Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #151: Househunting (8/29/99)
Riyyh dismounts from his scatterbrained (but very good looking and stylish) Narosian steed and ties it up.
Riyyh is embarking upon a daunting task:
Riyyh is attempting to find intermittent housing in Capitol that is both up to his standard of living and down to his budget.
Riyyh's inability to deal with this problem in the past has been amply demonstrated by the fact that he's always used the same nice hotel on his Capitol visits.
Riyyh is aware, of course, that Naros' budget will not stand for this any more than a week or two per year.
Riyyh finishes loosening his horse's girth and inspecting his look in a small mirror brought along for the purpose.
Ooffmann bustles out the door of the building, eyes widening as he sees his prospective tenant.
Ooffmann immediately ups the rental by 30%.
Ooffmann: Are you Riyyh?
Ooffmann wonders if he should have put a "Tuib" in front of that.
Riyyh looks up, and smiles radiantly [this is his default smile]
Riyyh: Hello. Yes, I am Riyyh ambrov Naros.
Riyyh goes over to Ooffmann.
Ooffmann blinks, struck suddenly by the seemingly irrelevent thought that he forgot to put on sunscreen after his morning shower.
Ooffmann: I'm Ooffmann. I understand you wanted to see my apartment?
Riyyh: Yes, I would love to. Thank you so much for taking the time this morning.
Riyyh doesn't realize it's traditional to treat one's landlord, prospective or otherwise, as a loathesome parasite rather than as a helpful benefactor.
Riyyh of course has mainly been in the position of the landlord himself in the past, and people don't tend to act that way around him.
Ooffmann smiles back, wondering how much of the security deposit he could get away with keeping, if this one decides to take the place.
Riyyh glances up at the building.
Ooffmann: Come in, then, and I'll show you around.
Riyyh: This neighborhood seems relatively quiet and safe. That's why I am considering it. [explains]
Ooffmann climbs the stairs, with a bit of effort, and unlocks the glass doors.
Riyyh is not unaware of the correlation between price and safe quiet, but perhaps isn't aware of just how much price makes a difference.
Riyyh follows.
Ooffmann: It's a lovely neighborhood. Lots of artists and families and things, and a hair salon around the corner.
Riyyh finds the stairs rather steep, but tells himself a little bit of augmenting never hurt anybody.
Ooffmann gathers from the appearence of Riyyh's carefully groomed locks that this might be important.
Riyyh: How nice.
Ooffmann: We've just redone the foyer, as you see.
Ooffmann indicates a large plant in the corner, which is, alas, dropping leaves due to lack of light and water.
Riyyh inspects the foyer.
Riyyh: Oh, dear. [upon seeing the plant]
Ooffmann: The apartment itself is on the second floor.
Riyyh tears his eyes away from the plant and turns to follow Ooffmann.
Ooffmann quickly starts up a long, narrow flight of stairs, eager to get this prospective tenant out of the lobby, since it didn't make the desired impression.
Ooffmann had no conception of how plant-literate a Narosian can be.
Riyyh surveys the long flight of stairs in dismay, then resigns himself to augmenting. He wouldn't want to appear anything but relaxed and fresh, after all.
Riyyh's personal exercise level is calibrated precisely to his house and office in Naros, for obvious reasons.
Ooffmann pauses at the top of the stairs to sort through his large key ring.
Ooffmann: There are five units on this floor, as you see.
Riyyh studies the hallway.
Ooffmann: There's Henna next door; she's a painter.
Ooffmann: Ogelli and Frieda across the hall are a very nice couple.
Riyyh looks pleased and attentive.
Ooffmann decides to omit mention of Ogelli's drum set, which has moved into the apartment since his band er... disbanded.
Ooffmann finds the right key at last, and opens the door with a grunt and a shove.
Riyyh: Oh, dear. [to himself]
Riyyh hadn't realized living in a rental apartment would be quite so much work.
Ooffmann hastens into the apartment before Riyyh can ask about the sticky door.
Riyyh follows, looking around.
Ooffmann himself believes that any door a Gen can force open, should be easy enough for a Sime, but the Sime tenants still seem to think they should bug him for repairs.
Ooffmann doesn't believe in repairs.
Ooffmann: It's a big, roomy place, as you can see.
Ooffmann: Plenty of space for building lofts and so forth.
Riyyh surveys the room, in some trepidation.
Ooffmann: As you can see someone built a loft over in the corner, that's the kitchen next to it and the bathroom underneath.
Ooffmann: The railroad track can be removed if you don't like it.
Ooffmann does not actually volunteer to remove it himself, of course.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Riyyh looks about in dismay at an apartment with no rooms, per se, hardly any kitchen whatsoever, and the bathroom is simply... is simply....
Riyyh: Oh dear, this would never do.
Ooffmann stiffens.
Ooffmann: ~~ indignant ~~
Ooffmann: It's a great apartment!
Ooffmann: You won't find better, for the price.
Riyyh reminds himself that he is a guest here.
Riyyh smiles reassuringly at Ooffmann.
Riyyh: Oh my, yes, of course it is.
Riyyh: I'm just not used to renting, you see.
Riyyh: And I'm afraid I simply couldn't live with a bathroom of this size. And the kitchen is, well, it's not quite complete is it?
Ooffmann: The stove works just fine. Well, except for the one burner.
Ooffmann does not mention the lack of oven, or counterspace.
Riyyh looks around at the space again.
Riyyh can't imagine himself living in it at all, but is struggling to keep an open mind.
Riyyh: How much are you asking for it, you say?
Ooffmann: It is a steal at only....
Riyyh goes over to a scummy window and looks out, is taken aback to see the back yard - if you could call it that - is filled with debris and garbage.
Ooffmann revises his proposed monthly rent to a mere 10% above what he had been asking, hoping to close the deal quickly.
Riyyh looks at him in surprise.
Riyyh: Can that be correct?
Ooffmann: I know it's low, but I like to keep my places rented.
Riyyh thinks he could build a new barn, and stock it with a reasonable supply of good hay, for what this apartment would cost in a year.
Riyyh: Oh, my.
Riyyh's plan had been to find a suitable place and then sweet talk, cajole and do whatever else was required to get its owner to feel happy about a price that matched Riyyh's budget.
Riyyh however, upon careful consideration, can't imagine living here even if Ooffmann paid him.
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh: Well, thank you for showing it to me, and I will be sure to contact you if I decide I'd like to be considered for it.
Riyyh: I have been looking at several different places, you see.
Riyyh: And there are a few appointments left yet.
Ooffmann's face falls at this "don't call me, I'll call you" line.
Ooffmann: Just remember, a place like this goes fast.
Riyyh's heart goes out to Ooffmann; he can sympathize with the difficulty of trying to rent an apartment this... well... unattractive.
Ooffmann does not mention that the tenants go as quickly as they rent.
Riyyh: I will be sure to remember. [promises]
Ooffmann: Why, I even had a Donor trying to rent this. Shows you what a good neighborhood it is.
Riyyh does wonder why Ooffmann doesn't do a certain amount of maintenance which could be accomplished for very little cost, for example washing the insides of the windows and taking away the garbage in back.
Ooffmann does not mention that said Donor left quickly after seeing it.
Riyyh: It sounds as if you will have no difficulty then. [smiles]
Riyyh: I will be sure to notify you when I have made a decision. [promises again]
Riyyh heads for the door.
Ooffmann sighs, and decides to let Riyyh get out of the building before he starts down the stairs.
Ooffmann would hate to have the current tenants realize he is around and start petitioning for repairs, while there was a prospect, however unlikely, looking at the place.
Ooffmann knows that hearing complaints about other places in the same building does not inspire confidence in prospective tentants.
Riyyh sighs as he cinches up his saddle girth.
Riyyh is wondering if he's going to have to rethink his plans.
Riyyh: Don't worry, [he tells the horse] the next place will be much nicer.
Riyyh gathers up his reins, and then stops and studies his horse in the face.
Riyyh: I'm doing this all wrong, aren't I.
Riyyh: It's silly to suppose that anything pleasant enough to live in will be available in the city for rural prices.
Riyyh normally wouldn't dream of socializing with a horse, but he has been getting awfully lonely between the boisterous Coalition meetings and occasional visits with other farflung members.
Palfrey tosses its head and dances, showing off its carefully combed mane.
Riyyh smiles at the effect.
Palfrey stops to pose, showing it's best profile.
Riyyh is actually an ideal rider for a horse such as this, because he appreciates vanity-with-reason.
Riyyh: Yes, you're perfectly delightful.
Palfrey is a Narosian steed, after all.
Riyyh thinks, for a bony, swaying beast that smells like a stable and leaves bits of this and that clinging to every part of its rider afterward.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Riyyh mounts up.
Palfrey arches its neck and dances, to show how eager it is to be off where there are lots of people to admire it.