Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #149: For Want of Talent (8/23/99)
Riyyh rides down a sunny Capitol street, on horseback.
Riyyh is not at all fond of either Capitol or horseback riding, which pretty much sums up how he feels about this visit.
Riyyh of course is not particularly fond of bailing outreach program personnel who also happen to be members of his House out of jail for having incited riots and started fires, either.
Riyyh is still dressed in a very fine outfit in which he made the court appearance which naturally followed the jail bit.
Riyyh was successfully able to defend his people in court, although he had to pull every trick in the book, including private "meetings" with several key persons involved in the trial.
Riyyh preens a bit, feeling a bit more cheerful as he dwells on the more pleasant aspects of the week.
Riyyh passes a large plate glass window of a shop, and notices that despite the dirty and strenuous aspects of riding horseback, he does look good doing it, especially with both the horse and himself done up in their best finery.
Riyyh: ~~more cheerful~~
Riyyh coaxes the horse, which of course being a Narosian riding horse probably trained in every dressage step known to man, to prance a bit to aid in the effect, and smiles.
Riyyh hesitates at a fork in the road, then chooses the route through the Artist's Quarter along the river.
Rydiero glares at the dabs of green and blue on his palette, and looks back at what might charitably be called a waterfront landscape, by small children or art critics who are really into abstract art.
Rydiero: It lacks something.
Rydiero strikes a languid, brooding pose.
Riyyh smiles and waves at some artists.
Riyyh enjoys the company of artists, mainly because they know a thing, or person, of beauty when they see it, or him.
Rydiero: ~~ artistic angst ~~
Rydiero has always been good at the angst part of being an artist, which in some small way makes up for the deficiencies in his technical skill.
Rydiero looks around in hopes of catching sight of the missing something.
Riyyh clip-clops up the road toward Rydiero.
Riyyh studies some lovely Victorian houses with wrought iron looking wooden gates.
Rydiero thinks perhaps a bit of wildlife might work--he has noticed that people occasionally even buy artwork featuring wildlife.
Riyyh comes up behind Rydiero, notices him, and pulls his horse to a stop to take a look at the painting.
Riyyh, as anybody who's been a child at Naros in the last 45 years knows, is a very good appreciator of art, whatever its quality.
Rydiero's brooding is disturbed by a loud clopping and equine-style slobbering from behind him.
Riyyh puts a hand on the horse's neck; being a stylish mount, it's probably a bit overbred and under brained, and just a touch hyperactive.
Riyyh: [well, rather hyperactive]
Rydiero turns to see who has been so lacking in sophistication as to interrupt a proper, angst-filled brood.
Rydiero: ~~ irritation ~~
Riyyh smiles.
Rydiero gapes at the spectacle.
Rydiero is having rather a hard time getting a clear view of it, through his fashionably over-long bangs.
Rydiero's painting style probably owes something to this obscured vision.
Riyyh: Good day. I see you are enjoying this beautiful day by painting the harbor. How perfectly delightful.
Riyyh doesn't realize that he is only one of about 6 people over the age of 30 in Capitol who would have admitted to recognizing the picture as the harbor.
Rydiero is not unaware of artistic sophistication when it recognizes his subject matter, however.
Riyyh notices Rydiero is still gaping, and thinks he hasn't been flattering enough.
Rydiero: ~~ grudging tolerance of the interruption ~~
Riyyh: My, you are quite talented, aren't you?
Riyyh: May I take a closer look?
Rydiero: You know nothing of the agony required to bring forth... Well, I usually prefer to wait and present my audience with a finished canvas, but for such a discriminating admirer of art as yourself, I will make an exception.
Rydiero steps back to allow Riyyh an unobstructed view, while estimating the value of clothes and horse.
Rydiero feels a faint hope spark in that back corner of his mind where he stores unpleasant thoughts like impending rent.
Riyyh dismounts, takes the horse by the reins (which is still far more contact with a horse than he really prefers), nods his thanks to Rydiero and steps closer for a better look.
Rydiero wonders whether this stranger is dumb......er, sophisticated enough to wish to purchase one or more of his works.
Riyyh: Very nice.
Riyyh: I particularly enjoy the blue and green, here.
Rydiero mentally writes a price tag, then revises it upward after considering the rent, and the lack of other prospects.
Riyyh had long ago perfected the art of commenting on parts of an artwork guaranteed not to offend the artist - necessarily requiring very vague comments, of course.
Riyyh would, for example, never dare attempt to identify the individual objects pictured in a scene as surreal, or abstract, as this one.
Rydiero: It is the essence of all water--ocean, sea, river.
Riyyh thinks that explains why it looks like a tangle of all three.
Riyyh: Thank you for allowing me to look.
Rydiero thinks this sounds way too much like an announcement of intention to depart without making a purchase.
Riyyh pushes his horse a couple of steps back toward the street. [it finds this very exciting and an occasion for much head throwing and feet lifting]
Rydiero points to a smear of green and red.
Rydiero: That--that is a symbol for the natural beauty of this parkland.
Riyyh: Er... oh?
Riyyh pauses to study the canvas further.
Rydiero gestures towards some sadly trampled lawn with blooming weeds and dog deposits.
Rydiero: The flowers, the fresh air....
Rydiero forbears to mention the odors of trash, dog droppings, and other noxious substances.
Rydiero has, after all, been living in the low rent district since deciding to become a fabulously wealthy and sought-after artist.
Riyyh: One of the privileges of seeing an artist's work is gaining insight into his unique outlook upon the world. [kindly]
Riyyh: Well, I really must be going, [apologetically] you see, I have an appointment to meet my son for lunch.
Riyyh forbears to mention that he is the father of several dozen sons, and this is nowhere near as special an occasion as it might sound like.
Riyyh: Thank you once again.
Rydiero: But surely you will want to pursue this discourse on the essence of art after your luncheon?
Rydiero: ~~ desperation ~~
Rydiero: Perhaps a family portrait?
Riyyh, startled by Rydiero's desperation, looks and zlins closer at the artist.
Rydiero: It could include the entire family, not just you and your son!
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Riyyh: Are you all right?
Rydiero does look rather thin, for a Gen.
Riyyh's "oh dear" was more for Rydiero's suggestion than his looks.
Rydiero draws himself up proudly.
Rydiero: I am an artist. I suffer for my art.
Riyyh can believe that... although it is sad.
Riyyh: I see.
Rydiero might suffer a bit less if his art was a bit more... artistic.
Riyyh's nearly unquenchable pushover tendency is temporarily stymied by Rydiero's assertion that he prefers to suffer.
Rydiero: It gnaws at me, filling me with wonderful paintings which long to be freed to my canvas.
Riyyh: Er... I see, yes.
Rydiero doesn't mention that so far, not one of the wonderful paintings has successfully escaped.
Riyyh thinks, now that Rydiero mentions it, the canvas does appear to be gnawed from within by a painting struggling to break free.
Rydiero might perhaps also be confusing artistic pains with the more common, hunger-related variety.
Riyyh considers.
Riyyh: Well... perhaps I could be somewhat late to my appointment.
Riyyh: I do not require any art at this time, but I do know where you can get something to eat, and it isn't too expensive.
Rydiero: Ahhh, a portrait! I will paint you in the meadow, and you will have a special gift for your son. That way you will not have to carry it far, you see.
Riyyh winces.
Riyyh, like many extremely vain people, can't bear the thought of being painted by a terrible artist.
Riyyh: [particularly when in a hurry]
Rydiero's stomach gurgles loudly in protest, but the artist in him knows the value of a sale--any sale, to anyone.
Rydiero: Here!
Rydiero takes a tube of brown paint and squirts a blob on his palette.
Rydiero picks up a convenient brush and makes a show of looking between the canvas and Riyyh.
Rydiero: I go like this...
Riyyh places a hand on Rydiero's paintbrush wrist.
Riyyh: Wait... I cannot do this.
Rydiero: But sir, you are an inspiration!
Riyyh: If you do not require help in finding food, I really must go to meet my son.
Riyyh is somewhat flattered despite himself.
Riyyh correspondingly starts looking twice as inspiring.
Rydiero: There is a picture of you waiting to come out inside me.
Rydiero: It demands completion!
Rydiero tries to discreetly disengage his wrist from Riyyh's grasp.
Riyyh: I wish you luck in your endeavors.
Riyyh releases him, of course.
Riyyh: And now, I really must be going.
Riyyh turns away to his horse, mainly to avoid seeing brown go onto the already blue, green and red canvas. [it would remind him just a bit much of the dog-deposits]
Rydiero: But sir....
Rydiero waves the brush, splattering brown paint on his already-spotted clothes.
Rydiero: Tell me where I can find you, so that you can view the finished portrait--your essence on canvas.
Riyyh considers.
Riyyh: Bring it to the Progressive Land-Use Coalition's headquarters.
Riyyh: They'll know how to find me.
Riyyh figures the painting will never get past the front door, but at least the poor man will have come to the source of reasonably cheap fresh vegetables.
Rydiero: The Land Use Coalition?
Rydiero has never heard of it, actually, but it sounds like some sort of charity, so he figures his musician roommate will know where it is.
Rydiero's roommate loves to give benefit concerts for lost causes, particularly those which have wealthy patrons.
Rydiero: Your portrait will be in your tentacles by tomorrow morning! Rydiero swears it!
Rydiero puts a hand dramatically on his chest, forgetting the brush in his hand, and deposits a smear of paint down his cheek into his scraggy semi-beard.
Riyyh smiles gently, and swings up onto his mount. [groan]
Nick is waiting a bit impatiently in the restaurant for his father (or grandfather, if you prefer) to arrive.
Nick has another handful of chips to tide himself over.
Riyyh clip-clops away from the harbor, or perhaps more realistically given the temperament of his mount, clippety-skip-clop-clatters away from the harbor.
Riyyh eventually makes his way to the restaurant, where he ties up his horse and loosens this and that so it'll be comfortable.
Riyyh really wishes he was using the carriage, but Naros really can't afford to be sending a coach and four - or renting one - on repeated visits to Capitol.
Nick scans the menu one more time, confirming his selections.
Riyyh pauses to check his look in the restaurant's glass door.
Riyyh really thinks it is most appropriate to have a long bath and dress in entirely different clothes after coming within 10 feet of a horse... or of a starving artist, for that matter.
Nick looks around one more time, and spots Riyyh at last.
Nick: ~~ here I am ~~
Nick waves too, out of Gen habit.
Riyyh smiles and enters the restaurant, comes over to Nick's table.
Riyyh: Nick, how are you? ~~pleasure~~
Riyyh: You're zlinning well.
Nick: It's been good, to be back here again.
Nick: They have me working with Snake, you know.
Riyyh: Really? ~~ surprised ~~
Riyyh: Not with Arat?
Nick: I was surprised as well, but Beni has served her two months in a row, and Arat can't get another Farris-trained Donor when there are already two of us here.
Riyyh isn't sure whether to be pleased, or unhappy, at the news.
Riyyh finally decides to be pleased if Nick is pleased, a typically Riyyh-like avoidance technique.
Riyyh: And how have you been, with her?
Riyyh: Have you been happy?
Nick: Happier than I was at New Othwol, but Snake worries me.
Nick: She's been... distant.
Nick: ~~ worry ~~
Riyyh immediately looks concerned, something he has a lot of practice at.
Riyyh: Is anything wrong?
Riyyh sits down, not in the chair opposite Nick but one nearer him.
Nick: I'm not sure. She's not complaining, or at least, not as much as I'd expect.
Nick: In fact, she's treating me better than she managed on the road, most of the time.
Nick: But it's very different between us, somehow.
Riyyh studies Nick's face and nager anxiously.
Riyyh: It is? Because of her imprisonment? Because of your relationship with Arat?
Riyyh for one had been very surprised at that latter, as was nearly everybody in Capitol.
Nick: Perhaps. I know that being a prisoner is hard for her, and it can't help to see how much more freedom I have been allowed.
Nick: Although as long as she is imprisoned, my freedom is of limited use.
Riyyh feels compassion for Nick.
Nick fiddles with the menu.
Riyyh: Is there anything that I could do to help?
Nick looks at Riyyh, with a touch of tragedy.
Nick: I don't think Snake trusts me any more.
Nick: ~~ upset ~~
see note 1
Notes:
1) This is the first half of a two part episode. [return]
Go on to Episode #150: A Little Father/Grandfather/Son/Grandson Chat