Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #140: How to Win Friends (6/21/99)
Prunida pulls her long-suffering horse to a halt at Naros's gate.
Terpa is standing at the gate, which is slightly ajar.
Terpa: Hey lady, your horse looks really... it's you!!!!
Prunida: Open the gate!
Prunida knees the panting horse towards the opening.
Terpa is a young Gen who gets kind of panicky when he recognizes her.
Prunida: At once!
Terpa rushes to close the gate, but somehow gets shouldered aside by the horse, which remembers there are stables in there.
Terpa: Oof!
Prunida jumps off her horse and hands the reins to Terpa.
Prunida: Here. See that he's cooled down and fed well.
Terpa takes them reflexively, then looks at her in disbelief.
Terpa: Yes, ma'am.
Prunida: Then have the bags delivered to Riyyh's house.
Terpa gapes.
Terpa: Er.. if you say so.
Prunida: Speaking of the rabbit, is in his office, or still preening in front of the mirror?
Terpa: I-I-It's 10:30, he's probably still er....
Prunida: Very well, I'll take the bags myself, then.
Prunida says this as if granting a very large favor.
Prunida grabs the bags off the saddle.
Prunida: Mind you give him a brushing down, when he's fed.
Terpa's hand is pressed to the side of his face in a Riyyh-like expression of dismay.
Prunida strides off towards Riyyh's house.
Terpa: OK... er... oh boy.
Terpa watches her leave, then sighs and goes to find somebody to deal with the horse so he can go back to his post.
Terpa: [and, of course, to tell everybody he sees what just happened]
Prunida, meanwhile, is making good time for Riyyh's house.
Prunida doesn't bother to signal, but simply opens the door and walks in.
Riyyh had actually gotten an early start today, that is for him, and is in his living room.
Riyyh is fully groomed, although dressed in a robe.
Riyyh jumps up in astonishment.
Riyyh: Prunida!! Er, what a delightful....
Prunida: Riyyh!
Prunida: They've sent our boy away, and they won't tell me where!
Prunida: ~~ anger/distress at being foiled ~~
Riyyh waves his tentacles.
Riyyh: There, there... sit down, let me bring you some tea.
Riyyh: ~~ reassurance ~~
Riyyh throws out his plans for going in to the office any time soon.
Prunida collapses onto the couch and starts to cry, much like a two year old on the far side of a tantrum.
Prunida is somewhat larger than the average two your old, however.
Riyyh rushes to the kitchen and pours some tea, since there is still hot water.
Riyyh comes back and gives it to her, then sits down at her side, nager projecting ~~ soothing and comfort ~~
Riyyh rather than simply sitting down next to her is more or less embracing her.
Riyyh tends to react strongly to distress in others.
Prunida: They said he turned against me!
Riyyh: Oh, Prunida. ~~ sympathy ~~
Prunida: But he wouldn't do that to his own grandmother! Not the way I raised him.
Prunida: Would he?
Riyyh: What did they say he did?
Prunida: They said he cut me off without a penny! Deliberately!
Prunida: I'm sure there's some mistake. I always told him what his duty was.
Riyyh secretly gives Nick some credit for sense.
Prunida: But when I asked to talk to him, all they'd say was that he's been sent away!
Riyyh strokes her hair, while projecting a sense of being on her side.
Riyyh: [well, he's all over her, but you know what I mean]
Prunida wails her distress, much like a banshee.
Riyyh inserts a tentacle tip discreetly in his nearer ear, so as not to suffer any permanent damage.
Riyyh: Perhaps it's just been a misunderstanding, Prunida.
Riyyh: You know how these things sometimes happen?
Riyyh: [gently]
Prunida: I told them that. But they wouldn't correct the mistake!
Prunida: They said Nick would have to do it personally.
Prunida: And they wouldn't tell me where he has been sent!
Riyyh: He's in New Othwol at the City Controller's Office, but Prunida,
Prunida: New Othwol?
Prunida: Why did they send him there? There aren't any Farrises there.
Riyyh: He's been assigned to Deah Tigue. She has the capacity to match him, no doubt.
Riyyh for obvious reasons doesn't have the exact numbers.
Prunida: They're trying to make him forget me!
Prunida: They want me to die in poverty!
Prunida: And after all I did for him.
Prunida might more accurately have stated, "all I've done to him".
Riyyh: Oh, there, there, shush, you'll be all right.
Riyyh hugs her and pats her back.
Prunida: He's mine! I bred him for this!
Prunida: All those years I suffered, to give him a good home, so that he could support me in my old age!
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Riyyh: I realize it feels that way to you, Prunida, but Nick was born post-Unity. He just doesn't understand.
Prunida: That he should cut me off, just as he reached success, as his mother couldn't!
Riyyh: Perhaps you could try another approach...? ~ uncertainly ~
Prunida: What?
Riyyh is certain the approach would work, just far from certain Prunida is capable of pulling it off.
Riyyh: Nick is... he's a little timid, Prunida. I think by coming on so forcefully you frighten him into distancing himself.
Riyyh: Perhaps if you were to back off for a while, and then approach him in a friendly fashion, attempt to make amends on a personal level?
Prunida: Make amends? For what? He's the one who has run out on me!
Prunida: He should be begging my forgiveness!
Riyyh winces.
Riyyh himself has been put in the position of having to beg Prunida for forgiveness. Not because he had done anything wrong, but because that's just what she'd been in the mood for that night.
Riyyh: I realize that's how it feels.
Prunida: I raised the boy!
Prunida is therefore convinced that she is entitled to Nick and all of his possessions.
Riyyh: Yes, you did.
Riyyh: But he is a grown adult now, Prunida. That means something different than it did when we were young.
Riyyh thinks, for one thing, Nick is considered a human being with his own rights.
Prunida: He's a disobedient boy! Just acting out because he can.
Prunida: He requires a good talking-to to put him straight.
Riyyh has also been a disobedient boy for Prunida - a painful game, but enjoyable in some ways.
Riyyh gives her cheek a kiss.
Prunida: Even in these days, a boy shouldn't leave his grandmother, and his mother, to die poor. Not when he's making the kind of salary a Donor makes.
Prunida absently clutches at Riyyh's hair with her tentacles, pulling it.
Riyyh: Oh, Prunida, darling, you're not poor, are you? [slight intonation of pain towards the end as his hair feels like it's getting ripped out]
Riyyh's lips trace her earlobe.
Prunida: I can cover my expenses, as long as the business is prospering.
Prunida: But one bad winter that stops travel for an extra month, or a crop failure that keeps the farmers from having the money to buy, and I could lose everything.
Prunida: ~~ fear of disaster ~~
Riyyh instinctively hugs her more firmly, projecting safety.
Prunida: A Donor's salary doesn't change with the seasons. It's reliable, don't you see?
Riyyh: I do wish you'd try being your grandson's friend, rather than forcing him, he's so much like you in his stubbornness.
Prunida: Riyyh, I... I don't think he loves me.
Prunida finds this a terribly difficult admission to make.
Riyyh's lips and tongue explore her throat and under her chin.
Riyyh: Love can be inspired.
Riyyh: It takes time, but it can be done.
Riyyh says this between kisses that are traveling a meandering path toward her mouth.
Prunida: He's had years....
Prunida's explanation is smothered under Riyyh's kisses.
Prunida: Urgmumpf!
Riyyh releases her mouth lingeringly.
Riyyh: You're so impatient, love.
Prunida: I'm getting old, Riyyh.
Riyyh, of course, is not getting old. No no no.
Riyyh spends hours every morning making very sure of that fact.
Riyyh: He's a young man, he has your spirit and your will. You wouldn't have given in, if you were in his place, would you?
Prunida: A young man....
Prunida looks thoughtfully at Riyyh.
Riyyh looks a little bit breathless and mussed, a good look on him.
Prunida: He is a young man. And young men are rather predictable in some ways.
Prunida: ~~ inspiration ~~
Prunida: Naros is between New Othwol and Capitol.
Prunida: And they said Nick was returning to Capitol.
Prunida: Will he be stopping here to spend the night?
Riyyh: He says he might.
Riyyh hopes he will.
Prunida: Then you must find him a reason to dally. Surely you have some eligible ladies here? Eligible... and fertile... ladies?
Riyyh: Oh, dear, no, Prunida, they're his sisters.
Riyyh looks hurt that Prunida could even suggest it after all the travail of the last months.
Prunida: What does that matter?
Prunida: ~~ impatient ~~
Riyyh: Nick will not want them because of it.
Prunida: Why not? It hasn't stopped you.
Prunida forbears from pointing out that there is only a 25% difference between Nick and Riyyh.
Riyyh: Yes, but that's different. [protests]
Riyyh: Anyway, why is it so important that he be delayed here?
Riyyh would rather not be listed in Arat's bad book as having delayed Nick's return.
Prunida: He doesn't have to be delayed--any longer than it takes him to do his duty.
Riyyh: But why?
Riyyh: [whining]
Riyyh: Prunida, is it so important? Why don't you just relax, enjoy yourself.
Riyyh tries to interest her again with a tracing of hands and tentacles down her arms.
Prunida: There is plenty of time for that... when Nick has fathered a child for me.
Riyyh chokes.
Riyyh: What!
Prunida: He could hardly leave his own child to starve, now, could he?
Prunida: ~~ reasonable ~~
Riyyh starts laughing.
Riyyh can't help it; it's a severe stress reaction.
Prunida frowns ominously at the levity.
Riyyh: No, no, it's not funny....
Riyyh curls over, laughing uncontrollably.
Riyyh thinks of all the hell, legal and personal, Prunida has put him through so far, only to demand to see it through to a 3rd generation.
Prunida grabs Riyyh's shoulders and uncurls him, then slaps him methodically across the face.
Prunida: Get control of yourself!
Riyyh's laughter ends suddenly.
Riyyh cringes from the blows.
Riyyh: ~ shocked ~
Prunida stops hitting as Riyyh regains control.
Riyyh looks at her, pale but serious.
Prunida: That's better.
Riyyh: I can't do that, Prunida, and you know it. [attempting to be reasonable]
Prunida: Why not? You wouldn't have to do much of anything!
Riyyh: But Naros is committed to repairing the genetics problem, not making it worse. Why can't Nick find a woman of his own choosing, who'd like his child?
Riyyh: Surely in his work, or in his travels....
Prunida: I'll provide the girl, if you haven't got a suitable one. All you have to do is tell her which room he's in, and make sure they aren't disturbed.
Prunida: You know he'll never pick someone suitable on his own. Look what he found for a channel!
Riyyh looks sincerely into her eyes.
Riyyh: Prunida, surely it is better to win Nick's love than to make the same mistake a third time.
Riyyh feels rather personally involved in this decision, since it was he who was the "mistake" the first two times.
Prunida starts to cry.
Prunida: I can't. I'm just... not lovable.
Prunida: None of my children love me, not really, and Nick never missed me in the ten years he was on the run.
Prunida: I'm a failure as a mother, and as a grandmother.
Riyyh radiates ~~ sympathy ~~, while trying to hide his pity.
Riyyh: No, you're not... you just had higher standards than others did.
Riyyh: Prunida, he wasn't loyal enough to hand over his money, but how many grandchildren do?
Riyyh: You can still have his love, if you approach him in peaceful equality rather than frightening him.
Riyyh tries to be reasonable and comforting at the same time, not always an easy combination.
Prunida: But he was bred to support me! And it's not as if he wouldn't have plenty of spending money left over.
Riyyh: I know, Prunida, but he's not a pen Gen, he's an adult Gen citizen of the Territory, and if he refuses to do it, that's his right, no matter how painful it is.
Riyyh: I am sorry, I really am, but there is only so much one can get without enlisting the cooperation of everybody involved.
Riyyh seems to recall enlisting his cooperation was all too easy the first time, and probably not as difficult as it should have been the second time.
Prunida wails, providing a clear example of how painful the situation is, particularly to anyone with ears.
Riyyh hastily re-inserts the tentacle.
Prunida: Oh, what can I do? I've never been good at getting cooperation from the boy. At least, not voluntarily.
Prunida is at least honest about her capabilities.
Riyyh: I think you must become his friend first, and be secure in your friendship, before bringing it up again.
Riyyh: And perhaps... perhaps it would be best if you did not ask him at all, until such a time as you did run into difficulties with your business.
Riyyh: Surely he'd feel more charitable in a crisis than on a regular basis?
Prunida's eyes widen in fear at the thought of not being able to pay her taxes.
Prunida: I'll die of attrition!
Riyyh has never before heard that reaction to a suggestion that everybody just try to get along for a change.
Riyyh pats her shoulder soothingly.
Riyyh has been gradually sidling closer since he recovered from the slaps.
Prunida: And he'd let me!
Riyyh: Not if you were his friend. [softly]
Riyyh thinks, and if there were suitable advance warning, and if he had money in the bank at the time, and the roads were not snowed in, and... well, better not to introduce extraneous variables.
Prunida: Riyyh, I've never been a friend. I don't know how.
Riyyh's heart nearly breaks at her words.
Riyyh takes both her hands, gently.
Riyyh: You can be my friend, first. I would be honored.
Prunida: I can?
Riyyh: Of course.
Riyyh tries to be the sort of person that anybody can be friends with.
Prunida is ~~ surprised and awkward ~~
Riyyh smiles at her.
Prunida tries to figure out how one goes about being a friend to a spineless rabbit, albeit a cute and willing one.
Prunida: I don't know if I'll be any good at it.
Riyyh: You'll learn. You can succeed at anything, if you try hard enough. ~~ encouragement ~~
Prunida: Do you really think I could be a good enough friend that Nick would give me his paycheck?
Riyyh considers.
Riyyh: I think that the trying would be much more pleasurable than the efforts you've been making so far.
Riyyh: And that there would be many unexpected positive benefits along the way.
Prunida: Well, I suppose.
Prunida figures that close association with Riyyh is one of those benefits, and runs a tentacle along his smooth-shaven cheek.
Prunida zlins to see how much Riyyh has on, under that robe.
Riyyh's smile broadens, heightening his aura of sleepy satisfied sensuality.
Riyyh appears to be relatively unencumbered by excesses of clothing.
Prunida starts to unbutton Riyyh's robe.
Riyyh enthusiastically begins on Prunida's shirt, much preferring this cheerful activity to the distressed crying that went before.
Go on to Episode #141: Remedial Education
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