Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #73: Flush (11/19/00)
Nick tramps through the light snow towards the dining hall, relieved of Arat duty for a brief half hour.
Nick doesn't think of it that way, of course; he's been well brainwashed by first Snake, than Arat.
Nick is looking forward to lunch, however.
Emmet sits on a bench at the end of a long plank table, a bowl of bean soup steaming in front of him.
Franses sits in a relatively quiet corner of the dining hall, with Du Wie the financial advisor from the firm of Wie, Cheatum and Howe.
Nick notes as he enters the dining hall and stamps the snow off his boots, that it is rather full just at the moment.
Emmet hasn't removed his coat, as he has just returned from assisting a channel on duty among the work crews at the tunnel entrance.
Nick collects a steaming bowl of vegetable soup, then looks around for a place to sit.
Wie: So you see Sosu Packard we can take your already considerable worth and triple it in just two years.
Emmet is hoping to get himself fully warmed during his lunch break, because then he will have to go out into the cold again.
Franses looks very intently at the Gen sitting with him. The woman has been talking nearly nonstop for twenty minutes. He probably would have left long ago if she wasn't absolutely gorgeous.
Emmet finds that he has gotten soft during his years of Tecton service, and the cold wind seems to go right through his jacket.
Franses has no financial sense whatsoever. Like most Donors he just banks his money as the Tecton supplies just about everything he requires.
Nick notes with a bit of amusement that Franses's Mule status hasn't lessened his attractiveness to the fair sex.
Nick wanders over to Emmet with his steaming bowl.
Nick: Mind if I join you?
Wie: So you do see the wisdom of placing your money with our firm. [bats her long auburn eyelashes at him]
Edgar looks up, startled out of his fixation on the hot food.
Emmet realizes Sosu Nick is actually asking to join him.
Emmet: Uh, certainly, Sosu Nick. Sit down!
Emmet stumbles to his feet to clear room on the bench.
Nick: Thank you.
Emmet: I am honored.
Nick squeezes into the cleared spot, not quite sure why Emmet should be honored at having to move over for a former field hand.
Nick really ought to become more familiar with his Tecton status, but frankly, he's way too busy to bother.
Emmet tries to think of something to say, but he is always clumsy making social conversation.
Nick also has a pair of persnickety Farris channels to keep him humble.
Wie: It really would be to your advantage. Think of all the things you could do when you retire. [doesn't realize that First Order Donors or Mules for that matter don't retire short of death]
Franses: Well... [may be a party boy at heart but talking money with a beautiful woman is not exactly what he had in mind].
Nick applies himself to his lunch.
Wie realizes that Franses is not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Wie: Well, why don't you think about it for a bit. Are there any other Donor Firsts that you think may be interested?
Franses spies a way out. He might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but he can see an opportunity to escape when it presents itself.
Emmet relies on the old conversational stand-by.
Emmet: Cold today, isn't it?
Nick looks up, swallowing politely.
Franses: Uh, yeah. [looks around for likely vict-- er Donors and sees both Nick and Emmet]
Nick: Yes, it is. Although I understand it'll get much worse before it gets better..
Franses: Come on. [gets up and heads for the intended vict-- er, prey-- oh never mind]
Nick: You're from around here, aren't you?
Emmet: Yes. I grew up in the valley a few miles north of here.
Emmet: And you're right, it will get much colder.
Wie sees that they are headed for another table with several people at it. Smiles her best lovely vacuum head smile. This is good for getting men to underestimate her and not feel threatened at least at first.
Emmet is grateful at having his weak conversational sally acknowledged.
Nick: Well, it won't be the first time I've spent a winter largely out of doors.
Franses squeezes up to the table with Wie in tow.
Nick feels nostalgic for the days when he thought Snake was trustworthy and honorable.
Emmet's eyebrows raise.
Emmet: Really?
Emmet has found a Donor's sheltered existence far preferable to being an impoverished child in this wilderness.
Nick: Yes. I wasn't always a Tecton Donor, you know.
Nick prefers not to go into more details on his former rogue status than necessary.
Emmet: You weren't?
Nick: No. I pledged less than a year ago, actually.
Nick: It is more interesting work than picking crops.
Emmet remembers hearing some gossip about this, though he usually doesn't pay attention to rumors.
Emmet: Why, uh, yes, it is.
Emmet thinks it is also more interesting work than excavating archeological sites with a garden spade.
Franses: Hello, Nick, Emmet. [finally coming up to their table]
Nick looks up casually.
Nick: Oh, hi, Franses.
Emmet looks up to see the Donor Franses accompanied by a stunning female Gen.
Wie smiles and bats her eyes sweetly at the fresh meat.
Emmet's eyes narrow in distaste; he prefers women who are more reserved.
Nick wonders briefly why Franses's girlfriend is trying to flirt with him.
Nick is not a poacher, and is quite aware of the colossal messes that occur when indiscriminate flirting is carried to its logical conclusion.
Franses: Nick, Emmet this is N'vet Du Wie. She is a Financial Advisor.
Emmet's eyebrows raise. He had not been aware that there was anyone qualified to give Financial Advice in the region around Palisades. Times must be changing.
Emmet: Good day, Sosu Frances, N'vet Du Wie.
Wie: Sosu Nick, Sosu Emmet, pleased to meet you both.
Nick is fundamentally Narosian (at least 75%), so he makes the effort to be polite.
Nick: Likewise, I'm sure. What exactly does a financial advisor do?
Wie: May I sit down?
Nick obligingly scoots a bit farther down the bench.
Emmet makes room for the newcomers.
Wie plants her quite well formed rump between Nick and Emmet.
Franses: Looks a bit tight. I have to be going anyway. Good day all.
Nick's concentration on his food wavers as 75% of it focuses on that form.
Nick gapes after Franses, trying to reconcile this behavior with his assumptions about the relationship between Mule and advisor.
Emmet wonders why Franses has led this flashy woman to their table and then left her.
Wie: Oh, this is nice and warm. I haven't been warm since I came up here.
Nick wishes Wie hadn't mentioned warmth in just that context.
Jeniard enters the dining hall, zlinning about for his Donor who this month is a mule from Eugie.
Jeniard doesn't zlin her so decides to have a cup of tea while he's here.
Emmet: Where are you from, N'vet?
Wie: Originally from Randon Common an old Gen Farm in Gulf.
Wie: Have you ever been to Gulf Territory?
Nick looks around for something to distract him from rumps, and warmth, and spots Jeniard.
Emmet: No, I've never been assigned there. You're a long way from home.
Nick waves.
Wie: My work requires that I travel a lot.
Emmet smiles faintly.
Emmet: So does mine.
Wie: Where are you from?
Emmet catches sight of Nick waving, and the object of the wave.
Jeniard waves back, then since he was just going to join Lorettia at her break, figures he can just take his break with Nick and company instead.
Wie wiggles a bit to get more comfortable.
Wie realizes this is not going to happen even with her own considerable natural padding. The bench is just too hard.
Jeniard is not always able to locate his Donor on breaks, as she tends to try a different place each time. Some mule thing, Jeniard supposes.
Jeniard moves in Nick's direction carrying a cup of tea and a Sime lunch.
Emmet's nager warms at the sight of Jeniard, a thoroughly pleasant First to work with, if a bit eccentric.
Jeniard smiles at Emmet as he sits down across from him, Nick, and Wie.
Emmet smiles back at the channel.
Emmet: [proudly, to Wie] I'm a Tecton Donor. I go where they send me.
Wie: I know that feeling. I go where they send me too. Even though I am a partner in the firm. Nature of the beast I guess.
Jeniard wonders who Wie is and what she is doing in the Tecton dining hall.
Emmet: Good day, Hajene Jeniard.
Jeniard: Hi Emmet, Nick.
Jeniard: Who's this?
Nick: Er, Ni'vet Du Wie is a "financial advisor".
Nick is still unclear as to what that might be.
Emmet: And this is Hajene Jeniard.
Wie: Pleased to meet you also Hajene Jeniard.
Jeniard looks alert. Arat would have his guts for garters if he found out Jeniard let shysters fleece his Donors in the Tecton mess hall.
Jeniard: Oh, nice to meet you.
Wie smiles her best friendly smile.
Jeniard decides he'd better keep an eye on Wie, and maybe ask Emmet and Nick a few questions later just to be on the safe side.
Jeniard always sticks to the safe side where his guts and Arat's garters are concerned.
Jeniard smiles back.
Jeniard: Don't let me interrupt anything.
Jeniard starts eating his lunch.
Wie: I was just getting to know these two gentlemen better.
Wie: I would like to know both of you much better.
Emmet frowns. He has heard those phrases before, and not in the financial advice business either.
Emmet: What brings you to this cold country from sunny Gulf?
Nick debates whether he should have a chat with Franses about his new girlfriend; he'd hate to have the Donor's emotional stability ruined by a love affair gone sour.
Wie: I came up with my partner N'vet Howe. He had a matter to take up with one of the Narosians. I am just meeting the people in the camp and seeing if I can assist them in their planning for the future.
Jeniard looks up despite himself, at the mention of the Narosians. He has heard about the lawsuit.
Wie: I truly enjoy helping people.
Nick straightens alertly.
Nick: Howe? Wasn't he the one bringing that paternity suit against Sectuib Riyyh?
Emmet is bothered to see Jeniard distracted from his meal.
Wie: Why, yes.
Jeniard actually has a tendency to perk up his ears at any mention of Riyyh, but....
Nick follows Emmet's gaze, then aims a very subtle ~~ Gen hunger ~~ in Jeniard's direction.
Emmet has paid no attention to gossip about the Narosians; it is no concern of his.
Wie: I would very much like to assist you gentlemen in planning for your futures as well.
Wie: It's never too early to plan for the future.
Emmet, who is of course unable to appreciate Nick's subtle field work, focuses his attention on his soup in order to encourage Jeniard.
Jeniard doesn't think a "financial advisor" who hangs out with a lawyer like N. Howe (of R. Shysters N. Howe, formerly of Dewey, Cheatum & Howe) is anybody who should be allowed the ears of Tecton Donors. 1
Nick looks at Wie's dress-for-seduction outfit and thinks he understands.
Jeniard starts eating again, without taking his eyes off Wie.
Emmet agrees that planning for the future is important, as anyone who has survived a Snake River winter should know.
Nick: As to that, I rather like the element of uncertainty.
Nick hopes this will be understood as, "I'm not husband material, lady".
Wie: There are always plenty of opportunities for investment and growth. It can be just as exciting as uncertainty.
Wie: I was telling my partner the other day that this project is a hot bed of opportunity for growth.
Nick: Your partner?
Nick is now wondering whether Franses is Wie's only boyfriend.
Wie: N'Vet Howe.
Nick: Ah, I see.
Nick can't blame Wie for wanting something better, having met Howe.
Wie: I operate independently of the firm most of the time. But we do interact.
Jeniard wonders if Wie has "interacted" with the recipient of Howe's lawsuit yet.
Jeniard shakes his head, trying to clear it. What made him start thinking about that?
Jeniard glances oddly at Nick, then realizes it has something to do with him.
Wie: We just happened to be coming here at the same time.
Wie: Gentlemen, please eat. I didn't mean to stop you.
Wie spent enough time tying to get her sister to eat after changeover she doesn't want to interfere.
Jeniard drinks his tea, wondering if Nick has the hots for Wie. Unfortunately, Nick overrates Jeniard significantly so whatever Jeniard's picking up it is below the level of conscious perception.
Emmet: I generally like to avoid excitement where money is concerned.
Jeniard has a couple more bites of his... well, Sime lunch is really the most charitable (and comfortingly unspecific) name for it.
Wie: Well I do agree that speculating can be nerve wracking but solid investments also exist here.
Wie: There is going to be growth in this area over the next few years that will make a lot of people rich as Zeor.
Nick gets rather nervous about this talk of "solid investments".
Wie really would have said Keon but these folks might not appreciate that.
Emmet thinks this sounds like the kind of thing his father would say.
Edgar enters the dining hall and peers about uncertainly.
Wie: I've been doing my job well for a number of years now. This place is a gold mine. The future is very bright indeed.
Nick: I hope that that will eventually resign the local residents to the changes the Dam project is bringing.
Emmet cringes at the familiar phrase "gold mine."
Wie: Just think of what will have to be put in place to make this project run over the next five years. The provider of those services will do very well.
Wie: People who don't have to eke out a living tend to be very happy in my experience.
Wie: This area is going to become a trade magnet.
Edgar catches sight of his filthy-rich-but-ungrateful son sitting at a table with several Tecton big-wigs and a very attractive woman.
Emmet thinks she talks a good story, and some of it even makes sense, but words are cheap.
Wie: What I want to do is sit down with you individually and lay everything on the table. If it makes sense then we can come up with an investment strategy that makes you comfortable in more ways than one.
Jeniard wonders if Nick had ever gotten Arat's lecture on investing.
Nick: Investment strategy?
Nick: ~~ blank look ~~
Edgar notes that there is a spare seat across from Emmet at the table. He doesn't think his son will want to make a scene in front of his associates.
Wie is aware to the unsavory reputation that the lawyers in her firm have. She is trying to get enough of a client base to leave that bunch of reprobates.
Jeniard zlins Nick's reaction and realizes there may be even more of a problem here than he had feared.
Edgar walks boldly into the dining hall and seats himself beside Jeniard and across from Emmet.
Nick is still under the illusion that he is evading a would-be matrimonial snare.
Wie: Yes. You should never tie up all your money in anything. A strategy will allow you to make money and stay liquid at the same time.
Edgar: Hello, son! Good day, Hajene Jeniard.
Edgar nods amiably at everyone seated at the table that he doesn't know.
Jeniard looks at Edgar in undisguised horror.
Nick wonders if the "investment strategy" Wie is promoting is a new porstan bar.
Nick doesn't have any other definition for the term "liquid assets".
Edgar is a weathered, middle-aged renSime with calloused hands and eyes that sparkle with a manic light.
Jeniard has, of course, been treated to several scenes of Edgar raving about salvation and the Ancients in the course of his duties as Emmet's channel, and besides he knows Emmet doesn't like his father.
Edgar can zlin that Jeniard doesn't like him; he waits to see if the channel will go so far as to have him evicted.
Jeniard of course will let Emmet make that decision.
Nick notes Jeniard's distress, and its cause, and tries a ~~ soothing calm ~~, for all the good that will do in such a crowded area.
Emmet looks at his father sourly.
Emmet: What do you want now?
Edgar: Just to talk to you. I can see you're busy with your friends here. I'll wait.
Edgar hunkers down at the table as if he means to stay.
Nick thinks that this situation is getting more and more risky.
Nick hastens with his lunch.
Emmet considers the humiliation involved in calling security to remove Edgar versus the indignity of the things he might say if allowed to remain.
Jeniard looks at Emmet questioningly.
Jeniard is more than capable of handling Edgar nagerically if necessary, not that it'd be his first choice of entertainment.
Nick knows that a more courageous person would stick around to help with the fallout, but he is 75% rabbit.
Emmet shrugs.
Edgar has correctly gauged Emmet's desire for propriety would outweigh his personal dislike; Edgar has often wondered if this kid is really his son after all.
Wie: [eyes the new comer] Gentlemen I can see that you have other business to discuss. May I call on you later?
Nick: Er, sure. But Arat will be expecting me, so I'd better hurry back.
Nick suits action to words, wolfing down the last of his stew.
Nick then slips off of the bench, and gets going while the going is good.
Jeniard decides to mention Wie, her association with Howe, and her conversation with Emmet and Nick to Arat.
Edgar: Oh, please don't leave on account of me!
Edgar has noticed he seems to have that effect on people; he has never understood it.
Jeniard is sorely tempted to do so too, but he would never do that to Emmet.
Jeniard's heart has always been greater than his own sense of comfort, or he never could have gotten so badly entangled with Arat.
Jeniard shakes his head to himself, and picks at the remains of his lunch with a fork.
Edgar gauges how low Emmet's soup has gotten, and decides he better make the most of his window of opportunity.
Edgar: Now, Emmet, I just stopped by because I require a little money to underwrite my new project. It's a tremendous opportunity -- a gold mine!
Notes:
1) Are the Howes in R. Shysters N. Howe and Wie, Cheatum & Howe the same guy? Are the Cheatum & Howe in Wie, Cheatum & Howe the same as those in Dewey, Cheatum & Howe? What an incestuous little business. [return]
Go on to Episode #74: In the Name of Research
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