Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #160: Pansy Raid (9/22/99)
Saig looks around his storefront headquarters with concern.
Saig approves of the bustle, but not of the fact that most of the people present, aside from one or two staffers discussing the gardening program with people from the neighborhood, are not addressing the immediate problem of finding sufficient garden space in the city.
Saig thinks that the idea of an agricultural college is well and good, but rather resents having his entire operation co-opted for that purpose without warning.
Riyyh dismounts in front of the headquarters of the Coalition for Progressive Land Use, which is one of several (not all necessarily complimentary) names for the program most commonly known in Naros as "the urban farming program in Capitol".
Saig notes a disturbance outside, and goes to check it out.
Saig: Sectuib!
Riyyh readies his horse for a considerable wait, since nothing ever seems to go quickly within.
Riyyh: Hello, Saig. [smiles kindly as the head of the program appears]
Saig is ~~ overjoyed ~~ to see Riyyh.
Saig: So good of you to visit.
Riyyh beams, pleased by the pleasant reaction to his presence.
Saig: Have you been having a successful stay in Capitol?
Saig has, of course, set aside his earlier upset in the pleasure of the social occasion--he is a Narosian, after all.
Riyyh: The other programs have been doing very well.
Riyyh thinks that's the kindest way to say that the urban farm program has been a raging pain in the ass.
Riyyh finishes with his horse and then checks himself fastidiously for bits of straw, horsehairs, etc.
Riyyh: And everybody has been so kind, I've been to endless parties.
Saig notes the primping.
Riyyh actually is starting to remember why he stopped traveling in the first place... it does get exhausting to impress so many people so often, and with so much shiltpron involved.
Saig: We have a little washroom inside, if you would like to use it. And I'll set the water on for tea.
Saig is not crass enough to discuss business before refreshment has been enjoyed, of course.
Riyyh: Why thank you.
Saig beams, which greatly increases the family resemblance, and leads the way inside.
Riyyh follows.
Urfey happens to glance up from her filing chores.
Urfey: Sectuib!
Riyyh: Hello, Urfey. [smiles]
Urfey rushes over and flings her arms around Riyyh.
Riyyh: Oh, my. ~~pretends to be surprised but is actually quite tickled at the display~~
Urfey: It's so good to see you, I'm having a wonderful time, do you know there are lots of people who don't know how to plant a seed here? And I've been helping so much, so they'll learn, and....
Urfey runs out of breath.
Riyyh: There, there, I'm glad you've been happy.
Riyyh pats her back.
Saig: Urfey has been a great help since you sent her here, Sectuib.
Saig: But Urfey, Sectuib has ridden a long way, and he should be allowed to wash up before we chat, don't you think?
Urfey is ~ stricken ~ with remorse at having neglected the needs of such an important guest.
Riyyh starts to protest that it isn't so far to ride from his hotel to the Coalition HQ, but he wouldn't want to endanger his chances of actually getting a chance to wash up.
Riyyh never does that.
Urfey: Of course, I'll get tea, and there are some of those pastries left, aren't there? And are you going to be in your office, Saig, or should I bring them out here?
Urfey rushes off to the tea table before Saig can answer.
Saig: The young are so enthusiastic, don't you think?
Riyyh: Yes, it's quite refreshing isn't it?
Riyyh feels rather grandfatherly actually, and hopes he doesn't look it.
Saig: Here, I just put fresh towels under the sink this morning.
Riyyh: Thank you. ~~grateful~~
Saig opens the door to a simple (by Narosian standards) washroom.
Riyyh is relieved to enter something a little less rustic than the facilities at the luxury hotel he stays at.
Saig sniffs approvingly, noting that Urfey has refreshed the soaps, lotions, bath additives, and other necessary items.
Saig regrets that there isn't quite enough shelf space for a full selection of such things, but one does have to store the produce somewhere, and the kitchen is overflowing.
Riyyh enters, and closes the door carefully behind him. He then removes the large ripe tomatoes from the sink where they were draining.
Riyyh: My, what an impressive crop. I must remember to compliment them. [to himself]
Riyyh then proceeds to fix his look, trying to be reasonably quick about it (by his standards).
Saig has a gene-deep awareness of Riyyh's hygienic proclivities, and manages to have a nice collation put together, with tea and local produce, by the time Riyyh finishes.
Riyyh emerges from the washroom as fresh as a daisy, and looking like a young, virile 45 year old instead of a sterile 55 year old who's been to 18 parties in the last 6 days and rode in on an animal that eats hay and collects road dust.
Saig managed to time things well enough to be back at the door when Riyyh exited.
Riyyh smiles at Saig.
Riyyh: Thank you.
Saig: Sectuib, there is tea in my office, and a snack.
Riyyh: Shall we, then?
Saig smiles and leads the way.
Saig's office is a very pleasant room, with smells of furniture polish, ink, and herbs from the bunches hanging from the ceiling to dry.
Saig nods approvingly at the elaborately arranged platter of tomatoes and cheese and olives and pickles and things.
Saig: Here, let me pour you some tea. I always find that a cup of tea is so relaxing, after freshening up.
Saig has, of course, specified Riyyh's favorite blend.
Riyyh accepts the tea with a smile.
Riyyh pretends to not have a favorite blend, and is always secretly pleased when somebody figures out which one it is.
Saig: So, have you heard any news from home?
Saig: We've been a bit out of touch lately, I'm afraid.
Saig is ~ chagrined ~ to have to admit it.
Riyyh: Certainly I've kept you well enough up to date in the last weeks.
Saig: There has been so much going on here with the urban farms program.
Riyyh: Of course.
Saig would be quite content to rehash old gossip, if nothing new is forthcoming, but....
Saig: I am just not sure that the clothing factory isn't going to be reopened, you see.
Saig: There must be some other site where we could open a modest agricultural school, you know.
Saig: Although Racknie is right; it is a very central location.
Riyyh's eyes widen at this evidence of an exploding project.
Riyyh: The clothing factory? My, that is a large building. I had thought this was to be a small project.
Riyyh has not worked with Coalition people in a couple of days and missed Racknie's climactic rise to power.
Riyyh: Was that Racknie's idea?
Saig: Well, by the time we had though through all the sorts of things that should be taught, it appeared that a larger site might be required, at least when the project is fully realized.
Riyyh wonders how a person who had previously been obsessed by objects as small as genes could suddenly become enamored of such gigantic projects.
Saig: Still, I had thought it might be better to start with a smaller, pilot program first.
Riyyh: I had envisioned something more like that. [admits] Perhaps twenty or thirty students, with their parents sharing in the teaching....
Saig: Just for a year or so, you know, while we get things straightened out.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Saig: It's the building that concerns me.
Saig: It's privately owned, so it would require the owner's permission to use it.
Riyyh: Of course!
Saig: At least, I don't think the squatter's rights apply to anything but government land, do they?
Riyyh: Saig, we must never employ anything less than the most ethical methods of obtaining resources, when it is in our power to do so.
Riyyh: We don't actually require so large a building yet.
Riyyh: Perhaps if you begin in a smaller space, two or three rented rooms perhaps, you could establish the program as of benefit to the public, which might help persuade somebody to donate the use of a larger space.
Riyyh of course wouldn't be against the more radical methods such as march-and-seizure, if there was simply no other way, and if it was a project of utmost importance.
Saig: Well, that does make sense, although Racknie does seem to have his heart set on the place.
Saig: It has some land surrounding it, you see, which would make it very useful for teaching.
Riyyh: Racknie is full of energy and ideas, but as you know he is very inexperienced.
Riyyh: You will have to provide a certain amount of gentle guidance, I fear.
Riyyh has found steering Racknie to be rather like steering a team of stone deaf oxen pulling a wagon with 2 bad wheels on one side, but believes it in principle.
Saig: He has worked so hard to find a place.
Saig hates to have to tell even Racknie "no", and was hoping to fob that chore off on Riyyh.
Saig: Perhaps if we could find a house for rent, on a street with several vacant lots nearby?
Saig: I think there's one on Elm Street.
Riyyh: Or perhaps a few rooms in an existing community center or church, or some such... I am sure there are plenty of opportunities.
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh: Look into it, certainly.
Saig tries to think of buildings in the area that would be insane enough to let Racknie anywhere close to their grounds.
Saig: Perhaps if we promise him a small greenhouse, Racknie won't be too upset at having to start with such a small school?
Saig: It would be useful as a demonstration for our current program, as well.
Riyyh plucks a fancy stuffed olive from the tray.
Riyyh has maybe had far too many olives in the past weeks, due to the number of cocktail parties and fancy dinners he's attended, but then he does enjoy olives.
Riyyh looks at Saig in some concern.
Riyyh: Have you been having undue difficulty with Racknie?
Riyyh wouldn't have recommended bringing Racknie here at all, but had given in when Saig requested it passionately.
Saig looks distressed.
Saig: He's been working very hard, and all, but he is sometimes a bit less... realistic than he might be, about what can be achieved.
Riyyh thinks if Saig feels he has to promise Racknie any sort of building - even just a greenhouse - then more than just Racknie's lack of realism is a problem.
Saig: I have tried to explain how limited our resources are, but he's determined to do the job right.
Saig might have less trouble reining Racknie in, if he didn't secretly wish that Racknie's grandiose dreams could be realized.
Riyyh nods sympathetically.
Riyyh recalls well the difficulties he had with the facilities at Naros, which were continually undergoing unauthorized revisions at Racknie's behest.
Saig: The building Racknie selected would be perfect in a year or two, if the project goes well, however.
Riyyh had found it rather exhausting to constantly be pitting his charms against Racknie's promise of exotic produce to the Narosians who performed the work.
Riyyh: Are you sure that such a large school is at all in the scope of our original plans, though?
Saig: Perhaps it would be worth inquiring of this Audnes Enterprises what they plan to do with the building in the future?
Riyyh looks at Saig in astonishment.
Riyyh: Audnes Enterprises owns the building you want? We are talking about the abandoned clothing factory right next to the button factory on 38th?
Saig: Why, yes. There are two vacant lots on the street behind it, as well as the grounds, and there are plenty of windows, as well.
Riyyh would smack himself on the forehead, except 1) there are enough other people willing to abuse him that he hardly needs to resort to self-abuse, and 2) it might mess up his hair.
Riyyh: Do you realize who Audnes Enterprises is?
Saig: It's one of the old families, I believe?
Riyyh has a small, paranoid part of his mind that he mostly ignores during the routine bits of his life, which is currently feverishly worrying that Racknie may have actually taken it into his head to try to approach a certain Audnes about this.
Riyyh is so unused to listening to this part of his mind that he can't quite put a finger on why he suddenly feels rather worried.
Riyyh's tentacles writhe about in an eloquent display of squeamishness.
Riyyh: Yes, family Audnes. One of them, the primary financial partner in Audnes Enterprises in fact, is Arat Farris, 53rd District Controller.
Saig blanches.
Saig: So that's what he meant!
Riyyh thinks that he'd found "convincing" the Mayor to be more cooperative was a fun challenge, but Arat Farris is quite another story.
Riyyh: What he meant?
Riyyh thinks that has an alarming ring to it.
Riyyh: What who meant?
Saig: Racknie didn't have any luck getting in to see Tiril Audnes, the owner of record.
Saig: So he said he'd see the man's partner instead.
Saig: Now that I think of it, he didn't actually mention a name.
Riyyh's eyes widen.
Riyyh: Has hasn't done it, has he?
Riyyh notices he hasn't actually seen Racknie since coming to the HQ today, and hopes the man is simply out inspecting a field or some other relatively innocuous task.
Saig smiles weakly, as his hands dither.
Riyyh's tentacles squirm more plaintively in response.
Saig: Well, I'm told that it is rather hard to see a Tecton Controller without an appointment.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
see note 1
Alea is sitting in Arat's office, catching up on paperwork, missing the fact she isn't with her channel.
Racknie wanders down the hall, reading the numbers on the doors.
Alea casually goes through Arat's drawers looking for a better pen.
Racknie is a gawky, knock-kneed product of the Narosian breeding program.
Racknie is, however, possessed of a certain firmness of purpose (okay, obsession) from his grandmother's side.
Racknie finds the right door, and simply walks in.
Alea finds an oddly shaped paper clip laying in Arat's drawer and stares at it in wonder.
Racknie smiles at Alea.
Alea glances up.
Alea: ~~ surprise ~~~
Alea: May I help you?
Alea studies the young man curiously, wondering who he is.
Racknie: Hello. I was hoping to get some help for an educational project I'm working on.
Alea: Oh?
Racknie: The other partner refused, you see, which is strange, because he's not making clothes there any more, after all.
Alea: Ah... um....
Racknie seems to think that this statement explains his presence adequately.
Alea decides to let that go.
Alea: So what is your project about?
Alea drops the paper clip just anywhere into the drawer, not paying attention where, and shuts it firmly.
Alea moves over to sit at Arat's desk, motioning the young man to take a seat.
Racknie: Well, plants don't just grow themselves, you know, and there are so many people who could feed their own families, if they just knew how.
Racknie: But we have to have space, and land. It's the perfect location, surely you can see that.
Racknie looks at Alea quite appealingly.
Alea sighs, thinking it's just her luck.
Alea: No, I don't see that at all, dear boy.
Alea: Why don't you tell me what land you are talking about and who needs to feed who?
Racknie: It's the school, you see. We have to have a place for the school.
Alea pulls out her pen and a paper off Arat's desk.
Alea makes a note, "school".
Alea: Have you spoken to anyone here about this before?
Alea ~~ is very hopeful he has~~
Alea wouldn't mind at all sending this young man off to someone else.
Racknie: Not here, no. But surely you can see the value of a proper school, with a complete curriculum: botany, plant anatomy, pomology, genetics, ecology, viticulture, agronomy, hydroponics, and of course, practical classes on gardening and landscaping.
Alea: For who? Who would the classes be for?
Alea ~~ mild exasperation at this young man ~~~
Racknie: The families of Capitol, to begin with. But I expect that we'll have students from all over, in a year or two.
Racknie: Anyone who wants to learn should have the opportunity.
Alea: Don't we already have schools here?
Racknie: None of them teach a proper curriculum.
Alea makes another note... "young man insistent upon school"
Alea pauses.
Racknie: Tiril Audnes doesn't care. He said we couldn't have his building.
Alea: Well that makes sense.
Racknie: But surely his partner will be more reasonable?
Alea nods.
Alea writes down the name: "Tiril Audnes won't give building".
Alea: Who is his partner?
Alea writes down, "Partner? Give charity gift".
Alea: And what is your organization?
Racknie: His nephew. Arat Farris.
Alea glances up sharply.
Racknie realizes that he has neglected the social forms, and blushes.
Alea thinks, so he was looking for this office.
Racknie: Oh, I am sorry. I'm Racknie ambrov Naros, with the Urban Farming Program.
Alea: I see.
Alea writes down his name... and thinks... Naros!
Alea glances back at him.
Alea: Any relation to... um....
Alea thinks 'dumb question' and doesn't finish it.
Racknie does bear a distinct resemblance to his father.
Alea wonders just how many are in that family.
Alea: And what building is it you are seeking?
Racknie: It's the clothing factory on 38th Street. It's been abandoned for nearly two years.
Alea: Ah, I see.
Alea makes a note below "charity".
Alea: Well, all I can do is leave this message for your... for Tiril's nephew.
Alea: He's out right now.
Alea: Do you have an address where I can get in touch with you?
Alea: Er... where he can get in touch with you?
Racknie: Oh, dear, I was hoping that the matter could be straightened out today.
Racknie: It will take all winter to get the building ready.
Alea: Controller is a busy man.
Racknie: I'm working out of the Urban Farming office.
Alea ~~ smiles politely ~~
Arat comes down the hallway toward his office, little realizing his office is occupied by an undesirable.
Alea: I'm sure he would love to work this out as soon as possible, but he just isn't here.
Alea lifts her hands helplessly, glad that Arat isn't there at the moment.
Alea really wants to talk this over with him first.
Alea: I'll make note of that.
Arat walks into his office, and stops warily as he sees and zlins somebody there.
Racknie: Oh, dear. Surely there can't be any question? Think of the children who would benefit.
Alea picks up her pen... and stops.
Alea glances up and nods.
Alea slips out of the chair she occupied and glides across the room.
Alea: Controller, a Racknie ambrov Naros wishes an audience with you...
Arat meets Alea's eyes briefly, then looks hard at Racknie.
Alea trails off at Arat's hard gaze at Racknie ~~??~~
Arat spots the Narosian resemblance without difficulty.
Racknie zlins distinctly Narosian, although without a Donor's development to his nager.
Arat looks at Alea belatedly.
Arat: Thank you.
Racknie perks up as he realizes that this is the person he has come to see.
Alea falls into a position slightly behind Arat and offers ~~ support ~~
Racknie: You're Controller Arat? Oh, good. You can tell Tiril to be reasonable, and the school can open on time.
Arat eyes Racknie again, then walks around to take his seat at his desk.
Arat considers Racknie's words, which make little sense to him on first hearing.
Arat: What is this in regards to?
Racknie is ~~ pleased ~~ to see Arat.
Arat appears irritated, but that is basically Arat.
Alea pauses next to Arat's desk and taps the paper lying there, then moves to her own seat.
Alea: [paper is full of Alea's scrawled notes on Racknie]
Arat picks up the paper and tries to make sense of the notes.
Racknie: Tiril wouldn't be reasonable. After all, he's not doing anything with the building, is he?
Racknie: It's been closed up for two years, now.
Racknie: So what harm would it do to use it for the good of the community?
Arat: You know Tiril?
Arat thinks this is very unlikely.
Arat stares at Racknie suspiciously.
Racknie: Well, I only talked to him once.
Arat suspected as much.
Racknie unconsciously rubs the bruise he acquired when he was forcibly ejected from Tiril's presence shortly thereafter.
Racknie: He wouldn't answer my letters, you see.
Arat would like to simply send Racknie packing at this point, but his Farris obsession with detail leads him to at least want to know what is going on.
Racknie: I know it's a lot to ask, but think of the benefits to all the parents and children.
Racknie: ~~ almost Hero-ish enthusiasm ~~
Arat waves an impatient hand.
Arat: What is this building wanted for?
Alea clasps her hands together in slight worry.
Racknie: A school! A proper school, to teach the important subjects.
Arat sees something about a school on the sheet and tries to make it out.
Arat had thought the City's main objection to the Narosians at this point was that they were impeding a school's construction, not trying to found one.
Alea: He says, Hajene, he'd like to start a school, a proper school that teaches the correct curriculum and open to everyone.
Arat hopes this isn't a case of attempting to find a new home for the school to be built on the lot the lawsuits have been flying over lately.
Racknie: Botany, agriculture, plant anatomy, agronomy, plant breeding, pomology....
Alea: He also says, Hajene, that he wants the abandoned building your uncle owns and thought you might could help him.
Racknie: We'd also have more informal classes on gardening and landscaping.
Arat looks between Alea and Racknie.
Alea hates to interrupt but thinks he'll never learn anything from this guy.
Alea ~ apologetic for interrupting ~
Racknie has discovered that the landscaping in Capitol is far below the exacting standards of Naros.
Arat notes the word "charity" jumping out of the middle of the page.
Racknie: Just think what it would do for the city!
Arat drops the paper on the desk.
Arat: Audnes Enterprises is not in the business of charity.
Arat thinks actually it is, but the recipients are the actual shareholders of it, only one of which - himself - ever injects any money into the corporation.
Arat at times like this is reminded of how tedious his relatives can be, even in absentia.
Racknie stares at Arat, with a mortally wounded expression.
Racknie: But there are already three greengrocers in the neighborhood who have expressed a desire to bid on the produce!
Arat stares at Racknie with an expression of produce-withering contempt.
Racknie wilts a bit under the glare.
Alea is simply glad she isn't on that end of the stare. Of course, being a Farris -- a Zeor Farris -- she knows the starer really wouldn't out stare her, but thinks for transfer purposes, it's best.
Racknie: The school would be an asset to the community. Tell him.
Racknie looks at Alea in appeal.
Alea shrugs with a look of 'don't ask me'.
Racknie doesn't do "appealing" quite as well as his father, but well enough.
Alea sighs.
Alea: Perhaps, Hajene, if the young man worked up a proposal of what he planned, wanted, say a five year plan....
Alea: Then you could decide later.
Alea doubts the Gen will ever accomplish that so feels safe with the suggestion.
Arat narrows his eyes.
Alea shrugs helplessly at Arat.
Alea: You might make money off such a product.
Alea: Tax write off.
Alea: Or there are many other ways....
Racknie bobs enthusiastically.
Alea thinks, what is she doing!
Alea: Of course, it might be best to direct him back to your uncle.
Arat finds that his forehead requires a bit of a massage, and uses the fingers and tentacles of one hand to accomplish the task.
Racknie: Oh, yes, I can give you a proposal. Urfey is very good at writing things.
Alea quietly stands and moves behind Arat and begins to gently rub his shoulders.
Arat: No... no. [to Racknie, as he removes his hand]
Arat's shoulders are all knotted up, and definitely in need of Alea's ministrations.
Alea works to make herself invisible to all in the office as she uses her nager and hands to work on the knots.
Racknie: I can give you copies of the alterations we'd have to make to the building and grounds, too.
Arat: If Tiril said he does not want to give it to you, I will not argue with him about it.
Arat: [mainly because Arat finds his uncle unbearably annoying to be around]
Racknie's head bobs.
Racknie: We can convince him, I'm sure.
Alea ~~ we???? ~~
Alea wonders what Arat's reaction will be to that.
Arat: I will not be responsible for anything which may occur if you press him unreasonably on the issue.
Arat remembers the time Tiril had a restraining order put on the paper boy because the kid threw the paper too close to his prized flower bed.
Racknie beams, concentrating now on action, and the added focus makes his nager zlin vaguely reminiscent of Nick's.
Arat's uncle has never been known for restraint, in financial matters or anything else for that matter.
Arat is temporarily distracted by Racknie's nager, and zlins him more thoroughly.
Racknie: I saw his house. He understands what an asset plants can be--just look at his collection of rare pansies!
Arat fortunately misses that line.
Racknie has only ~~ admiration ~~ for the landscaping work at Tiril's house.
Alea: Pansies?
Alea had no idea the flowers even grew up here--or that someone would find the time to grow them.
Racknie turns to Alea enthusiastically.
Racknie: There are colors I haven't seen before, and some interesting pattern mutants as well.
Racknie: Does he breed them himself? [to Arat]
Alea realizes she said it aloud and drew the man's attention and immediately returns all attention to soothing Arat.
Alea is a bit worried at how out of kilter Arat is.
Arat blinks, and rejoins the real world, frowning to himself.
Arat realizes he lost track of the conversation, but can't be bothered to find out what was said while he was investigating Racknie's nager's similarity to Nick's and Hero's.
Arat flicks a hand and tentacles.
Arat: You're wasting your time. I will not go against my uncle's wishes in this matter, as I have no stake in it and he has made his opinion plain.
Arat: I do not appreciate being interrupted in my Tecton duties for matters of this nature.
Racknie: No stake? But...?
Arat: You will not approach me again about it, nor will you... provoke Tiril Audnes.
Racknie's voice trails off as he realizes that Arat isn't responding to his coaxing.
Arat has been known to respond to coaxing... when being coaxed by a high order Donor who has a lot of patience and persistence. Other than that: Forget it!
Alea ~~ soothing ~~
Alea: If you stop by the front desk, the clerk might be able to direct you to where you can find another piece of abandoned property.
Alea has no idea what the lower people can do, but figures they have to be out there in the real world and probably have heard some gossip or such.
Arat frowns, then decides to let this abuse of the Information Desk's function slide.
Arat being upper management has no idea just how routine this sort of request is, for them.
Racknie: But the factory would be so perfect....
Racknie has never been all that good at coping with sudden changes of plans.
Arat having found that words just don't seem to work with Racknie, resorts to his patented stare of flat-out loathing.
Arat: If there is nothing else?
Alea decides to help Arat since she feels partially responsible.
Alea goes to the door and pulls it open.
Racknie: Well, perhaps Tiril will change his mind. He must be a good person, with a garden like that...
Racknie walks out of the office, only narrowly avoiding banging into the door in his single-mindedness.
Alea holds her breath then sighs in relief as she closes the door behind him.
Arat begins to become genuinely upset after the cause has gone.
Alea notes this and hurries over to Arat.
Alea: Controller?
Alea ~~ worry having rarely seen Arat like this ~~
Arat: The security in this building requires a complete overhaul.
Alea: He's gone now.
Alea: I was about to send him on his way when you arrived.
Alea ~~ soothing ~~~
Arat: He never should have made it this far in the first place.
Alea leans against the desk facing Arat and increases her support by laying a hand on his hand.
Alea: Things happen occasionally.
Alea wishes she could take that back.
Arat takes a deep breath, using Alea's support.
Alea: Of course, I'm sure it was a simple oversight, perhaps....
Alea decides to simply close her mouth.
Arat has never been very good at dealing with "things" that just "happen"... he prefers precision and regularity.
Arat sighs as Alea falls silent.
Alea: Would you like some lunch?
Alea ~~ brightly ~~
Arat: No. [shortly]
Arat tenses up automatically as he gives his standard answer to the question.
Alea nods.
Alea: Very well.
Alea continues to support Arat with no words.
Alea simply allows her hunger to gradually project itself at Arat.
Alea ~~ very hungry in need of a good satisfying meal... will faint without it ~~
Arat: You may go on break now.
Arat: I will be fine.
Alea: Not without you, Hajene.
Alea ~~ mild stubbornness~~
Arat would prefer for Alea to control her hunger and stay here to support him and perhaps rub his shoulders, but Donors inexplicably find that sort of thing out of the question.
Alea: You won't go with me then?
Arat: Go ahead. I have some things I can get done here in the meantime.
Alea shakes her head.
Alea: Not at all. I'll stay right here.
Alea wiggles and plops down in his lap, putting her hands to his shoulders.
Alea: If you are that incapacitated that you just can't go with me, then it's my duty to stay here.
Arat: ~~astonishment~~
Alea smiles.
Alea starts working the muscles of his shoulders.
Alea: My job to make you feel better, Controller.
Alea ~~ stomach growls ~~
Alea: And I wouldn't dare leave your side after what happened.
Alea: ~~ determined to support and soothe ~~
Arat fights a losing battle as Alea's full body contact makes it very difficult to ignore her hunger.
Alea smiles at Arat.
Arat: It is not necessary to.... [can't quite bring himself to tell her to stop the support and soothing and shoulder rubbing, since he wants that part very badly]
Arat: ... to ...
Alea: Why don't we go to lunch then we'll come back here and I'll spend an hour working on those muscles?
Alea: You've obviously had a very bad day and it's the least I can do.
Arat: I can come with you, if that is what you want.
Alea: It would be very good for you to eat....why don't we.
Alea stands submissively waiting.
Arat is notorious for accompanying his Donors to meals but refusing to take a bite; that's what he assumes he'll get away with this time.
Arat: Very well.
Arat rises.
Alea remembers her few times with Snake, and all the other stubborn Farris channels she's worked with, and grins to herself.
Alea walks to the door.
Notes:
1) Meanwhile, in the 53rd District Offices.... [return]