter months, what with snow removal, and then the road repairs in early spring, and the repairing of tools....
Riyyh lists many things he personally has as little to do with as possible.
Styain: Good, I'm always willing to help and I have no plans anywhere else.
Styain: I like physical work so that would suit me fine.
Eliza sips her tea.
Styain thinks to himself that he should have traveled sooner and he would have made it here in time.
Riyyh: I will see what I can find for you, before we speak again, then.
Riyyh: Now then, Eliza, would you like to show Styain to one of the guest cabins, and make sure he has everything he requires? The cabin on the end, perhaps, it is not being used.
Eliza: The one that Snake had? Sure.
Eliza: Styain, we can get your bags and coat on the way, I just have to duck in and get my coat.
Styain: All right, there's no hurry.
Eliza leads the way to the front desk again. "I'll go get my coat while you put yours back on. At least it's stopped snowing again."
Styain gets his coat and bags.
Eliza returns, slipping on a bright red coat.
Eliza: OK, I have the key. Lets go!
Eliza opens the door and walks outside.
Styain follows Eliza outside.
Styain: So, how long have you been here?
Eliza: I really can't remember now. Seems like ages!
Eliza: Seems like it's snowed for ages too. Where I come from it doesn't snow, well, hardly ever.
Styain: It's nice, but very inconvenient.
Eliza: Here are the cabins, that one is mine. I share it with two other people.
Eliza: The one is empty at the moment. It will be cold but we can light a fire or something.
Styain: It should be all right.
Nubby signals at Riyyh's office.
Riyyh: Come in.
Nubby goes in, looks at Riyyh, sees Hero in his face and scowls. "You wanted to see me... Sectuib?"
Riyyh: Yes, thank you for coming. Please, sit down. [gently]
Riyyh thinks this isn't going to be at all easy.
Nubby plonks himself in a chair.
Riyyh isn't exactly scared of Nubby, but it's a little hard to feel 100% secure considering the situation with the cultivator, and the situation with Turros, and the situation with Hero, and the other situation with Hero, and the punch in the nose which resulted from that.
Riyyh: Would you like some tea?
Nubby: Nope.
Riyyh nods.
Nubby sits and waits. He isn't going to make this any easier.
Riyyh: I had a talk with Turros yesterday, and with Veschapo this morning.
Nubby nods and scowls.
Nubby has had several, rather loud, talks with both of them lately.
Riyyh: I believe I have convinced them to both try to make this work. It is, after all, important that Naros know without question who is to follow in Turros' footsteps, don't you agree?
Nubby: What did you want to talk to me about it for? Ain't got nuffin to do with me has it?
Riyyh: Of course it does. [kindly] You'll be living and working with both of them for years to come.
Riyyh thinks, well, hopefully not working with Turros for too much longer, but....
Nubby: Maybe.
Riyyh: And you know the both of them, spend time with them.
Riyyh: Do you feel Veschapo is a good choice for the job?
Riyyh appears to sincerely want to know Nubby's opinion.
Nubby shrugs. "As good as any I suppose."
Nubby: ~ grudging semi-approval ~
Nubby: He knows his stuff. Knows how to get the message across.
Riyyh nods, thoughtfully.
Riyyh has a sip of his own tea.
Nubby thinks that sometimes he can get the message across a little bit too forcefully.
Riyyh laces his fingers and tentacles around his cup.
Riyyh: I think that Turros picked him because he sincerely believed him to be the best choice available.
Nubby: Great. Good. What else did you want to discuss?
Riyyh: It's not going to be an easy transition, as we are beginning to see already.
Nubby scowls some more, remembering what he heard of the scene yesterday.
Riyyh: Turros will take a while to learn to let go of control, and Veschapo will have to adjust to... [doesn't say: Being treated like a teenager when he's 40 years old] ... to being a student again, at least for a little while.
Nubby: You think I'm making it harder?
Riyyh looks at Nubby in genuine surprise.
Riyyh: No, not at all.
Riyyh: In fact, I was hoping that you'd be willing to help smooth the transition somewhat.
Nubby: I'm doing what I can.
Riyyh: Thank you. That will help a great deal.
Nubby crosses his arms firmer across his chest.
Riyyh: If all of their friends, particularly those who work with them, are encouraging them to do the right thing, it cannot help but work out. [smiles in apparently genuine gratitude]
Nubby: Is that it?
Nubby: I mean,
Nubby: Is that all you wanted to see me about Sectuib?
Riyyh: Yes, it is. I apologize for taking you from your work. Thank you for your time.
Riyyh: ~sincere~
Nubby grunts something that might have been a closing salutation and gets up.
Nubby: No problem. Any time.
Nubby opens the door to find Wolfa standing there getting ready to signal.
Nubby: Oops, sorry there Wolfa.
Nubby slips away really quickly.
Riyyh sighs unhappily at Nubby's unfriendliness to him.
Wolfa screams as the door opens in her face before she has a chance to signal, but quickly goes into her relaxation breathing and manages not to become a wet heap on the floor.
Riyyh jumps, startled by the scream.
Wolfa: [breathe in... hold two three four, breathe out, two three four]
Riyyh: Dear me, Wolfa, are you all right?
Riyyh: ~~concern~~
Wolfa: I'm all right. [breathe two three four] Thank you, Sectuib.
Wolfa walks into the office.
Wolfa: We got mail. Here, I need you to sign this and read these and if you could reply to these...
Riyyh: Thank you.
Riyyh accepts the papers.
Riyyh zlins Wolfa surreptitiously to make sure she really is OK.
Wolfa: Also, word came from "The Macmillion Heavy Machinery company".
Wolfa: You will want to read this.
Riyyh: Oh...?
Riyyh takes the letter.
Wolfa: ~ hanging on by a thread, but it's a fairly thick thread ~
Wolfa: Manufacturing is held up by... well you can read it.... [finishes lamely]
Riyyh scans the letter.
Riyyh: ...rail outages, coal shortages, labor strike, fire, flood and theft.
Riyyh: I see.
Riyyh is stunned.
Riyyh: I'll have to inform Turros at once.
Riyyh thinks this isn't going to go over well.
Wolfa nods helpfully.
Wolfa: Would you like me to call him for you?
Riyyh: No! Er, no, not quite yet. I must think about this for a moment.
Riyyh is glad Wolfa didn't come in while Nubby was still there.
Riyyh pushes back his hair from his forehead and looks at the letter, stuck in that position.
Riyyh: ~disbelief~