Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #5: I Care Not for your Squat (6/5/00)
Starlin trudges over the hill and looks down on the site of the growing work camp.
Starlin wipes the sweat from his brow and resettles his pack; it has been a very long journey.
Sayward always walks the site before the crews arrive. Many years have taught her that a good long first look around is the best way to get a handle on what must be done.
Starlin wonders how he is going to set up a local SWAT center when everything has to be portaged in over miles of wilderness.
Starlin wanders down among the muddy paths of the rag-tag tent city.
Starlin doubts he will find anything like an inn with a room around here.
Starlin is used to living rough for the cause and he will be proud to do so again.
Sayward has a few nerves about this job though. Although she has worked big projects before this one is the most ambitious undertaking she has seen yet. And Simes. She shakes her head and wonders if they know how to take orders or for that matter will they understand her. Her Simelan is pidgin at best that can get dangerous fast with heavy objects moving around.
Starlin looks over the squatters here; they seem for the most part idle and restless and bored.
Starlin spots a Gen walking around with an air of purpose, surveying the scene just as he is.
Starlin looks the woman over carefully.
Sayward has always loved the outdoors. Even as a child she would rather have worked in the fields than clean house. And when puberty played its trick on her taking a plain child and making her an even plainer woman. She had laughed at the face in the mirror. Brown. Brown hair, brown eyes, brown skin but a tall strong large framed body that was ideal for her chosen profession. And the cruelest joke of all was that when she smiled she would have been considered pretty. She rarely smiled.
Starlin approaches the study and authoritative Gen.
Starlin: Excuse me?
Starlin is a wiry young renSime with curly nut-brown hair and bright blue eyes. He is covered with sweat and trail dust and carries a heavy pack on his back.
Sayward turns around to see a Sime standing too close.
Sayward: Yes?
Starlin: Do you know if there is any kind of inn around here?
Starlin: I just arrived.
Sayward tries to understand the whole question.
Sayward: Inn? There is not here.
Starlin: Boarding house? Bunkhouse?
Nick wanders through the ruts of the tent city on his break, as it would take too long if he hiked to someplace more restful.
Starlin really doesn't mind sleeping outside but he has some valuables in his pack and he hates having to drag it everywhere.
Sayward: Not sure.
Starlin: Well, who's in charge here?
Starlin: Any special place I should make my camp? Or just pick a spot?
Sayward: They have not arrive yet.
Starlin notices that Sayward seems to be having difficulty with the language.
Starlin decides to slow his speech down to the tone usually reserved for children.
Starlin: Can - I - camp - here?
Nick wonders a bit just why Snake chose to give him a free hour, and go off by herself.
Sayward looks at the Sime and knows that she is not communicating.
Sayward: If you want.
Nick makes a mental note to check Snake and her belongings for concealed blue horse tranquilizer pills upon her return.
Sayward: Crews come up later.
Starlin: Ah! When - do - crews - come?
Sayward: When mules come.
Starlin: And - when - do - mules - come?
Sayward: Hard to say. Week two.
Sayward shrugs.
Starlin is encouraged that he is getting semi-comprehensible answers to his questions. This Gen may not be able to talk very well, but she seems to have some information.
Starlin: Who - are - these - people?
Starlin gestures widely with his tentacles.
Sayward: Your people, my people.
Starlin is puzzled by this answer.
Sayward: All come to work.
Sayward sees he doesn't understand.
Starlin: Are - they - on - crews?
Sayward: Simes some. Gens some.
Starlin: How - does - Sime - get - on - crew?
Sayward can't make head or tail of this last question.
Sayward ~~confused~~
Starlin is getting impatient.
Starlin: Where is hiring office?
Nick spots a renSime trying to talk to a Gen, and notes the frustration of both.
Sayward: Not made yet.
Nick wanders over.
Starlin: Ah!
Starlin: And bunkhouse for crews... not made yet?
Sayward: No.
Starlin: So I camp right here, okay?
Sayward: Yes.
Nick is well aware that part of his job as a Tecton Donor is to help make things go smoothly between Simes and Gens.
Nick: Is there a problem here?
Nick repeats the question in Genlan.
Sayward: Thank you!
Sayward: My Simelan is not very good.
Sayward: I think he is looking for an office of some kind.
Starlin zlins the most stupendous nager imaginable.
Nick turns towards Starlin.
Nick: She says you're looking for something?
Starlin knows this can only be a Donor.
Nick is a bit scruffy-looking for a Tecton Donor, particularly if one is used to Klyzer's standards of cleanliness.
Starlin: Yes, Sosu. I just arrived. I am wondering if there is any kind of lodging available, besides just camping out here.
Nick's current channel, of course, is not known for being overly picky about hygiene.
Nick has also lapsed from uniform under the rigors of travel; his pants are Tecton uniform standard, but his shirt is civilian.
Starlin, as a laboring Sime, is himself not particular about hygiene.
Sayward is trying to follow the conversation.
Nick: Lodgings? Have you been hired on here, then?
Nick: I think they're working on some barracks.
Starlin: I will be working here, yes, but I have other responsibilities.
Starlin: I am the SWAT delegate.
Nick: I see.
Starlin: Is there a bank around? Or any kind of safe or storeroom that is secure?
Nick: I have not heard anything about lodgings being currently available for anything but some of the management types, at the present time.
Nick: There are some buildings up in Palisades. I don't know if anyone's renting rooms, though.
Starlin: No matter. I'll stay here with the other workers.
Starlin: But I do have some things to store.
Starlin, zlinning that Nick is a Donor, of course trusts him without question.
Nick shrugs disarmingly.
Nick: Well, I'm afraid I don't know of any place that offers secure storage, but then, I'm new here myself. Let me see if our friend here is any better informed.
Nick turns to Sayward.
Nick: This gentleman is looking for someplace secure to leave his belongings. Do you know of any place like that?
Sayward: No. There isn't anything that's secured yet. We will be starting the storage areas in a few days when the supplies arrive.
Sayward is glad to have a translator but is now worried about communicating with her work crew.
Nick: I see.
Nick turns back to Starlin.
Starlin follows the conversation with interest. He can't understand the language, but he can easily sense her air of authority.
Nick: She doesn't seem to know of any storage options.
Starlin: [to Sayward] You work here?
Sayward: Yes. Head work crew.
Starlin's tentacles twitch in surprise.
Starlin: You from out-Territory?
Sayward: Yes.
Starlin: And you boss work crew?
Sayward: When they come.
Starlin: Come from where?
Sayward: Where they come from.
Starlin: In-Territory or out-Territory?
Sayward shrugs.
Starlin: You boss work crew? You can't even talk!
Sayward turns to the other Gen.
Sayward: What is his problem?
Nick: I believe he's skeptical about your ability to direct a work crew.
Sayward: Been doing it for fifteen years.
Starlin turns to Nick.
Starlin: They told me this would happen, but I couldn't believe it.
Starlin: Border-crossers given preference over honest, in-Territory workers.
Nick raises an eyebrow at Starlin.
Nick: Tell me, do you know how to build a dam?
Nick: It's not exactly the sort of project that's common in Nivet Territory.
Starlin: Well, granted they know some tricks over the border.
Starlin: But our own citizens should come first whenever possible.
Starlin: That's something I'm here to keep an eye on.
Nick shrugs; he's not personally in any danger of unemployment, after all.
Starlin: You can tell her that.
Nick: Are you sure you want to begin your acquaintance by making ultimatums?
Sayward isn't sure what was said but doesn't like the sound of it.
Starlin: It's not an ultimatum, just a statement of fact.
Starlin can zlin Nick isn't inspired by the cause of the workers.
Starlin turns to Sayward.
Nick: Well, if you want to work here long enough to do any good, perhaps it might be best to get acquainted with her. After all, she's the one who'll be teaching your work crew how to build a dam.
Sayward watches the Sime carefully.
Starlin raises his eyebrows in disbelief.
Starlin: You boss, right?
Sayward: Of work crew.
Nick turns to Sayward.
Starlin nods.
Starlin: Well, me SWAT. You know SWAT?
Nick: This man is part of a worker's organization. He might be a valuable person to know.
Sayward: What is this Squat he keeps going on about?
Nick: His organization. Perhaps he'd be willing to explain it to you. I'm afraid I really must go, however.
Sayward: Okay. Thanks for the translation.
Nick hurries off, in pursuit of what seemed to be a Snake-shadow down the street.
Sayward turns back to the Sime.
Starlin stares Sayward right in the eyes.
Starlin: SWAT.
Starlin: Sime Workers All Together.
Starlin: We boss of bosses.
Sayward wonders if she understood that last.
Sayward: What?
Starlin: We see if you are good boss.
Sayward understood that.
Starlin: You better be as good as you say you are.
Sayward ~~angry~~
Starlin: Or you'll answer to us.
Sayward: No one tell me I not good!
Starlin: If you good, no problem.
Sayward: I answer to ones who ask me to come.
Starlin: We will see.
Sayward: We not see. You make trouble. You go!!
Starlin: Sime Workers All Together.
Starlin: I go, crews go, all together.
Sayward: I not care for your Squat.
Starlin: You better learn to speak Simelan.
Sayward: I learn what I must. You learn to be better person.
Starlin: I am the best person -- hero of the working Sime!
Starlin pounds his chest with pride.
Starlin: That's me!
Sayward thinks this Sime is an idiot.
Sayward: If you best we not get this dam made.
Starlin: None better.
Starlin: You show me if you good enough to boss the working Sime.
Sayward: Years I have head work crew. Workers work to make what we must. Never have to deal with thing like you.
Sayward ~~more angry~~
Starlin: You in-Territory now. Have Simes, not Gens who sleep and eat all day.
Sayward: You not help. You make trouble. You will go!
Starlin smiles gently.
Sayward has had all of this sort of nonsense she intends to take.
Sayward turns to go back to her tent.
Starlin shrugs.
Starlin of course has no intention of leaving.
Starlin has had bosses angry at him before; it's part of his job description.
Sayward has seen the first problem she has to face. She decides to let it ride until the higher-up arrive.
Go on to Episode #6: Interterritorial Relations
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