Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #36: Put your Left Foot Out (9/8/00)
Sgt. Edka is standing at the base of a cliff planning the next day's blasting order.
Sgt. Edka notices a particularly nasty knob and is concerned about a crack that might indicate some crumbling.
Mr. Birch strides along the catwalk toward the section where Sgt. Edka is standing.
Sgt. Edka scribbles in a notebook.
Elte follows on Mr. Birch's heels.
Elte is a tall, lean Gen of 27 natal years. He has dark, curly hair and sparkling blue eyes.
Elte wears pseudo-military outdoor gear and carries a notebook. A camera dangles from his belt pack.
Elte gazes on the rushing river and the tall cliffs and his heart thrills with excitement.
Sgt. Edka, on the other hand, is hoping to make the other day as un-thrilling and routine as possible. That is, of course, his job.
Sgt. Edka has been concerned with getting maximum use from each blast as he is operating short-handed.
Sgt. Edka spares a glance at a section farther downstream where his teams are placing the current day's charges, then raises his eyes to check for the presence of the promised guards.
Mr. Birch spots Sgt. Edka where he stands planning tomorrow's operations.
Mr. Birch: There's Sgt. Edka, our demolitions expert. Perhaps you'd like to meet him first?
Elte: Sgt. Edka? The man who masterminded the Rushmore Reconstruction?
Mr. Birch: You know of him?
Elte: Yes, we've met before! What a pleasure to meet again here on the frontier!
Sgt. Edka thinks he hears a familiar and unloved voice behind him.
Sgt. Edka turns slowly, hoping against hope that it isn't so.
Sgt. Edka's outdoor tan turns about three shades lighter as he catches sight of the approaching pair.
Mr. Birch: Sargeant! We have a visitor--
Elte raises his melodious baritone. "Sargeant Boomer! How wonderful to see you again!"
Sgt. Edka is a soldier through and through, who thinks nothing of jumping off a cliff laden with high explosives.
Sgt. Edka manages not to flinch too visibly at the hated nickname.
Sgt. Edka: Elte.
Sgt. Edka makes a mental note to order all climbing equipment and explosives put under double guard for the duration of Elte's visit.
Sgt. Edka figures this precaution is too little, too late.
Elte's face is illuminated by a wide, boyish grin that reveals a mouthful of perfect teeth.
Mr. Birch: Elte here is going to do a series of columns on our work here.
Elte: That's right. Man against the power of the raging river! The challenge of our intrepid citizens coming to the aid of our neighbors across the border! You know, that kind of thing.
Sgt Edka is very much afraid that he does know.
Sgt. Edka casts a surreptitious glance at Mr. Birch, but the signs of managerial determination are all too clear.
Sgt. Edka says the only thing he can say, given his orders.
Sgt. Edka: Welcome to the future site of the new Snake River Dam. I hope your visit here is safe and productive.
Sgt. Edka is not terribly optimistic about the first wish, however.
Mr. Birch: I hope you will give Elte your full co-operation.
Elte: Hey, Boomer, why so formal? (to Mr Birch) We're old buddies, but he's kind of, you know, dignified.
Elte punches Sgt. Edka's shoulder.
Elte: Hey, I'm getting the grand tour here. But come find me after hours. We can share some memories and a few nips. You'll recall the quality of my supplies?
Sgt. Edka does. He also recalls the monumental hangover which ensued.
Sgt. Edka: Perhaps when my duties are finished. Right now, however, I must plan out tomorrow's blasts.
Elte's eyes light up.
Sgt. Edka recognizes his mistake too late to recall the words.
Elte: How much TNT will be used in tomorrow's detonation?
Elte whips open his notebook.
Sgt. Edka closes his with a decisive snap.
Sgt. Edka: The least amount that will get the job done. We must conserve the public's resources, after all.
Elte: When will the blasting take place?
Sgt. Edka: My men will start placing charges when the morning light hits the cliff face around mid-morning. There will be occasional blasts from then until sundown.
Elte: Marvellous! I'll be out here with the camera then. The morning sun will backlight the clouds of smoke so beautifully.
Sgt. Edka indulges in a brief daydream of Elte attempting to photograph the blast from the middle of the river without the benefit of a boat.
Mr. Birch: Come along, Elte. We've lots of ground to cover.
Mr. Birch strides forward.
Elte follows Mr. Birch but turns his head and shouts a farewell to Boomer: "My camp's in the main compound along with the other guys. I'll expect to see you later."
Sgt. Edka winces and turns back to his work.
see note 1
Mr. Birch leads Elte towards Arat's office, sometimes referred to as the "Sime Shack".
Elte has been running around for hours but has not lost any of his energy or enthusiasm.
Mr. Birch: And here's the office of the Tecton Controller, Arat Farris.
Mr. Birch: These Simes are, well... Simes. Their ways are a little unusual. One of the special things I'd like you to help with is giving the Controller a few tips on how to communicate with the Gen on the street. There have been some inter-Territorial misunderstandings.
Elte: Don't worry, I'll polish him up so you won't recognize him.
Mr. Birch smiles as the pair approach the door.
Nick is busy massaging the kinks out of the tentacles on Arat's right arm.
Jeniard has temporarily given up his position on Arat's left arm, in order to fetch the remains of their lunch to see if he can coax the now much more relaxed (relatively speaking) Arat into a bite or two.
Mr. Birch realizes he never did find out the about Sime door-opening etiquette.
Mr. Birch shouts, "Hey, anybody there?"
Arat nods to Jeniard, who goes to open the door.
Jeniard opens the door with one hand while holding a plate with a bunch of grapes lying on it in the other.
Mr. Birch: Good afternoon, Hajene Jeniard.
Mr. Birch frowns at the plate of grapes and wonders where that came from.
Mr. Birch: Is the Controller available?
Jeniard: Come in.
Nick wonders for a moment if his current actions are acceptable among out-Territory Gens, then shrugs and continues his massage.
Jeniard wonders this himself, as his own perspective on the subject has shifted dramatically since he came to Sime Territory nearly twenty years ago.
Nick's experience Out-Territory is more recent, but much less comprehensive. Nick also is much less concerned with Mr. Birch's views of etiquette than with Arat's well-being.
Arat greets Mr. Birch and the unknown Gen with a nod. "Mr. Birch."
Arat doesn't have OT etiquette on his mind at the moment. He assumes Mr. Birch is here to inquire, yet again, as to whether there has been a miraculous change in the selyn supply situation.
Elte's eyes widen as he takes in the view of the Simes in their crisp Tecton uniforms gathered in the rude hut.
Jeniard crosses back over to Arat's left side, carrying the plate of grapes.
Elte notices the dark-haired Sime is enthroned on a huge chair that looks remarkably similar to the prize possession of the Mayor of Salmonton. Beside the chair sits a handsome Gen caressing the Sime's arm tenderly.
Jeniard sets down the plate of grapes, takes his seat, and resumes his massage of Arat's other arm.
Arat would normally not particularly want to be getting a massage in front of company, however 1) he has since arriving at the Snake River Dam Project become accustomed to taking what little comfort he can when he can obtain it, and 2) Jeniard and Nick between them have him pretty mellow for Arat.
Mr. Birch decides not to comment on the scene before him.
Mr. Birch says, "Controller Arat. Here's the man I wanted you to meet: Elte Andover, public relations genius. Elte, this is Controller Arat. I'd also like you to meet his Donor, Sosu Nick Reckage, and Assistant Controller Jeniard.
Nick looks up, nods politely at Elte, and goes back to his task.
Arat zlins Elte.
Nick obligingly adjusts his nager to minimize the interference.
Elte stares with fascination at the aristocratic Farris features and the gaunt circles under his eyes.
Arat thinks that there is something odd about how Elte zlins, and takes the time to jot down a few mental notes.
Arat comes duoconscious again after about 10 seconds, to find Elte and Mr. Birch staring at him.
Arat nods an acknowledgement of the introduction.
Elte's eyes shift to take in Arat's attendants, Nick and Jeniard.
Nick is being very attentive indeed, as Arat has had a strenuous morning.
Jeniard wishes they would go away so he could ply Arat with the grapes.
Jeniard is, of course, aware of the realities of the construction site, and resigns himself to Arat having gotten out of lunch once again.
Elte's eyes focus on the image of the Gen stroking the Sime's arm.
Nick is only 75% as accomplished at handholding as his sire/grandsire, but that is still more than the average Donor.
Mr. Birch: Do you read the New Washington Press? Are you familiar with Elte's columns?
Arat: Yes. I have read it occasion.
Arat finds Elte's style intensely irritating, and only reads his column when pressed to do so by friends who know it contains something of vital interest.
Jeniard, the usual friend doing the pressing, actually likes Elte's optimistic style and his resentment of Elte's and Mr. Birch's untimely appearance vanishes.
Mr. Birch: He is phenomenally popular out-Territory. He can help us make New Washington understand the challenges we face here. We are privileged to have his assistance.
Nick takes this as manager-speak that they are stuck with the man, and hopes he is a bit more fact-oriented than Morca.
Nick hopes that Elte will be more manageable than Morca proved.
Elte: I'm honored to meet you all. This is my first trip over the border and I must say, I find your Territory absolutely fascinating. I'm eager to learn everything there is to know about the important work you're doing here.
Nick wonders if learning "don't interrupt the Controller's rest break" counts as part of "everything".
Jeniard says, "I'm a great fan of yours. I loved your piece about the "Explosion of Interest in the Rushmore Monument".
Jeniard hadn't encouraged Arat to read that one, though.
Elte beams with pleasure. "Wow, I didn't realize many Simes were reading my columns. Are you particularly interested in cross-border affairs?"
Jeniard says, "well, I was born in Gen Territory, but the New Washington Times is pretty much required reading in the major Sime Centers."
Elte grins even more widely.
Nick decides it would be better not to admit he'd never knowingly read a column written by Elte.
Arat has nothing to say about Elte or his columns.
Elte: Well, it's all about progress. Climbing the mountain, reaching the summit, surpassing the glory of our ancestors!
Jeniard thinks that the "hoke factor" is his favorite thing about the column.
Nick wonders if he should discreetly warn Elte to avoid references to rock climbing among the workers, as this has been rather a sore point lately.
Elte: That's the truth I seek to share with my public.
Mr. Birch: Elte will want to spend some time with you, observing your daily routine, and then he may have some questions. I hope you'll do your best to accommodate him.
Arat: Of course, there are certain situations in which an observer would not be appropriate; however, we can arrange for him to spend a suitable amount of time observing channels and Donors at work.
Nick allows his ~~approval~~ of Arat's diplomacy to show.
Nick's definition of suitable occasions for observation may not precisely match Elte's or Arat's.
Elte: That will be acceptable as a start. I'll want a deep understanding of what you're doing here, the problems you face. I may want to follow specific individuals throughout their day for extended periods to gain the type of immersion experience I require.
Nick wonders what sort of deeper understanding is required to comprehend incipient disaster.
Arat: I see.
Arat has no intention of allowing any OT Gen, famous or not, to observe for example a delicate lifesaving operation.
Elte notes the lack of enthusiasm with his proposal. His pleasure dims for the briefest moment, but he has encountered resistance before. He is confident that his famous charm will prove effective on Simes as it always has on Gens.
Mr. Birch frowns. "Remember, Elte's work can significantly smooth our way with the politicians who oversee this project."
Arat has already agreed to allow Elte to spend some time observing Tecton personnel at work, so says nothing.
Elte: To get the clearest picture of the challenges you face here, where would you suggest I start?
Arat knows the literal answer to that question, but a response becomes more problematic when one considers the condition the truth is in by the time it reaches Elte's public.
Arat considers what sort of setting would both satisfy Elte's curiosity and minimize the damage and/or havoc he could create by writing about it.
Arat: I agree that spending some time with a typical channel and Donor team would be the correct place to start. That would provide an overview of what it is we do and how we go about it.
Arat thinks, as well as prevent him from seeing anything too titillating or alarming.
Nick mentally goes through the list of Seconds and Thirds working on the tamer and more routine assignments, wondering which ones Arat will pick to nursemaid this visitor. Nick does not allow his ruminations to interrupt his work on Arat's arm and tentacles, though.
Jeniard has seen Arat field such requests many times over the years, and his response to this one is pretty typical.
Mr. Birch: Good enough. Now, on the matter of your public image--I hope you will use Elte as a resource. There is no consultant with a better sense of how to impress the Gen officials.
Nick shoots a apprehensive glance at Elte. Nick had hoped that Mr. Birch had given up on his objections to Arat's public image after the remedial measures already taken. Nick would hate to think those extra high doses of antihistamines were in vain.
Arat looks at Mr. Birch in some amazement. He may not read Elte's column, but he is well familiar with the man's reputation, and the last thing he would want is for his public image to be subjected to the same fun house mirror effect as the topics covered in said column.
Jeniard is not surprised by Arat's reaction. For as long as he's known him, Arat has preferred straightforward news reporting to sensationalism, and for good reason.
Arat's initial surprise matures quickly into genuine offense.
Arat extracts his arms from Nick and Jeniard's now smothering grasps.
Arat: I will keep your recommendation in mind. [stiffly]
Nick thinks that this is not a promising beginning.
Elte sees Arat shake off his attendants and stiffen into immobility. He notes the expression of outrage flicker across his face and freeze there. The icy discipline in his voice raises the hairs on Elte's arms.
Mr. Birch is surprised by Arat's abrupt movement. He realizes the man is angry. He wonders why; they had already discussed this.
Nick settles into a supportive mode. He casts a regretful look at the plate of grapes. It is obvious that nothing can be done for Arat until their visitors can be evicted.
Jeniard thinks, "oh, great." He prepares to forget about his Elte fandom if Arat becomes his enemy then and there.
Elte: I'm just here to help. Many eminent public figures in New Washington have consulted with me to their advantage. Please don't reject the idea out of hand.
Elte hopes he can jolly the Controller into a more positive view. He would really love the chance to coach an important Sime.
Nick is pleased to see that Elte is capable of at least minimal diplomacy. However, Nick fears that may not be enough.
Arat nods. "Very well. If time and circumstances permit."
Arat's distaste for the idea is not particularly difficult to detect.
Elte figures he's got his foot in the door, and that's all he's ever needed.
Notes:
1) Some time passes between these two scenes, during which Elte gets a tour of various parts of the construction site and meets many people. [return]
Go on to Episode #37: Impulse Hi
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