Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #177: Sidetrack Attraction (11/15/99)
Nick works on a leisurely post-breakfast snack, as he waits for Riyyh to make himself presentable.
Nick reflects that he had once thought that Deah Tigue had a light work schedule.
Nick consumes a grape, slowly.
Lalique glides up the winding red-carpeted staircase of the Sunrise Hotel.
Lalique wears a slinky moss-green knit dress and a big green floppy hat.
Nick is dressed in a new pair of pants, a compromise he and Riyyh managed to find between tailor-made perfection and... well, Nick's taste in pants is best left undescribed.
Lalique heads down the corridor to the room where Riyyh and Nick are staying.
Lalique signals at the door.
Nick is a bit surprised.
Nick: Riyyh, are you expecting anyone?
Riyyh: No.
Nick gets up anyway and starts moseying towards the door, in hopes of entertainment.
Riyyh has told Nick about the private investigator who showed up the day before.
Nick opens the door and peers through.
Riyyh turns curiously to see who it might be.
Lalique smiles at Nick, warmly and sweetly.
Nick: Oh!
Lalique: Hello, darling.
Lalique: I hope I didn't wake you up.
Nick: Err, not at all.
Nick steps back.
Nick: Come in, please.
Nick turns to Riyyh.
Nick: It's the shiltpron player--Lalique.
Riyyh hesitates between dodging into the bathroom to finish his grooming there, and staying to entertain their guest.
Riyyh settles for smiling at Lalique.
Nick: Would you like some tea?
Lalique slinks into the room.
Lalique: Oh yes, dear. I'd love some.
Nick tries to ~~ reassure ~~ Riyyh that he looks just fine, which might be more effective if Nick himself didn't appear mostly as "scruffy".
Nick goes over to the tea table and inspects the selections.
Lalique drifts elegantly over to an armchair and sinks into it.
Nick: We have "Dark Passion" and "Lavender Lace" brewed at the moment, but there are a dozen other choices, if those aren't satisfactory.
Nick does appreciate some of the perks of working with Riyyh.
Lalique: Oh, Dark Passion, absolutely.
Riyyh looks wistfully back at the dressing table, and then gets up to join Lalique, choosing a chair not far away.
Nick: Riyyh? Shall I warm your cup as well?
Riyyh: Thank you. [smiles at Nick]
Lalique: Thank you so much for your hospitality.
Nick pours "Dark Passion" for Lalique, then warms his own cup and Riyyh's.
Nick distributes the drinks, then settles in a chair next to Riyyh, offering light ~~ support ~~
Riyyh: Have you been enjoying your stay here? [inquires of Lalique]
Riyyh: It is a pleasant little town, isn't it?
Lalique: Oh, lovely.
Nick sips his tea, wondering why Lalique has chosen to visit.
Nick hopes it isn't the usual reason; he had a hard enough time getting Riyyh out of bed the first time.
Lalique: I ran into a friend of yours yesterday.
Lalique: We had an interesting little chat.
Lalique: A fellow performer... the singer, Buggfa.
Nick: Buggfa?
Nick sits up with ~~ interest ~~.
Lalique: Yes, the one who inspired that little mob scene during my performance the other evening.
Nick: He does have that effect, sometimes.
Lalique: [to Nick] Thank you, by the way, for helping me calm down the guests.
Riyyh wonders why Nick would want to travel with somebody who tends to cause mob scenes.
Nick: You're quite welcome.
Riyyh tends to try to keep travel as quiet and comfortable as possible, himself.
Nick: I've had a bit of experience dealing with Torn By Tentacles fans.
Lalique: So I have heard.
Nick: Buggfa's not a bad kid, though.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Riyyh: [to himself]
Nick: I get the distinct impression that he'd never be one of his own fans, if you get what I mean.
Lalique: He said that you had encouraged him to go for rehabilitation.
Nick: Of course. He's a mess. Snake actually paid him for a donation.
Nick says this as if it explains a great deal.
Lalique: And you are Snake's famous "rogue Donor". I read about you in the newspapers.
Lalique smiles serenely.
Nick: Just so long as you didn't read about me in the book.
Lalique: Book? I guess I missed that. Not much time to read when you're on tour.
Nick can tolerate being thought a dangerous rogue much better than being thought a desperate virgin.
Nick: You didn't miss anything important, I assure you.
Riyyh: We have... er... why yes, of course.
Riyyh decides not to let on they have a copy, after zlinning Nick.
Nick: So you were discussing rehabilitation with Buggfa?
Lalique: Yes. I urged him to follow through on your suggestion.
Nick is a bit ~~ relieved ~~
Riyyh looks rather alarmed, though he tries to hide it.
Nick: Thank you. Did he appear receptive to the suggestion?
Lalique: Shiltpron performance involves certain... responsibilities.
Lalique: That poor child doesn't have a clue.
Lalique: What he's doing is dangerous to himself as well as to others.
Riyyh has been having trouble coming to grips with the idea of bringing a Torn by Tentacles band member into his daily life, although obviously he wouldn't have anywhere near the willpower required to say no to such a thing, and if he met the fellow in person would surely be quite sympathetic to his plight.
Riyyh: It sounds as if you are rather an expert in the field.
Nick: Yes. And the longer he waits before he works on the problem, the harder it will be.
Lalique: He said something about nerve damage.
Nick: Yes. Are you familiar with his song? The one about how he got tricked into a transfer?
Lalique: Oh, yes.
Nick: Well, his handlers were more interested in their profits than Buggfa's health.
Nick: They let the out-Territory doctors "treat" him as best they could, and made him continue the tour.
Nick: He didn't see a channel until the tour was over, and by then it was much too late.
Lalique: ~~ horror ~~
Riyyh sighs sadly as he realizes there is no way at all he can avoid being talked into doing something about such a pitiful case.
Lalique: He must have had some Donor's talent or he couldn't project the way he does.
Nick: He'd never be able to be a Donor, after what he's gone through, but with proper care from the right channel, he could at least donate regularly, and gain some control.
Nick: It will take time, and trust.
Nick looks at Riyyh, confident that even Buggfa would have a very hard time being truly afraid of Riyyh.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Lalique: That song inspires the worst of impulses in the Simes who hear it.
Nick just wishes that Riyyh had the technical skill of Snake or Arat, to supplement the interpersonal relations skills.
Nick: I know. And in the Gens as well.
Lalique: That boy wrote the song, he says, to warn Gens, and doesn't seem to understand that he is enticing another attack.
Lalique: And he has security guards to beat off the poor renSimes he drives out of control.
Nick: The security guards aren't around between shows, though.
Lalique: And he has no control whatsoever.
Lalique: Even if he can never donate, if he even knew enough to recognize a dangerous situation and stand still and be calm, it could save his own life and that of some poor Sime.
Nick: His control isn't that bad when he's actually performing, but he doesn't know enough about what he's doing to apply it offstage.
Riyyh: Lalique, perhaps you could spend some time with him, and teach him what you know?
Riyyh is trying to be helpful, especially as Lalique is obviously very concerned for Buggfa.
Lalique: Well, he wasn't very receptive to my suggestions.
Riyyh: Oh? How unfortunate.
Nick: ~~ disappointment ~~
Lalique: He seemed to want some kind of official seal of approval from his managers before doing anything.
Lalique: The same managers who hire his security guards.
Lalique: ~~ delicate shudder ~~
Nick: The same ones who left him such a mess by denying him treatment after he was burned?
Lalique: Right.
Lalique: He was concerned about associating with you because you had worked rogue.
Lalique: I tried to explain that Sectuib Riyyh was completely respectable.
Riyyh: Nick is a perfect gentleman. [mildly injured by any suggestion to the contrary]
Riyyh: And I would place my life in his hands without hesitation.
Lalique nods.
Riyyh in fact has done so at least twice, and it was quite pleasurable.
Lalique: He was most concerned about publicity.
Riyyh wonders how much crossover audience there is between Dr. Roosle's book and TBT fans.
Lalique: And seemed to think that only treatment in a Sime Center by a Tecton channel would be sufficiently respectable.
Riyyh: Of course, it is true that some people look better on paper than others. [admits]
Riyyh: Perhaps he could contact the Sime Center near his home base, wherever that might be?
Riyyh may be forgiven for not knowing; he knows a lot more about Buggfa Lube than most 55 year olds.
Nick: He doesn't really have one. He's on tour most of the time, I understand.
Lalique: And is originally from out-Territory.
Nick made quite a study of TBT while trying to keep Snake supplied with steady work.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Lalique: Well, we are only acquaintances, but I thoroughly agree with you that something should be done.
Riyyh's tentacles flutter as he realizes that this is where he is supposed to gracefully volunteer himself.
Riyyh thinks Nick is handling the conversation so well, however, that he may as well remain quiet.
Lalique: Sectuib Naros, would you have any way of putting pressure on these managers of his?
Riyyh: I might write a letter, but from so far away, I could only hope it had some effect.
Riyyh: I regret that I cannot take the time to travel into Gen Territory just now, particularly with winter coming on. I'd miss the pre-planting season.
Riyyh knows Anmyn can't handle that alone.
Nick: The managers aren't around at the moment, but Buggfa is.
Lalique: True.
Nick: If he can be persuaded, the managers would have little choice but to go along.
Nick thinks, especially if they can't find him.
Lalique smiles wryly.
Lalique: Too bad he isn't Sime; we could be very persuasive together.
Nick shrugs.
Nick: If he were Sime, he'd not have been seduced by that renSime in the first place.
Lalique: There are many types of seduction.
Nick: Very true.
Nick hadn't realized quite how many until he started traveling with Riyyh.
Riyyh sips his tea.
Lalique: Unfortunately, he doesn't lack for women, or money either.
Lalique: And he isn't even really interested in improving his art.
Nick: Sometimes I wonder how much of his performance is Buggfa Lube, and how much the label.
Lalique: That was the impression I got.
Nick sighs, and drains his teacup.
Lalique: He is like a child asking for permission to go to the bathroom.
Nick: If we are agreed that something must be done about his situation, and that we are the ones currently available to do it... [checks Lalique and Riyyh to see if they plan to offer any objections to this summation] ...then perhaps we should settle on a plan?
Lalique: But what can be done?
Riyyh places his tea cup and saucer on an end table.
Riyyh: A pity our travel plans aren't more similar. Perhaps if all of us would be participating in helping him, he might be more willing.
Riyyh: After all, a musician might trust another musician more than any channel or Donor.
Riyyh: Yet a channel is certainly required in his treatment.
Riyyh: At any rate... [hesitates] I will speak to him if you wish, Nick.
Nick rewards Riyyh with ~~ thanks ~~
Lalique smiles at Riyyh meltingly.
Lalique: ~~ admiration ~~
Lalique: Your skills at persuasion are legendary, Sectuib Naros.
Riyyh smiles, the flattery making up somewhat for the guilt-trippery.
Riyyh: It would be a shame to fail to offer to help, particularly as it sounds as if he is suffering.
Lalique: The boy was open to the idea of rehabilitation.
Nick: Yes.
Lalique: He was mostly concerned for his reputation, the publicity.
Lalique: Your reputation is, of course, impeccable.
Lalique: If we could just persuade him that you are as trustworthy as a Sime Center channel we might have a chance of success.
Riyyh beams.
Nick: Do you know where Buggfa is staying, Lalique?
Nick would like to get this experiment moving while Riyyh is still in a compliant mood.
Nick has noticed Riyyh's skill at agreeing to whatever those around him want, and then changing his mind again when he's alone.
Lalique: I am sure I could find out.
Lalique: So far, we have just met casually.
Lalique: But I have contacts around town.
Lalique: The performers grapevine, you know.
Nick nods.
Lalique: So we are agreed?
Riyyh: Yes, I think so. [smiles]
Lalique: I'll be on my way, then. I'll send word when I've tracked the boy to his hiding place.
Riyyh: Very well.
Lalique surveys the room with a dazzling smile.
Nick: Thank you.
Lalique's nager whirls in a glittering burst like a shower of tinsel.
Lalique: It was a pleasure meeting with you both!
Lalique rises from the chair like Venus from her seashell.
Lalique drifts out the door with a backwards wink.
Riyyh's laterals flick out once or twice, only now finding the ambient again after the dazzling smile.
Riyyh: A charming lady.
Nick: Yes.
see note 1
Buggfa is sitting innocently in the public library, having just opened a copy of "Tentacle Magik".
Buggfa had no idea what the subject matter was, he just found it on the "new arrivals" shelf and thought the babes on the front were pretty rad.
Buggfa is killing time until his train ticket becomes valid, so he can blow this town.
Buggfa checks his watch: 3 hours.
Lalique enters the library, still wearing her slinky green knit dress and floppy hat and shades.
Nick follows Lalique into the library.
Lalique has used her show business contacts to track Buggfa to the library.
Buggfa turns a page, and studies a picture of Sime and Gen males holding hands.
Buggfa decides that chapter doesn't look exciting enough and turns several pages at once.
Buggfa: Whoa!
Buggfa remembers to keep his voice down.
Buggfa turns the book sideways.
Nick spots Buggfa and points.
Nick: There he is.
Lalique gracefully removes the shades and shakes out her thick brown hair.
Lalique nods.
Buggfa turns another page and frowns as he spots a picture of Nick.
Buggfa's frown becomes increasingly puzzled as he spots the other picture of Nick.
Lalique moves towards Buggfa.
Buggfa opens the front cover so he can read the liner notes again.
Lalique: [whispering] Hello, dear. How goes the vacation?
Buggfa looks up suddenly.
Buggfa: Oh, hel... [sees the others]... oh.
Nick controls a bit of unease about being around so many books, books having been a sore subject recently.
Buggfa puts the book down, face down, displaying the cover.
Buggfa gives Nick a very odd look.
Riyyh smiles encouragingly.
Riyyh: Hello, Buggfa.
Lalique: I ran across those friends you told me about.
Nick sees the cover, and barely manages to keep his ~~ shock ~~ reaction within Farris limits.
Buggfa doesn't remember referring to Nick as a friend, and has never even seen the other guy, although he suspects he knows who it must be.
Buggfa: Oh, hey, uh, great.
Nick: Buggfa, this is my... relative, Sectuib Riyyh ambrov Naros.
Nick doesn't feel up to discussing genetic complexities at the moment.
Riyyh: I've heard a great deal about you, most of it fascinating. Did you know the young people in our disjunction program are crazy for your band?
Buggfa: Oh, er... [thinks great, all we need is to be associated with kids who kill]
Nick studies Buggfa and Riyyh, trying to determine if the famous Narosian charm is having an effect.
Lalique: Naros is the Householding that makes all those gourmet teas.
Lalique: And marvelous perfumes
Riyyh wishes they weren't in a library; the academic surroundings don't set him off well.
Lalique: And incredible candies and other delightful treats.
Nick would mention the rutabagas, but some people don't care for them.
Buggfa: Oh yeah, you're the dudes that make those crazy hats.
Buggfa finally recognizes the name.
Lalique: Naros specialties are famous throughout the Territory.
Riyyh beams at the recognition.
Lalique: An elite brand
Lalique: And the Sectuib of course is CEO of the whole operation.
Riyyh: Oh, really, you flatter me.
Riyyh enjoys it though.
Buggfa picks up the book again and looks between Nick and the the photo of Nick, confirming that they are one and the same.
Lalique: Not at all, Sectuib
Buggfa shakes his head in disbelief.
Lalique: So you don't need to be concerned about being seen speaking with him.
Nick wonders if he could get away with "accidentally" ripping the incriminating photos out of the book.
Buggfa has to respect someone with the balls to just stand there straight faced knowing what's been published in three languages and 5 territories.
Buggfa puts the book down.
Buggfa: Hey, so, what's this all about anyway?
Buggfa: I'm outta here in like three hours.
Nick might be more upset if he hadn't figured that Buggfa was not likely to try to seduce him on the basis of the photos.
Buggfa actually feels less uncomfortable around Nick having seen the photos; basically, they're all in show business here.
Lalique: Sectuib wanted to chat with you about the rehabilitation idea
Lalique: And its publicity implications.
Riyyh: Do you mind if I sit? [smiles kindly]
Riyyh pulls out a chair and sits across the table from Buggfa.
Lalique: Sectuib is a master at spin control.
Riyyh winces.
Riyyh: Oh, dear, well, it's better when that isn't required, of course.
Riyyh smoothly picks up the book and sets it aside, over near Lalique.
Lalique: Oh, my dear, you know you are famous around these parts . . .
Nick deduces from Riyyh's choice of seat that Buggfa is a bit wary about Riyyh still.
Buggfa: Oh, uh, really? Say look, I appreciate this and all, but I kinda already said what I had to say about this.
Nick leans casually against a bookshelf, not accidentally blocking the group from visual and nageric examination.
Buggfa gets the definite impression they plan on ganging up on him and talking him into something that will get him in trouble not too far down the road.
Riyyh smiles reassuringly.
Riyyh: Of course.
Riyyh: It's just that Lalique and Nick were so glowing in their descriptions of you, and so concerned for your safety, that I felt compelled to at least speak to you once.
Nick: There's no harm in talking, is there?
Riyyh: You don't mind too terribly, do you? I hate to intrude, but I honestly couldn't bear the thought of letting you slip away without at least meeting you.
Riyyh more honestly couldn't resist two big-nagered Gens pecking at his sympathy circuits like two little mischievous birds.
Buggfa shifts about nervously.
Lalique: We really care about you a lot.
Buggfa: Yeah, so, what did you want to talk about? [at last]
Buggfa moves his sunglasses from on top of his head to their rightful place, feeling more anonymous with them on.
Buggfa has no idea how ridiculous this is.
Lalique: You agreed that rehabilitative treatment for your condition would be a good idea.
Nick: You've been very lucky so far, but that's can't last forever.
Riyyh: We, that is, Lalique and Nick and I, are prepared to offer you that treatment over the next weeks, while you are on vacation. You wouldn't miss a bit of work, and I can assure you it would be every bit as relaxing as a real vacation.
Riyyh hopes so, at least.
Nick: Truly. There's no reason that it has to be unpleasant.
Buggfa's eyes widen.
Nick knows that this isn't strictly true, but fortunately, Buggfa can't zlin.
Buggfa for some reason keeps getting this image of Prunida dragging him down the road telling him things would be much more pleasant for him if he stopped being so difficult.
Lalique: You said you wanted to wait for your manager to pick a treater.
Lalique: The same managers who didn't let you get any kind of treatment when you first got burned.
Lalique: The same managers who are permitting you to put yourself in constant danger of attack so that they can line their pockets.
Riyyh can tell Buggfa is uncomfortable, and thinks it must be because of the other two looming over him. Riyyh debates various ways of trying to get them to sit without creating a distraction, then decides it will be easiest to simply be more reassuring himself.
Riyyh accordingly moves around the table to the side next to Buggfa, instead of across.
Riyyh has a lot of practice at this maneuver and does it so slickly it almost goes unnoticed.
Lalique: You might consider whether you truly trust them to make this decision for you.
Buggfa looks seriously concerned by Lalique's words.
Riyyh: It is true that while they are experts in their own way, they cannot know everything there is to know about transfer and donation. [kindly]
Buggfa jumps as he realizes Riyyh has moved.
Nick feels a bit more optimistic as Riyyh moves in on Buggfa, and sits opposite Buggfa in Riyyh's former seat.
Nick: What's most important is that you work with a channel you feel you can trust.
Lalique slides into a chair across the table from Buggfa so that they can make eye contact.
Riyyh places a gentle hand on Buggfa's shoulder.
Riyyh: You can trust me, Buggfa.
Buggfa gives Lalique a 'what did you do to me!' look.
Buggfa: But what if it's wrong?
Lalique: I know you are concerned about publicity. Sectuib Naros moves in the highest circles of in-Territory society. His reputation is exceptional.
Nick admires Lalique's honesty, which skirts the detail that "exceptional" and "good" are not the same.
Buggfa eyes Nick, whose reputation is another matter entirely.
Buggfa: Maybe so, but I mean, what if they cancel my contract or something?
Nick: Why would they cancel their most popular act?
Buggfa: If I don't fit the part they'll find somebody else.
Buggfa has been hearing this ever since his looks changed when he hit puberty. Buggfa in fact lives in fear that the only reason he's still around at all is because of the TBT pain hook.
Riyyh sighs.
Lalique: So it is in their interest to keep you sick, frightened and in pain for their benefit.
Riyyh: We do care about you, Buggfa, and we're very concerned for your health and safety.
Riyyh: Not as a musician, but as a person.
Riyyh's hand finds its way to Buggfa's hand, a risky move possible only because it is so unexpected.
Nick: Although it would help you grow as a musician also.
Buggfa: ~~ beleaguered ~~
Buggfa isn't exactly equipped to make major life-changing decisions on his own, and it shows.
Buggfa: So I'm just supposed to cancel my whole vacation and go off with you people?
Lalique: Think of it as an adventure!
Buggfa: Spending my time talking to teenage drunks and practicing some kind of... nageric judo?
Nick: What have you got to lose by trying?
Nick: If you find that it isn't helpful, you can always continue your vacation then.
Riyyh smiles and squeezes his hand, encouraging.
Riyyh has managed to get quite a good zlin while he's been at it.
Lalique: Think of it as a step towards the freedom to be an adult rather than locked in the part they want you to play.
Buggfa has been thinking of himself as an adult for some years now and doesn't like the implication that others don't see it that way.
Buggfa frowns.
Buggfa: Would I at least be able to send my schedule on ahead?
Buggfa isn't going to get caught in the lack-of-communications-of-orders-and-funds trap again, not if he can help it.
Nick: I can't see why not.
Buggfa: And it can't be like, I can't take off any time if I don't like it.
Nick is quite sure that anything sent through Naros can be delayed or diverted as required.
Nick: Of course not. No one will make you do anything against your will.
Buggfa wonders what this is supposed to be, then.
Nick alas fails to mention Riyyh's skill at will-changing.
Lalique: Just think of this as rehearsing a new part.
Lalique: You've played the old one long enough.
Buggfa's ability to question authority is severely handicapped, though, and by sheer persistence (and numbers) the three of them are doing a pretty good job of working their way into authority positions in Buggfa's brain.
Buggfa thinks, oh man.
Lalique: What's wrong with a little variety?
Lalique: If you don't like the new act, just scrap it.
Lalique: But I think you'll like it.
Buggfa wonders if the powers that be will ever let him go on another vacation ever again.
Notes:
1) Some time passes between these two scenes. [return]