Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #186: Ruby Tears (12/10/99)
Riyyh approaches the small Sime Center with the definite air of a person who hasn't yet decided whether to do so or not.
Ruby: 35, 36, 37....
Riyyh wrings his hands and looks over his shoulder, then walks somewhat nearer to its front door.
Ruby is brushing her hair 100 times, just like her "father" taught her.
Riyyh pauses for a bit on the front porch, trying to psych himself up for what could possibly be a very unpleasant meeting, although he does hope it goes well.
Receptionist turns the page of the romance novel, her heart in her throat. She loves these quiet days.
Receptionist wonders if Nerif will admit to fathering Cyan's baby or not.
Riyyh finally takes a deep breath and enters the Sime Center, looking heartthrobbingly handsome, distressed, and windswept.
Receptionist looks up in dismay as someone enters just at a good bit.
Receptionist reluctantly puts the book down.
Receptionist: Can I help you?
Riyyh realizes that Ruby isn't there, and loses most of the nerve he'd managed to gather up in preparation for the good meeting.
Riyyh doesn't know why he'd hoped Ruby would be standing right in front of the door, except maybe for the good old fashioned wishful thinking factor.
Riyyh smiles apologetically at the receptionist.
Receptionist zlins the channel curiously.
Riyyh: Is Ruby here? Ruby ambrov Naros?
Riyyh realizes he should have asked for "Sosu Ruby", which seems so odd.
Riyyh bites his lip.
Riyyh thinks maybe he shouldn't have come.
Riyyh glances at the door, thinking of chickening out.
Receptionist: Why yes, we have a Ruby staying here, I'm not sure of her Household. Do you have business with Sosu Ruby?
Riyyh smiles again, sheepishly.
Riyyh: I'm her father.
Receptionist: Oh! I see! Well then! I'll let her know you are here shall I?
Receptionist gets up.
Riyyh: Perhaps I could surprise her? [tentatively]
Receptionist is delighted by this suggestion. She loves surprises and it means she could get back to her book sooner.
Receptionist: Why yes! That would be more fun wouldn't it? If you go down the hallway here, up the stairs on the left all the way to the top. Sosu Ruby has the top floor.
Riyyh: Thank you.
Riyyh smiles warmly at her.
Receptionist: You are very welcome.
Riyyh wishes he wasn't so deep in need, or her slightly anxious, slightly aroused state would be much more interesting.
Riyyh goes down the hallway and starts climbing the stairs.
Ruby: 67, 68, 69....
Riyyh reaches the top and pauses to catch his breath and inspect his look in a small mirror.
Riyyh sees what the wind did and tries to fix it without much effect.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Ruby puts the brush down for a moment to ease the cramp in her wrist.
Riyyh sighs and puts the mirror away, then zlins about for Ruby.
Ruby glares at her beautiful long mane of black hair. "One of these days I will chop you all off!"
Riyyh: Ruby dear?
Ruby knows that she will never be able to do it - she is too afraid that it's the only beautiful thing about her.
Riyyh signals at the door.
Ruby: Oh damn. Now what!
Ruby: ~ annoyed ~
Ruby gets up and goes over and opens the door, adjusting her silk negligee to something a bit, but not much, more decent as she goes.
Riyyh smiles wistfully at her.
Riyyh: Hello, Ruby. [gently]
Ruby: Oh! Oh.... oh. ~ quickly dampened surprise ~
Ruby: What do you want? ~ scornful ~
Riyyh is surprised and dismayed by her scorn, and it shows.
Riyyh: I... well I heard you were posted here in town, and I wanted to see how you were doing.
Riyyh: I do care about you, Ruby.
Ruby: I suppose you want to come in and sit down?
Ruby is surprised that she actually wants him to come in and sit down.
Riyyh: Why yes, I would like to, very much.
Ruby gestures grandly to a small chair that would have been rather exquisite a few decades ago, but is now showing signs of wear.
Riyyh enters, very grateful for being allowed to.
Ruby goes back to the chair in front of the mirror and picks up the brush.
Riyyh: You're looking more beautiful than ever, Ruby. ~sincerely~
Riyyh sits on the chair, after first admiring what's left of the embroidery.
Ruby: Thank you. You are looking somewhat the worst for wear.
Ruby is disappointed to find that she didn't enjoy that nearly as much as she had hoped.
Riyyh winces. He is not unaware that a life on the road has not only messed up his grooming schedule, but forced some temporary changes of standards.
Riyyh: I have been doing a lot of travelling, you see.
Riyyh: It is always so difficult to keep up with things on such a schedule.
Ruby: Yes. I know. I must say, I'm surprised you are still away from Naros.
Ruby fiddles with the brush.
Ruby: I didn't think you would be comfortable being away from people... you know.
Ruby had been going to say "who worship you" but for some reason she couldn't bring herself to.
Riyyh: It hasn't been easy. [admits]
Riyyh: But Nick and the others have been so kind.
Ruby sniffs.
Ruby: So, this Nick, is he your Companion now?
Riyyh smiles with a fond sadness.
Riyyh: No, he is just helping me for a while.
Ruby: Ah. [fiddle fiddle]
Ruby: Well....
Riyyh: Rapol is not able to travel, and he and Anmyn....
Ruby: Anmyn?
Ruby: Rapol?
Riyyh is surprised that Ruby hasn't kept up on the gossip.
Ruby is distressed to find she is so far behind on the gossip.
Riyyh: Anmyn is my heir. She was born Anmyn ambrov Fior, I adopted her last year.
Ruby: You [pause] adopted [pause] her?
Riyyh: Yes, it was thought it would be easiest that way.
Riyyh doesn't add that it was also thought that Anmyn was entirely unrelated.
Riyyh: She is a very kind woman, a good woman. And a better channel than I.
Riyyh is of course referring to Anmyn's potential, rather than her actual experience to date.
Ruby realises that she has been subconsciously blocking out anything anyone said in relation to Riyyh, and has consequently missed out on a heap of good stuff.
Ruby: ~ damn ~
Ruby: Oh. And she isn't related?
Riyyh: No, she isn't.
Riyyh has sworn that his knowledge of Anmyn's impurity will go to his grave with him. So far so good.
Ruby: So. What brings you here?
Riyyh: The agricultural literature program here... remember, the Pleasant Volley Press?
Ruby nods.
Riyyh: Well, the reason I have been travelling is [he doesn't mention the bit about Mytag and others wanting him safely away from Naros] to spend some time with all of our outreach programs, and to help them with anything they may want help with.
Riyyh: In this case, they are doing just fine financially, but have been having a brushup or two with the law.
Riyyh looks embarrassed; he still hasn't gotten over the covers of some of the "helpful" herbal brochures.
Ruby: And you are doing this yourself? Personally? ~~ confused ~~
Riyyh: Yes, I am.
Ruby: Well, I must say, I'm surprised.
Riyyh: It is... better that I give Anmyn some space to grow, and the others as well.
Riyyh: It is also true that some of the outreach programs have had problems, and could benefit from my personal efforts.
Ruby: I see. Well, that makes sense. Although I'm still surprised that you would give up so much.
Riyyh looks somewhat unhappy.
Riyyh: It hasn't been easy. [repeats]
Riyyh has actually been hoping it will be only a temporary situation. In fact, the longer he stays on the road, the more and more temporary the situation seems.
Ruby continues to fiddle with the brush.
Riyyh unfortunately has to reconcile the difference between the 3 more weeks he feels like it should last, and the 3 more years he knows it should last.
Ruby half raises it to her hair, and stops, and puts it back down in her lap to fiddle with a bit more.
Ruby: ~ awkward ~
Riyyh: Ruby....
Ruby: Yes?
Ruby answers quickly, almost jumping a little.
Riyyh: I know I shouldn't have dropped in on you so unexpectedly, but I miss you, and I worry about you.
Riyyh: When I saw you in that restaurant....
Riyyh actually didn't handle that too well, and perhaps it's best if he says no more about it.
Riyyh: Well. I didn't want us to be cut off from each other.
Ruby: Oh I'm doing just fine. I don't miss Naros at all! Life out here is so wonderful, so exciting. I never knew so much was just waiting for me! And with the Donor shortage, of course, there is plenty of work for me.
Ruby slows to a stop.
Riyyh: Are you happy, then?
Ruby: Oh yes. ~ uncertain ~
Ruby: It is different from home of course.
Riyyh had used to believe that some Narosians could learn to love the Tecton, but since Mytag became disenchanted with it he's not so sure.
Riyyh watches and zlins her anxiously.
Riyyh: But... you aren't miserable, are you?
Riyyh: You're all right?
Ruby: Oh no! Everyone treats me very well out here!
Ruby: But, it is different from home.
Ruby: There are so many people out here. And it was hard to adjust giving transfer to someone else.
Riyyh moves his chair nearer to her, because the sight of her fingers clutching the brush looks lonely, or at least it makes him feel lonely.
Ruby looks down at her hands.
Ruby: Of course, if you had been honest, I wouldn't have needed to leave.
Riyyh feels genuine sympathy for her situation.
Riyyh: Or if I had never begun being honest.
Ruby: ~ shock ~
Ruby: But then, I would have married you!
Ruby: And you would have let me!
Ruby: ~ horrified ~
Ruby: You haven't changed a bit have you?
Riyyh: No, I wouldn't have married. Don't you remember, Ruby?
Ruby: And here I was thinking that maybe I should give you another chance!
Riyyh: Ruby... listen to me.
Ruby stops and glares at him.
Riyyh: I'm only trying to say that those were the choices I had at that time, to come clean or to go on with the lie.
Riyyh: There wasn't anything else I could have done, I can't undo the past.
Ruby: There was a lot you could have done differently - from the beginning.
Riyyh: I know, everybody knows that. But what can be done about it now?
Ruby: You can leave me alone to go on with my life!
Riyyh: We are doing what we can to rebuild Naros in a better form, and we are honest about everything that has happened. What more can be done than....
Ruby raises her voice and there is a definite sob in it.
Ruby: I don't want anything more to do with you or with your damn inbred Household!
Ruby: I'm Ruby Venins now. No one knows my shame here!
Ruby: I don't need you to remind me of it.
Riyyh looks wounded.
Riyyh: Ruby....
Ruby: No! No more!
Ruby stands up and points to the door with the hair brush.
Ruby: Get out!
Ruby has a tear rolling down her cheek and her nose is turning a suspicious shade of red.
Ruby wants him out of there before she breaks down completely.
Ruby: ~ upset ~
Riyyh gets up and retreats from her.
Riyyh's hands still reach out in her direction as if there is any hope of his being able to calm her again.
Ruby shuts her eyes.
Ruby isn't going to look at him again.
Riyyh tries to decide if she is on the verge of murdering him, or on the verge of giving in and wanting a long-needed hug.
Riyyh has had quite a bit of recent experience indicating that the two are closer states of mind than most people think.
Riyyh lowers his arms slowly.
Ruby sobs.
Ruby: Oh just go!
Ruby: ~ please go~
Ruby turns her back on him.
Riyyh: We miss you, Ruby.
Riyyh turns and walks out the door, closing it quietly behind him.
Riyyh walks down the stairs, feeling wrung out.
Ruby hears the door shut and throws herself on the bed, sobbing hysterically.