Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #66: With Rest Like This, Who Needs Excitement? (11/6/00)
Methylda settles back onto the edge of the bed, having finished replenishing the peppermint tea and other get-well-soon caregiving fripperies.
Methylda picks up the book again.
Methylda: Let's see... we were to the part where the Three Woodsmen saw the Householding from the edge of the woods.
Riyyh sighs.
Riyyh tries to feel grateful for how hard the other Narosians are working to make him feel better after his unfortunate run-in with Sgt. Edka and the other jack booted thug... er, nice soldier.
Riyyh would have liked to have seen how the project is coming for himself, though.
Riyyh has been trapped in his tent ever since shortly after the incident the previous day, as well-meaning and ever so nice about it Narosians have insisted that he rest up.
Riyyh has to admit he wasn't quite himself, and surely the nature of their conversation would have been cause for alarm.
Methylda: "So, the first Woodsmen said, 'I wonder if they are friendly there?'"
Methylda: "And the second Woodsman said, 'I wonder if they have anything to eat there?'"
Methylda: "And the third Woodsman said..."
Howe signals at the entrance to Riyyh's tent, having failed to locate him in either the main tent or around the bathhouse.
Howe glances aside at Meana.
Meana has had as much of all the legal double talk and mind numbing paper wrangling she can take.
Howe: Now, let me do the talking. It wouldn't do to say the wrong thing at this point.
Howe is hoping by this to turn the confrontation into a relaxed discussion, preferably with more of those delightful refreshments.
Meana: Just do your shenned job!
Methylda places a hand quickly on Riyyh's chest, not letting him get up.
Methylda: I'll handle this. [smiles]
Methylda is a no-nonsense, middle aged Narosian of the female renSime variety and the male renSime persuasion, who also happens to have a weakness for fire which was why Riyyh wanted her out of Capitol.
Methylda puts the book down and gets up to go to the front of the tent.
Methylda: Hello, may I help you?
Methylda smiles, displaying a grin she inherited from Riyyh's mother.
Howe: Nils Howe, attorney, here to see Sectuib Riyyh.
Methylda: Oh, I'm sorry, he can't see anyone right now. He's resting. ~~apologetically~~
Riyyh pushes himself up on his elbow to see and zlin who it is.
Howe: I am afraid I must insist; I have legal papers to serve. It shouldn't take long.
Meana wonders how she managed to find a lawyer who seems to care more for the enemy than his own client. "Typical male, of course!" she thinks.
Methylda: Well... OK, but [whispers] try not to upset him, OK?
Howe raises an eyebrow.
Howe: I always endeavor to keep things civilized.
Meana mutters threat and murder under her breath.
Methylda zlins Meana doubtfully.
Methylda: Can she stay outside? [hopefully]
Meana: No.
Methylda steps aside to let them in, then notices Riyyh starting to get up.
Methylda: Oh, no you don't.
Methylda darts back to the bed and presses him back in, tucking in the covers with the relentless efficiency of a mother of 5.
Howe steps into the tent, reaching under his cape for a thick wad of papers.
Howe: Sectuib Riyyh, I have here... dear me, are you unwell?
Riyyh smiles weakly, somewhat embarrassed.
Riyyh: Why yes, actually, I'm quite all right.
Methylda: He's just resting up after that nasty man shouted at him.
Methylda: Why, they ought to have a law.
Howe quickly looks around Riyyh's tent, trying to estimate the sort of legal fees he could afford to pay.
Methylda: Big musclebound buffoons tramping in here and shouting at Sectuib, waving their guns around....
Meana is starting to boil slowly. She couldn't care less if Riyyh dropped dead two seconds after she got the money he owed them.
Riyyh: Do offer them some tea, Methylda dear.
Howe: Guns?
Howe: Someone assaulted you with guns?
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Methylda: It's those Gen Army soldiers! I knew they were up to something. You can't trust them.
Howe: ~~ alarm ~~
Howe: The Gen Army is invading?
Methylda: I don't know what that Mr. Birch was thinking. He's from there, he ought to know what they are like!
Riyyh: Oh, my, no, nothing like that.
Riyyh wishes, not for the first time, that his half-sister wasn't quite so volatile.
Meana: Will you get on with it!
Riyyh wishes, not for the first time, that Meana wasn't quite so volatile.
Methylda: Sheesh. [shoots Meana a dirty look] It's coming.
Methylda goes to get them some tea.
Meana: Not you, him! [points at Howe with a tentacle]
Howe glances at Meana, clears his throat, then presents Riyyh with his carefully worded complaint.
Howe: I have here the papers detailing our suit, as revised in light of our initial meeting.
Howe: Our proposal regarding appropriate levels of child support for the twenty juveniles is outlined.
Howe hopes Meana won't be too disappointed; he told her that she was being unrealistic.
Meana would like nothing better than to have every male on the planet spitted and rotating over a slow fire.
Meana thinks Riyyh in particular.
Meana amends that to Riyyh first.
Howe: Upon further consideration, Miz Meana has opted to drop the charges of first-degree sexual assault, and substitute seventeen charges of breach of promise.
Riyyh: Breach of promise?
Riyyh: ~~surprised~~
Howe: To wit, the promise that you made when you were offered shelter, that you would not abuse hospitality by performing any deed that would reflect badly on the Alderberry Woman's Cooperative.
Riyyh: Er...
Riyyh: Why only seventeen?
Riyyh asks the obvious question.
Methylda turns back to them with two cups of steaming peppermint tea.
Methylda offers one to Meana, smiling not very sincerely but at least her nager is neutral.
Howe: Under the circumstances, my clients wish to settle this matter quickly and with a minimum of legal proceedings.
Howe: As they intend to share in any settlement reached, they prefer to only prosecute the most clear-cut cases.
Riyyh looks puzzled.
Howe thinks, the ones in which a child resulted.
Meana glances at Howe remembering her promise to be civil. "Thank you." but she isn't sincere or neutral.
Riyyh sits up in bed so he can pick up his own tea.
Howe reaches ~~ eagerly ~~ for the proffered beverage.
Riyyh is wearing a satin night gown and looks, as he often does when in bed, endearingly rumpled.
Howe brings it reverently to his nose, then sips carefully.
Howe: Exquisite!
Meana tries not to scream at the tea sipping pissant.
Riyyh wraps his fingers and tentacles around his tea cup and looks at Meana rather sympathetically. He can zlin how she's feeling, of course.
Riyyh doesn't like for people to be unhappy.
Riyyh: I am sorry. This must be most difficult for you.
Nick signals at Riyyh's tent, holding Nikki by the hand to keep her from just darting in.
Nick knows Riyyh's habits well enough to be pretty sure that Nikki's mother would not be at all pleased if her daughter saw some of the things that happen frequently in Riyyh's private quarters.
Methylda: Good grief.
Methylda can tell that Riyyh is not getting any rest already, and now there are more?
Methylda goes to see who it is.
Methylda: Oh! Nick, hi.
Nick: Hello, Methylda.
Methylda: I guess it's OK for you to come in. He's resting, though. Or trying to.
Nikki squirms her hand free and bursts into the the tent.
Nick drops Nikki's hand in order to greet his... would it be aunt, or great-aunt?
Methylda hugs Nick.
Nick hugs back; he really does get starved for affection, working with Farris channels.
Methylda has no idea that all heck is about to break loose.
Nikki bounds across the floor and jumps onto Riyyh's bed.
Nikki: Daddy!
Nikki hugs her daddy tight and kisses his check.
Riyyh: ~~surprise~~
Meana stares at her daughter hugging a man! What in shen does she think she is doing?!
Meana: Nikki!!
Howe looks at Meana, and Nikki, and Riyyh, and thinks, "Oh, shen!"
Nikki stops stark still at the sound of her mother's voice.
Nikki starts to tremble.
Meana: Get off that bed now!!
Meana has dropped the tea cup with her untouched tea still in it and is now on her feet ready to grab the child.
Howe: Meana, please.
Meana is within inches of strangling someone but there are too many targets in the room.
Meana: [to Nikki through gritted teeth] Get off that bed!
Methylda unhugs Nick and whirls to face that homicidal nager.
Riyyh says the only appropriate thing that comes to his mind:
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Nikki: [whimpers] Daddy.
Meana: Try it and I'll tear your laterals out by the roots!
Riyyh is not yet in danger of being strangled by Meana, but the terrified Nikki may do the job first.
Nick pushes past Methylda and enters the tent, projecting ~~ CALM ~~
Methylda promptly becomes extremely mellow as Nick's Farris-grade nager reduces her willpower to the consistency of overcooked noodles.
Methylda: Groovy.
Howe smiles broadly and sips at his tea.
Meana is suddenly pressed backward by something she has never encountered before. Her anger slowly gives way.
Nick sighs in relief as immediate mayhem appears to have been averted.
Nick looks to Riyyh for direction--and an explanation.
Riyyh attempts to gently pry Nikki's arms about a half inch looser from his neck, while smiling apologetically at Nick.
Nikki isn't going anywhere.
Riyyh: Nick, this is Meana, Nikki's mother, and her lawyer Nils Howe.
Riyyh: This is Nick Reckage. He's Controller Arat Farris' Donor... and my son.
Riyyh inadvertently gives fuel to Howe's financial calculations.
Nick thinks it's just as well that Riyyh left out the bit about grandfatherhood.
Howe gives Nick a broad smile and bows deeply.
Howe: It's an honor to meet you, Sosu Reckage.
Riyyh strokes Nikki's back soothingly, almost without realizing he's doing it.
Methylda picks up the tea cup and saucer Meana dropped. Fortunately, they landed on the rug instead of on each other.
Nikki: [murmurs softly] I love you daddy.
Meana looks up and sees another vile male, more of the product of that, that... Riyyh. Does he have no shame?
Nick isn't used to such instant respect.
Riyyh smoothes back his hair with his free hand.
Nick: Er, likewise, I'm sure.
Nick tries easing up on his projection.
Riyyh: Do get Nick some tea, would you darling? [to Methylda, with gratitude for how kind and helpful she has been to him today].
Methylda: Hmmmm.
Methylda doesn't think that Riyyh is getting much rest, but somehow it doesn't seem as urgent as it did before Nick came.
Methylda: OK.
Howe: We're just here to drop off a bit of a lawsuit.
Howe: Against Sectuib Riyyh, you know.
Riyyh looks exceedingly innocent at that, since he has thus far managed to avoid being handed the papers.
Howe smiles in a friendly fashion.
Riyyh gets out of quite a few lawsuits by never getting served.
Nick: Oh.
Nick looks at Riyyh.
Meana spies her errant daughter still wrapped around the object of her anger. But the anger is a bit out of reach at the moment.
Nick: I hope this wasn't too inconvenient a time for us to call, but I'd heard that you weren't feeling well.
Riyyh: Oh, my. Well, you see....
Methylda: He's supposed to be resting. [points out, at least as much for Riyyh's benefit as Nick's]
Methylda brings Nick a cup of tea.
Nick: The peppermint! How nice; thank you.
Riyyh: That Sgt. Edka came here yesterday, and I'm afraid there was unpleasantness.
Nick takes the tea and moves closer to Riyyh, lightening his hold on the ambient a bit more.
Nick: More unpleasantness?
Riyyh: Now I seem to be confined to bed, at least until everybody is certain I am no longer upset.
Riyyh sounds part amused, part fond, part what-can-I-do-but-cooperate?
Meana can't take her eyes off Nikki. The utter betrayal! How could a daughter of hers even touch that creature. (She seems to have forgotten how Nikki came about in the first place. Quite a bit of touching was involved.)
Riyyh strokes Nikki's hair.
Nick takes the hint and drops the subject until they can discuss the matter without witnesses.
Nikki: [softly so her mother won't hear] My daddy. I love my daddy. Ask her now please daddy.
Nick turns to Meana with a smile 75% as charming as Meana's, reinforced with a nager much stronger.
Nick: You're Nikki's mother? I must say I've been enjoying getting to know my half-sister.
Riyyh: Shhhh [softly, to the top of Nikki's head]
Meana looks at the Donor as if he just threw up on her. She would be more obvious if she could the ambient being what it is.
Riyyh hugs her soothingly.
Meana: [grunts something that might be acknowledgement]
Nick had hoped for a more positive response; unrealistically, perhaps.
Meana's attention returns to Nikki and Riyyh.
Meana: Nikki come here!
Riyyh lets her go.
Riyyh: Go to your mother, Nikki. I will speak to her.
Howe looks speculatively from Meana to Nick, wondering if his client would show interest in a suit against Nick--after all, he came in with the kid, and he obviously has been seeing her without her mother's permission.
Riyyh knows that Meana will not be reasonable without feeling like she has some control of the situation.
Nikki jumps at the sound of her mother's voice. She doesn't want to go.
Nikki: [with sorrow] Okay, daddy. I love you. [and climbs down off the bed]
Nikki turns and stares at her mother.
Meana: Nikki!
Nikki manages not to jump but hurries over to her mother.
Nick finds that Meana reminds him uncomfortably of his grandmother Prunida, and his sympathy for Nikki grows.
Riyyh sighs.
Meana can't quite get the impetus to scream at the child but wants to.
Riyyh has spent quite some time considering how he might go about asking Meana for her only child.
Nikki stands just between her mother and Nick. Closer to Nick actually.
Riyyh tends to consider how he might go about carrying out difficult requests for others, because it is a lot easier than promising to do so.
Howe might be very relaxed, but he understands the impending disaster intellectually.
Riyyh: Nick... please let her think. I wish to ask her something she must answer with her heart.
Nick looks at Riyyh, then lightens up on his projection.
Nick remains alert and ready to reimpose his control if it is required, however.
Meana feels her emotions return to clearer focus.
Riyyh looks at Meana, sort of wistfully and earnestly and (of course) handsomely. He just tends to look really good in frilly satin things.
Riyyh: Meana, I know this is difficult. I want you to know that I wish to cooperate in every way. I want you to be happy.
Nick makes sure that Meana can zlin Riyyh's sincerity.
Nick has no doubts whatsoever that Riyyh is sincere: he always wants everyone to be happy.
Riyyh had asked Nick to tone down his projection because he doesn't want it to be said that Nick influenced Meana in any way.
Meana hears an echo 'I want you to be happy'. Oh yes she has heard this before from the same source.
Riyyh looks searchingly into Meana's eyes (as well as zlinning) in the hopes of sensing some connection with her.
Meana tries to shake the deja vu.
Nick watches Meana for signs that Riyyh's charm is working.
Meana's anger over the whole situation rises steadily.
Meana: So you want me to be happy do you?
Riyyh reflexively becomes more apologetic and submissive looking in response to the anger.
Riyyh: Yes... I do. [sincerely]
Meana shakes herself and glances at Nick and of course Nikki whom she notices is backing closer to the Donor.
Meana: So what do you have to ask me?
Nick has also noticed Nikki's approach, and hopes to avoid too many awkward questions about his involvement with her.
Riyyh had been about to ask Meana whether she wanted him to care for Nikki for a while, but her paranoid glance and Nikki's edging toward Nick makes it seem too risky a question just yet.
Riyyh bites his lip.
Riyyh: Nikki, go to your mother. [urges, gently]
Nikki looks back at her father and then at her scowling mother. She freezes.
Nikki tries to make herself do what her daddy asks. She bursts into tears.
Meana: Nikki! Stop this foolishness and come here!
Meana has now acquired a target for her rising temper.
Meana: Get over here!!
Nick curbs the urge the quell Meana's temper, hoping that Nikki won't suffer too much because of it.
Howe watches the tableau with interest, trying to determine what the child will do.
Nikki is trembling visibly as she tries to do as her mother says. She manages a single step.
Meana has had enough of the whole situation. She grabs Nikki and stands her in front of her.
Riyyh looks up at Meana, clearly unhappy about what he has just watched.
Meana: What is the matter with you?! [she shakes Nikki once forcefully]
Nikki 's head snaps back then forward. She bits her tongue and screams at the sudden pain.
Meana: Shut-up!!
Riyyh zlins Meana, in an attempt to determine just what she feels towards the child at this moment. Is this anger the anger of protectiveness? Of defensiveness?
Meana looks over Nikki's head at Riyyh.
Meana: This is your fault! You corrupted her!! You corrupted our community!! You, you....
Meana looks down at the living breathing evidence of her failure. A hatred so intense it blasts the ambient flares in her heart.
Riyyh blanches as he zlins the hatred.
Nick shakes his head in disgust, and steps closer to Meana.
Meana shoves Nikki back towards Riyyh.
Riyyh reflexively catches the girl.
Nikki wraps her arms around her father and cries softly.
Riyyh hugs Nikki automatically.
Nick: Whatever Riyyh has done, hurting Nikki won't undo it.
Meana ignores the Donor and turns on Howe.
Meana: Do what we paid you for!!
Howe blanches at this demand, but puts down his teacup and squares his shoulders.
Howe: Sectuib Riyyh, the papers.
Howe walks over and holds the papers out to Riyyh.
Riyyh just looks at Howe, with an expression and nager that wonders how any zlinning Sime, or red blooded human being, could think of serving papers at a moment like this.
Howe is a lawyer, and therefore his status as a zlinning Sime, or even a red-blooded human being, is perhaps in doubt.
Methylda steps forward, and snatches the papers from Howe's hand.
Howe has, in fact, been referred to on more than one occasion as a "cold-blooded money-grubbing shark".
Methylda: How could you do that to your own daughter? [to Meana]
Methylda: Don't you love your own flesh and blood?
Meana: [looks at said flesh and blood] That was is a mistake. I should have gotten rid of her before she was born. Would have too if I had caught it soon enough.
Meana remembers fighting for her own life through the last months of her pregnancy.
Howe winces at this plain speaking, which can only harm their case.
Howe had, after all, based his suit on Meana's desire as the mother of Riyyh's child, to give that child all the comforts she deserved.
Methylda's horror and revulsion for Meana's attitude is plain to see.
Meana couldn't care less what that male loving piece of dirt thinks of her.
Nick had thought that he had it worse than Nikki as a child, because Meana isn't quite as sadistic, but at least Prunida wanted him for something.
Riyyh: Surely the others do not feel the same as you do.
Riyyh: [hoping such a thing could not be possible]
Meana: [snarls] Most of the fools want to keep the little bastards!
Riyyh is relieved to hear that.
Riyyh would not have wanted to contemplate an entire commune of mothers who truly have hatred for their children.
Meana has now achieved a full head of steam. Foaming at the mouth is not far off now.
Meana: [to Riyyh] Oh, yes you will pay! You will pay!!
Meana: [to Howe] Is she supposed to have those shenned papers?!!!
Howe: Er....
Howe: ~~ dithering ~~
Methylda hopes Meana gets caught in an avalanche on the way home, saving the other commune members a lot of hassle.
Methylda: Hand them to him yourself, you coward.
Howe really dislikes clients who are this volatile.
Methylda pushes the papers at Meana.
Meana backhands Methylda.
Nick steps between Meana and his... well, aunt is simplest.
Nick: That is enough.
Nick reimposes his ~~ CALM ~~
Methylda lets the papers flutter to the floor, where they were cast by the blow.
Nick: Throwing a temper tantrum will gain you nothing.
Meana loses her focus in midswing as she was about to slap Nick as well.
Howe scuttles around, gathering up the papers with little regard for their proper order.
Riyyh continues to hold Nikki, looking down instead of at the confrontation.
Nikki has stopped crying but has not released her death grip on her father.
Nick looks at Meana cautiously, and cautiously lightens his control enough to allow her to think, if not to commit assault.
Methylda looks disgruntled, begins to pick up Riyyh's, Nick's, and Howe's tea cups and saucers, which followed Meana's cup's precedent and adorn the now rather squishy rug.
Methylda won't even look at Meana, telling herself she won't speak to her again.
Howe straightens the papers, which are still in the wrong order.
Riyyh: Oh, dear. [to himself, although Nikki can probably hear and Nick and Methylda can probably imagine]
Riyyh looks up at Meana, appearing pale and shaken.
Riyyh: Do you want us to keep her, then?
Riyyh: We would take her in, love her as one of our own.
Meana: Keep her, sell her, I don't care!!
Howe looks down at his brief, which will now have to be rewritten yet again.
Riyyh: Perhaps for a time, then. [cautiously]
Riyyh: To see how it works out.
Howe barely manages not to give a loud groan, thanks to Nick's calming effect.
Meana looks at Nick.
Meana: Do what you want. I don't care.
Riyyh: If you change your mind, you are always welcome here.
Riyyh knows that Meana can't be making her decision on her own, not with Nick's influence there, and not after such violent emotions.
Howe wonders where he's going to get paper, if he keeps having to redesign the entire legal brief twice a week.
Meana walks out and never even looks back.
Riyyh does hope that Meana will not return until and unless she has rediscovered some love for her child.
Howe looks at Riyyh, and Nikki, then turns and scampers after Meana.
Nikki watches her mother leave.
Methylda glares after their retreating backs.
Methylda: Mad dogs and weasels. Every one of them.
Nikki looks up at her father.
Nikki: Can I stay with you daddy?
Riyyh: It looks as if you may.
Riyyh sounds exhausted in the wake of the second angry confrontation in as many days.
Nikki hugs him even tighter.
Nikki: I love you daddy. My daddy.
Nick moves closer, offering ~~ comfort ~~
Nick: Should I send for Ali?
Riyyh: Please do. [gratefully]
Nick can tell that Riyyh requires rest now, whatever his condition was when they entered.
Methylda: Sectuib is supposed to be resting. ~~meaningfully~~
Methylda: Look at him, he's shaking like a leaf.
Methylda: [this is not true, this is just something mothers and grandmothers say]
Riyyh hopes that not every day on the Dam site will be this dramatic.
Nikki, content at last, drifts off to sleep in her father's arms.
Go on to Episode #67: Ghost Army
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