Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #68: Bunny Huddle (11/11/00)
Nick tramps through six inches of snow on his way to the Narosian encampment, squinting against the swirling flakes that continue to fall.
Nick isn't looking forward to the cold of winter, but has to admit that snow is more aesthetic than mud, at least when fresh, and easier to clean up when tracked inside, as well.
Nick notes a plume of white coming from the boiler room of the still-uncompleted bath house.
Nick can't resist stopping by to see how the construction is going: Jeniard seems willing to let Riyyh use their shower indefinitely, but Nick had hoped that this risky practice could be limited in time to prevent Arat from finding out about it.
Riyyh is still technically not supposed to be up and running around, as the advent of actual winter and the prospect of being trapped here for its duration has done nothing for his nerves.
Riyyh however is only making "the rounds" to impart good will and pride in a job well done as is his sectuibly duty, and will return obediently when finished.
Riyyh: [or so he promised]
Nick pokes his head into the boiler room.
Riyyh is carrying Nikki, who insisted upon being brought along, and insisted upon being carried.
Nikki hugs her daddy tight. It is wonderful to have someone to hug.
Riyyh is being a good sport about it, although Nikki has reached that age where she is far too heavy to be carried around that much, and still too young to understand that kids are heavy.
Nikki: Love you daddy.
Nick notes with relief that the boiler seems to be functioning properly, and with amusement that somebody has brought in a large barrel as an interim bathtub until the main baths can be completed.
Nick notes that this could take a while, as the bath part of the site is a partially laid foundation.
Nick concludes that Riyyh will be dropping by for showers for a while longer.
Nick somehow can't see Riyyh bathing in a barrel, when even a shower is available.
Nick walks around the pit and heads for the residential section of the Narosian encampment.
Riyyh spots Nick.
Riyyh: Nick!
Nick: Riyyh!
Riyyh is glad to see him, for he has some pressing business with him that has been set aside again and again.
Nick sees Riyyh's burden.
Nick: And Nikki! How are you?
Nikki: Nicky! [holds out her arms to be taken by Nick]
Riyyh hands Nikki over to Nick with considerable relief.
Riyyh can augment to help with the weight, but there's nothing like cold weather and suddenly gaining a few dozen pounds to remind one that age has its way with joints.
Nikki hugs her big brother.
Nick hugs Nikki back.
Nick is unacquainted with the leech-like clinging properties of small children, or he might not have set the precedent.
Riyyh: I've been hoping to get a chance to talk to you. Do you have a minute?
Riyyh knows Nick has a minute; the Narosian camp is so out of the way relative to the main site that Nick would have no reason to come here except to visit.
Nikki kisses Nick once on the cheek. He isn't as warm as daddy but he is nice too.
Nick squeezes Nikki, then makes as if to set her down.
Nick: Why, yes, I do.
Nikki: No!
Nikki: Please?
Nikki has no intention of getting her pretty new clothes wet and messy with snow.
Riyyh: How wonderful. Let us go somewhere warm, then.
Riyyh would like a cup of tea, although well-meaning Narosians have temporarily forbidden him the kinds with caffeine.
Nick gives in and keeps carrying Nikki, for the moment.
Nick falls into step at Riyyh's side.
Nikki remembers all too well what happens when snow gets on her.
Nick: I'm glad to see that you're up and about again.
Riyyh: Well, I did sort of have to talk my way into it. [admits sheepishly]
Riyyh: Everybody has been so kind, and well protective if you must know.
Nikki: Thank you, Nicky! [rewards her brother with another kiss]
Nick actually finds it a bit odd that Riyyh would require days of bed rest after an incident that left him with only minor injuries.
Nick looks down at Nikki.
Nick: You know, it's been years since anyone called me "Nicky".
Nikki giggles. She likes the similarity of their names.
Nikki has been practicing her manners and is very good. Most of the time.
Riyyh: Did you know, you were both named after your auntie Nicola? 1
Riyyh uses the word "auntie" because Nicola was "auntie" to everybody.
Riyyh even called her "auntie", although his actual relation to her was both closer and more complicated.
Nikki grins.
Nikki: Really? Can I meet her?
Nikki hasn't yet figured out that it should be May I not Can I.
Riyyh: I'm afraid she's passed away. [kindly]
Riyyh: But she would have loved to have seen you both.
Riyyh leaves grammar corrections to school teachers and other bad guys, preferring to maintain a saintly role in children's eyes.
Nikki looks puzzled.
Nikki: Passed away?
Nick decides to leave that definition to Riyyh, who is more experienced in the parent business.
Riyyh: She was much older than I. [explains]
Riyyh: She's no longer with us, you see.
Nikki: Where is she?
Nikki knows that there are a lot of places she hasn't been yet.
Nick shifts Nikki to the other hip, being unable to augment.
Riyyh zlins Nikki's total lack of comprehension. Naros doesn't shelter its children from the basic facts of life, but he has often dealt with changeover cases from OT whose parents did.
Riyyh smiles sympathetically at Nikki.
Riyyh: She died, Nikki. She was very old.
Nikki: Oh.
Nikki understands dead. Her dog died.
Nikki remembers how sad she was when it happened.
Nikki: I'm sorry she died. It makes you sad, doesn't it daddy?
Riyyh: It did, but I know that she had a very happy life, and had done all of the things she wanted to do.
Riyyh thinks that that is part of why Naros' genetics is in the situation it's in.
Nikki reaches out to her daddy. He needs a big hug.
Riyyh smiles.
Nikki: I love you daddy. Please don't be sad.
Riyyh: I'm not sad anymore, Nikki, or at least not very. It happened a long time ago.
Riyyh: But thank you.
Nick is discovering the physics principal that allows cats and small children to triple their weight when being held.
Riyyh lets her hug him, then deftly slips out of her grasp without either pulling away too quickly or allowing Nick to hand her back.
Riyyh does have a good deal of experience at that sort of thing.
Nick finds that the imbalance caused by Nikki's lean towards Riyyh almost causes him to drop her.
Nikki: Uh-oh!
Nikki remembers that Gens aren't as strong as Simes.
Nikki decides to get down.
Nikki: Can I get down Nicky?
Nick: Of course you can.
Nikki is not happy about it, but she doesn't want Nick hurt.
Nikki: Thank you.
Nick sets Nikki down with some relief, and offers her a hand in compensation.
Nikki smile up at her brother and takes the hand.
Nick turns his attention back to Riyyh.
Nikki grabs her daddy's hand.
Riyyh pauses in front of his tent to wipe off his feet. There is a mat there for the purpose, that has to be cleaned itself at least twice daily to maintain its usefulness.
Nick follows his... well, "progenitor" is suitably vague... his progenitor's example.
Nikki wipes her feet as well. There really isn't that much on them.
Riyyh: Nick, I've been meaning to talk to you about the funding for the Gen camp.
Riyyh enters the tent and removes his heavy outdoor cloak.
Nikki loves having such wonderful surroundings to live in. Although anything would have been an improvement over the bare colorlessness of the commune.
Riyyh temporarily lets go of Nikki's hand so he can poke up the small wood stove.
Riyyh has learned there is no such thing as permanently letting go of Nikki's hand.
Riyyh understands that she will require a lot of reassurance in the first days after suffering the change of guardians.
Nick: The funding?
Nick had perhaps naively assumed that it was being taken care of.
Riyyh: Yes. You see, you are crucial to our obtaining that funding.
Nick has never in charge of the sorts of funds required to set up a winter camp for thousands of people.
Nick: I am?
Riyyh: It is an extremely expensive proposition to feed and house two or even three thousand Gens for an entire winter.
Nick: Well, yes, it would be.
Riyyh: There is the cost of the tents, the fences and gates, and other equipment, as well as the stocks of food, firewood, soap, and so forth. Simply staggering, really.
Nick: By the time the trails are passable again, much of that should be paid for, at least if the Gens' selyn payments are confiscated for the purpose.
Nikki takes off her cloak and folds it neatly placing it on the floor of the wardrobe in a corner that has been left for her to use.
Nikki loves her new clothes and takes very good care of them.
Riyyh: Yes.
Riyyh fills the water pot and sets it on the stove again.
Riyyh turns to Nick.
Nick is aware that confiscating donation payments makes the camp resemble the Pens of thirty years before even more than the fences.
Riyyh: I would appreciate it if you could approach Arat for us.
Riyyh: You're really in the best position to do so, you know.
Nick: Arat? I don't know if the Tecton has funds set aside for that sort of thing, but it might.
Riyyh had actually asked Jeniard first, but the normally pliable fellow had drawn the line there.
Riyyh thinks, in fact, that the look of horror and denial on Jeniard's face when presented with the request was something one only sees once a decade or so.
Nick is only vaguely aware of Arat's financial condition, as it seldom comes up in casual conversation.
Riyyh: We had been hoping he could be persuaded to contribute from his personal fortune, you see.
Nick blinks.
Riyyh: Why, it would all be paid back by spring, as you said.
Nick: You want him to pay for the whole camp himself?
Riyyh: And his interests in Snake Reservoir corridor shipping would be most useful in having the supplies arrive on time...
Nick's mind, and therefore his nager ~~ boggles ~~
Riyyh: Well, yes.
Riyyh wrings his hands in response to the boggling.
Riyyh: Naros does not have the wherewithal, not at this time.
Riyyh: And it is much less risky to obtain all required supplies and materials now, rather than attempting to supplement them during the winter months.
Nikki takes her daddy's hand and pulls him toward the bed. Everyone seems to want him to lie down so she does too.
Nikki also would like to sit in his lap. It is always nice and warm in her daddy's lap.
Riyyh: Just a moment, Nikki, I must serve our guest.
Nikki: Yes, daddy.
Nikki is relatively easy to get along with. But she is still learning her etiquette.
Riyyh gathers some cookies, honey (for the tea) and a pair of croissants left over from breakfast onto a tray, and brings them over to the bed. There is now a chair beside the bed too, because of the necessity of guarding Riyyh to make sure he doesn't get too excited. It's really quite amusing.
Riyyh: Please, sit. [to Nick]
Nick sits in the chair.
Riyyh: There should be tea shortly.
Riyyh places the tray on the bed near Nick, then sits down beside it with Nikki.
Nikki starts to get into her dad's lap then thinks better of it. He can't drink his tea with her there.
Nikki decides to snuggle up next to him instead. Almost as nice.
Nick: As for Arat financing the camp--I don't know if even Arat has that kind of money lying around.
Nick is perhaps underestimating both Arat's net worth, and his credit rating.
Riyyh smiles kindly at Nick's naivete.
Riyyh: Arat does have considerable investments, after nearly two decades of service to the Tecton.
Nick's definition of "considerable investments" is basically three month's pay--at his pre-Donor wages.
Nick has largely ignored the salary accumulating in his own bank account, as looking after Arat and Snake keeps him too busy to look at bank statements.
Nick: Still, that's a lot of money.
Nick: And I have to wonder how some of the Tecton authorities would respond.
Riyyh: Surely they could not object to an act of philanthropy, particularly when the need is so desperate.
Riyyh uses the Gen word for need, which implies more desperation than "requirement" without implying selyn need.
Nick: There are some who are very uneasy about having an Audnes in a position of authority in this Territory, and if he seems to be financing a private Pen, they'll be convinced that the Audnes rebellion has returned.
Riyyh is puzzled.
Riyyh: The Audnes were not penkeepers.
Riyyh: And surely nobody could believe Arat capable of a rebellion.
Nick: No one who knows him could think that--but very few people know him at all well.
Riyyh can see that convincing Nick will not be easy, if indeed it will be possible at all.
Riyyh is starting to fear he will have to approach Arat himself. He wouldn't want to do that if there is any way to avoid it.
Riyyh is familiar enough with the Farris mindset to know that it would actually be easier to get around the argument of Arat's future welfare with Arat himself than with Nick and Jeniard.
Nick: There are rumors that the Audnes rebellion never really died, although I haven't seen anything to confirm that.
Nick: Still, I think Neptude and Seruffin don't trust that Arat wouldn't support such an effort.
Nick: Unless there was some way to hide whose money is being used for the project?
Riyyh: Oh, dear. That sort of thing only leads to trouble later.
Nikki doesn't understand any of what the two men in her life are talking about. She is aware that Nick seems to be saying no to their father.
Riyyh: It's always best to be above-board.
Nick: There must be some way to separate Arat from the camp finances, so he can't be accused of empire building.
Riyyh: I suppose if he were to donate the money, rather than loan it?
Nick winces.
Riyyh seems rather dubious about that idea himself.
Nick: I don't think anyone could afford to do that.
Riyyh: Or perhaps he could apply for some compensation from one of the two governments.
Nick: Would they really volunteer to repay him?
Nikki has been carefully nibbling on a cookie from the tray. She doesn't want to make crumbs.
Nick hasn't noticed that the Tecton falls over itself to reimburse philanthropists.
Nikki thinks on what is being said. Haji Arat has something that daddy wants. Daddy wants Nicky to ask Haji Arat for it. Nicky doesn't think Haji Arat will let daddy have it. Nikki smiles.
Nikki is rather proud of herself for understanding.
Nikki: Daddy [looks up at her wonderful father] would Haji Arat let you have the -- funds if you promise to give them back as soon as you get done with it?
Nick: It's a little more complicated than that, Nikki.
Nick: Hajene Arat could get into bad trouble if people didn't understand why he was doing it.
Nikki: Wouldn't it be to be nice to daddy?
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh manages to restrain himself from saying "not everybody is nice all the time, darling." But only barely.
Nikki has no idea what is being asked for but she knows about sharing.
Nikki had to share with 19 brothers and sisters.
Nikki: He could share.
Riyyh: He could, but he doesn't have to. You see, we have to talk him into it.
Nikki: Oh.
Nikki: Daddy, could I ask him for you?
Nick: Umm, Nikki, he might not like that.
Nikki remembers how sad Haji Arat was last time she saw him.
Nick is, in fact, very sure that Arat would not like a small child of seven to be privy to his financial dealings.
Nikki: Okay.
Nick: In fact, I'm afraid that he's not going to like the idea, no matter who asks him.
Riyyh smiles, pleased by Nikki's eagerness to help. She will make a fine Narosian.
Riyyh: I am certain you are the best for the job, Nick. [sincerely]
Riyyh: If anyone can do it, you can.
Nick grimaces.
Nikki wishes she could get Haji Arat to give her daddy what he wants. Grown-ups are hard to understand.
Riyyh means, besides himself. Riyyh is, as has been mentioned before, somewhat reluctant to tackle Arat for anything less than an emergency.
Nick is, however, well aware that Riyyh is right.
Nick: I suppose you're right.
Nick: Although I can't promise that he'll go for it.
Nick: I think he was assuming that you'd found the funds already, when you proposed the camp in the first place.
Nikki can see that Nicky is not happy either.
Nick: One thing is sure: we're out of time for finding another funding source.
Riyyh: I'm afraid so.
Riyyh is afraid they're out of time for him to make his escape from the area too. If he left now, the Narosian efforts would be chaos.
Nikki hugs her daddy. He looks so unhappy.
Riyyh hugs Nikki in return.
Notes:
1) If this is true, there is probably a very interesting story behind it, considering Alderberry Women's Commune does not appear to regularly have contact with Naros. [return]
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