Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #152: Bat with Pig meets Rabbit with Horse (8/30/99)
Riyyh, resplendent in a gilt and silver Naros cape and plenty of embroidery etc., rides his probably-more-fancy-than-really-necessary saddle horse into a probably-more-fancy-than-really-necessary area of Capitol.
Riyyh has given up on rentals and is now hunting for bear: that is, looking for free crash space among the rich and famous.
Riyyh steers through the ornately carved gates of a moderate-to-excessively ostentatious mansion of intermediate-to-excessive size.
Riyyh lets a stable boy catch his reins, and dismounts gratefully.
Riyyh would like, ideally, to find temporary lodging with somebody who lets their guests borrow their carriage freely.
Riyyh just isn't cut out for regular horseback excursions.
Riyyh fluffs his hair and arranges his cape more attractively, then approaches the large front doors of the mansion.
Gleeves, a moderate-to-excessively dignified butler type in understated but perfectly pressed uniform, answers the mansion's door at Riyyh's signal.
Gleeves: Good afternoon, Sectuib Riyyh.
Gleeves gives a dignified, butlerly bow.
Gleeves is, of course, able to recognize all former... connections... of his mistress on first zlin.
Riyyh beams, pleased by the recognition.
Gleeves: It is a pleasure to see you.
Riyyh: Hello, Gleeves, so good to see you again.
Riyyh isn't doing so bad on person-trivia either.
Riyyh: Is Rondella in?
Riyyh: I don't have an appointment, but I was just coming through town and I thought to pay her a sort of a surprise visit.
Riyyh smiles sheepishly.
Gleeves gives a dignified, butlerly smile to demonstrate his ~~ pleasure ~~ in being recognized, but does not move to admit Riyyh.
Gleeves: I am afraid that Lady Rondella is not accepting callers just at the moment.
Riyyh: Oh... what a shame.
Gleeves: Or rather, she is, but not socially, if you understand my meaning.
Gleeves is at least pretty sure that Rondella won't want to have a former lover arrive when she's in the middle of enjoying herself with a new one.
Riyyh struggles for the appropriate combination of endearing and disappointed, which given the circumstances isn't too difficult.
Gleeves: Perhaps in a week or two, if you are still in the area, she will be able to receive you.
Riyyh: Well, will you give her my card, then?
Riyyh pulls out a gilt calling-card.
Gleeves: Of course. I will give it to her as soon as she is... less preoccupied.
Gleeves holds out a silver platter for the card.
Riyyh of course wouldn't mind entertaining both Rondella and her current company, but of course there's hardly a convenient way to let Gleeves know that.
Riyyh deposits the card neatly upon the tray.
Gleeves is unfortunately unaware of Riyyh's adventuresome nature; however, since Rondella's young lover doesn't share it, Riyyh's willingness would not make a difference.
Gleeves is, in fact, a bit worried that the young man will be jealous if he spots Riyyh.
Riyyh smoothes back his hair again.
Gleeves: Good day, sir.
Riyyh: Thank you, and good day. [smiles]
Riyyh exits the house and walks out into the circle where his horse is still being held.
Riyyh squints into the late summer sun and thinks that he should be more persistent next time, if he wants to avoid getting onto and off of his bouncing, prancing ride so often.
Riyyh mounts up, tips the stable boy, and rides out of the gates.
Riyyh studies the lay of the, er, posh landscaping, and rides some distance up the same block to a smaller house which looks as if it might belong to someone who is simply filthy rich, rather than fabulously wealthy.
Riyyh in fact happens to know that the person in question just has (relatively!) simple tastes.
Riyyh arrives at the house and dismounts again, tying his horse out of view of the street so people won't get the idea he's hopping through town trying to find an empty bed or anything.
Riyyh carefully examines his look in his emergency mirror, brushing a few stray hairs back and such.
Riyyh is aware that he'd been able to get away with a lot at Naros that simply wouldn't do in the big city.
Riyyh in fact is a little worried that he's too far beyond the fashionable age to tempt the people most likely to have spare, er, rooms, but he hopes to prove himself very wrong.
Riyyh finishes his preparations and walks up to the front door of the house.
Riyyh tries to look hopeful, inviting, outrageously handsome and a bit wistful (which he basically is) as he uses the signal.
Sylla opens the door, looking rather harried.
Sylla is also 40-something, exhausted, and possessed of an interesting smudge of dirt on her cheek.
Sylla: ...Riyyh? What are you doing here?
Sylla obviously was expecting someone else.
Riyyh: Hello. [smiles]
Riyyh: I haven't come at a bad time, have I?
Riyyh goes for the "I've been waiting all my life for this moment and I'll be crushed if you say no" style delivery.
Sylla: You didn't hear? Oh, of course you didn't.
Riyyh: My dear, whatever is the matter? ~~concerned~~
Riyyh: I can go, if....
Sylla: Drusilla went through changeover yesterday, and tonight we're throwing her celebration.
Sylla: It starts at seven, if you wish to come...?
Riyyh switches back into genuine smile mode like the sun heaving from behind the clouds on a partially-cloudy day.
Riyyh: I'd be delighted.
Riyyh: Is there anything I can do to help...?
Sylla thinks it would be appropriate, under the circumstances, even if her husband would get awkward over the reminder.
Sylla: No, I don't think so. The staff has the preparations under control.
Sylla means this in a loose way, of course, since the staff have of necessity neglected some of their normal tasks, like answering the door.
Riyyh smiles regretfully.
Riyyh: Then I will return at seven.
Sylla: However, I should get back to supervise. That girl Violet drops things if I don't watch her.
Riyyh: Of course.
Riyyh: Thank you.
Sylla: I'll see you at seven, then.
Riyyh turns away from the door, sadly, and goes to collect his horse.
Riyyh ponders who he could stay with that wouldn't mind his attending Drusilla's party, and it occurs to him that most of the teenagers in the neighborhood would be attending.
Sylla turns with alarm at a crashing sound, and dashes back into the depths of the house without closing the door or saying goodbye.
Riyyh thinks also that many teenagers are much more open minded about enchanting surprise visitors than their adults are.
Riyyh pauses for a concerned glance back at the open and empty door, and then sighs and unties his horse.
Riyyh: This time, I think we shall walk. [to the horse]
Riyyh leads the horse out of the small mansion's gate.
Scoddy pounds his drum set on the lawn outside his parents' lavish home.
Scoddy really likes to get into the music, particularly when he's indulging in controlled substances and looking forward to even more at a really cool party.
Scoddy finds all three activities easier to indulge in at times like these, when his parents aren't home.
Scoddy finds "absence makes the heart grow fonder" is never more true than when dealing with relatives.
Scoddy is willing to let his younger brother fetch and carry on occasion, though.
Scoddy spots a stranger leading a horse down the road.
Scoddy is feeling rather charitable towards strangers, for some reason, and stops drumming long enough to wave.
Scoddy: Hey, man! Howwarya?
Riyyh has to augment to control his horse as it jerks up its head at the noise.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Riyyh smiles and waves.
Riyyh: Hello. A beautiful day, isn't it?
Scoddy: Yeah, cosmic!
Scoddy has dreams of being the drummer in a top band like Torn By Tentacles, but not even his parents' wealth could bribe the music manager types that much.
Scoddy: You like music?
Scoddy raps an overly loose drum head several times to illustrate.
Riyyh has been conditioned by 40+ years of Fatherly Sectuibness to be able to convincingly appreciate nearly any level of musicianship, as defined as somebody doing something to an object which is recognizably a musical instrument.
Riyyh: Why yes, I do.
Riyyh finally gives up and ties the horse to a post of the house across the street and down one, so that he can walk nearer to Scoddy.
Scoddy: Cosmic!
Scoddy raps a few more times, just to be sociable.
Scoddy: Hey, I saw you coming out of the place across the street. You a friend of Drusilla's dad?
Riyyh smiles kindly.
Riyyh: More a friend of her mother, actually.
Scoddy is, like most people in the neighborhood, unaware of Drusilla's exact genetic composition.
Riyyh: Will you be going to her party tonight?
Scoddy: Yeah! It's gonna be cosmic.
Scoddy reconsiders.
Scoddy: Well, the party her parents throw will be boring, but after we've said hello, the whole gang is going to come over here and party.
Scoddy is struck by a thought.
Scoddy: Hey, you want to come, too?
Scoddy would hate to be accused of discrimination against living fossils, and all that.
Scoddy: My parents aren't home for another week, so we'll have the place to ourselves.
Riyyh thinks that doesn't sound quite like his cup of tea, particularly after zlinning Scoddy's current chemical composition.
Riyyh has learned the very painful way that it is best not to lose control of one's faculties when surrounded by hormone-riddled adolescents.
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh: Thank you for the invitation. Perhaps I will, if there is time.
Scoddy: You could even crash here, if you've got a long way to go to wherever you're staying.
Riyyh smiles again.
Riyyh: Perhaps.
Riyyh thinks, no chance.
Scoddy: I saw you had a horse.
Riyyh: Yes, I do.
Riyyh glances back at the horse, to make sure it isn't getting into any trouble.
Palfrey isn't getting into any more trouble than usual: That is, it is happily munching a neatly planted flower bed.
Riyyh: Oh, dear. [to himself]
Scoddy's eyes widen as he looks at the horse more closely.
Scoddy: Mom's daisy patch!
Riyyh: Perhaps I had better move on. [hastily]
Scoddy: She's going to be....
Riyyh: But thank you for your kind invitation; perhaps we will meet again in a few hours. [smiles as he hurries away]
Riyyh pulls the horse's head up, and then surveys the damage in dismay.
Riyyh makes a mental note of the address since he now feels like he owes the unknown woman some new daisies.
Scoddy goes back to banging on his drums, which is perhaps punishment enough for Riyyh's poor steed.
Riyyh continues on up the road, headed for the next house whose owner he has at one time been a friend of.
Gladia is walking her pet pig, Max, down the street.
Riyyh is aware that he is becoming less suitable for friendly visits the longer he spends trudging around in hot weather dragging a horse with him.
Gladia and Max are both dressed in the latest fashion.
Riyyh also isn't used to this much rejection.
Riyyh smiles kindly at Gladia.
Gladia winces as that awful boy down the street starts banging.
Riyyh appreciates the sight of the pair and their impeccable grooming.
Gladia notices Riyyh's smile and can't help preening just a bit.
Riyyh only wishes that he was at his best, himself.
Riyyh self-consciously smoothes back his silvery hair.
Riyyh: Good day.
Gladia: Oh, I do wish that boy would stop. The noise upsets Max so much.
Gladia's pet isn't noticeably distressed, except by the fact that the leash won't reach far enough to let him reach the grass.
Gladia flutters her eyelashes.
Riyyh: Perhaps a walk in the park would be more peaceful?
Riyyh knows of a park a couple of blocks in the other direction, and hopes Gladia will take the hint/invitation.
Riyyh smiles.
Gladia: I expect it would. And the birds sing so sweetly this time of day, don't you think?
Gladia: I'm Gladia, by the way. I live down the street.
Gladia gestures vaguely.
Gladia: I don't believe we've met--are you new to the neighborhood?
Gladia's eccentric choice of pet has excluded her from the more exclusive Capitol society.
Riyyh: Oh dear, no, I'm only visiting. [regretfully]
Riyyh: I'm pleased to meet you.
Riyyh: Riyyh ambrov Naros.
Gladia: Ambrov Naros? The House that makes those delightful teas?
Riyyh beams.
Riyyh: Why yes, the very House.
Gladia: My goodness, imagine that.
Gladia: Why, Max here loves the Damsel's Delight.
Gladia: He's a very sensitive creature, you know.
Riyyh hopes that Gladia won't expect his rural upbringing to lend him an extraordinary ability to enjoy the intimate company of pigs, which it hasn't in particular.
Riyyh: How fascinating.
Riyyh: Did you know that pigs are one of the most intelligent of animals?
Riyyh thinks, unlike horses.
Gladia pats Max's embroidered cape and smiles as the pig grunts.
Gladia: Oh, yes! There are times when Maxie understands everything I say, I swear.
Gladia: Why, just the other day, he came running when I got home.
Gladia: He doesn't greet just anyone that way.
Gladia: He's a very discriminating pig, really.
Riyyh nods politely.
Gladia beams impartially at Riyyh and pig.
Riyyh gives up hope of finding anywhere reasonable to stay tonight.
Gladia: You know, I think Max likes you.
Riyyh: Do you think so? [kindly] How can you tell?
Gladia: That's his friendly grunt.
Riyyh: Oh, my. Has he an unfriendly one as well?
Gladia: Oh, yes, he can be quite fierce, if he thinks someone is threatening me.
Gladia: He's a very loyal pig, you know.
Riyyh: Oh, I see.
Gladia: But when he likes someone, the way he likes you, I know it's someone I'm going to like, too.
Gladia smiles brilliantly, and puts a hand on Riyyh's arm.
Riyyh warms up to her somewhat at the touch - predictably enough.
Riyyh: Perhaps Max senses simply when a person has been charmed. [smiles]
Riyyh actually can't help but turn on his own charm, upon other people's command.
Gladia simpers in appreciation.
Gladia: And you are a charmer.
Gladia moves closer, allowing more than just her hand to touch Riyyh's arm.
Riyyh: Shall we walk in the park?
Gladia: I'd be charmed.
Gladia adds a little swish to her walk.
Gladia's swish bears no resemblance to Max's waddle.
Riyyh finds farm animals a dreadful turn off, but then again it is less lonely than walking by himself, and besides he's always been more than a bit of a push over.
Gladia: And perhaps when we're finished, you'd join me for a cup of tea?
Riyyh: That would be delightful.
Gladia titters in delight.