Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #76: The Masked Whittler (11/25/00)
Sayward is glad that the snow, sleet, freezing rain and other nasty weather have let up for the moment. Getting across the camp with her little surprise for Arat was a bit easier because of it.
Sayward had been working on it since the unfortunate meeting that ended up with Marty practically calling the man a sissy. Well, maybe this would make amends for that. And get her something else she wanted.
Sayward knocks once on the Controller's door. She still hasn't gotten that it isn't necessary. But she is used to not barging in on people.
Arat, who had been absorbed in some paperwork, flinches at the impact of Gen flesh and bone on the wood of the door.
Arat therefore is saved the trouble of flinching at the zlin that it is Sayward.
Sayward looks back to check on her little entourage of renSimes.
Arat's gaze flicks nervously about the room as he verifies that Nick, Beni or Jeniard has not magically appeared to prevent him from being assailed in an unseemly fashion.
Sayward finds it unusual to have to knock again but....
Arat gestures hastily to Devrin to open the door, before Sayward can complete the act.
Devrin does so.
Sayward starts as the door opens before her knuckles make contact.
Sayward: Thank you.
Sayward: May I come in, Controller?
Sayward always remembers her manners.
Arat zlins Sayward suspiciously, and the people behind her as well.
Arat would have been wary of Sayward anyway, but particularly when she is being so polite. The first few weeks he was on site, she ignored him utterly.
Sayward is rather pleased that her Simelan has improved to the point that she now feels comfortable conversing in the language. Although Cris still teases her when she gets something wrong.
Sayward: Thank you. I have something that you might find useful. [she motions to the renSimes behind her to bring in their rather large burden. There is a tarp over it but it has the configuration of a six foot long rectangle that is about two and a half feet wide and three feet high.]
Arat stands warily as a large number of renSimes begin to carry something huge and awkward into his office.
Arat can zlin that the item in question is a desk.
Arat: What...!
Sayward: I thought you might like a real one.
Sayward has spent her off hours indulging her cabinet maker's skills.
Sayward hadn't done any wood carving in years she was rather pleased to find that her skills had not left her with the gulf of years.
Arat is flabbergasted. Not that somebody would perceive he required a better desk (that much is obvious) but that Sayward would take it upon herself to make one and to bring it in unasked and unannounced.
Sayward had started her career in construction as a cabinet maker's apprentice. That was considered more seemly for a young woman that basic construction.
Arat: This is... [looks around at his current desk which is about 2 feet deep in papers and squarely in the way of the renSimes]
Arat: This is unexpected.
Sayward: Well I thought you could use it.
Arat watches the renSimes set the bulky object down in the only space available, rendering the office more or less equivalent to a sardine can.
Arat: I... I thank you.
Arat doesn't know what else he can do. He was rather caught by surprise.
Arat will have time later to look the gift horse in the mouth, or whatever.
Arat wonders where she got the desk. He hadn't been able to talk Salmonton's mayor out of his, and none in Palisades had been suitable.
Arat is not aware of Sayward's midnight hobbies of course.
Sayward takes the tarp off to reveal a highly polished red wood. The carvings on the legs and drawers are of twining vines slightly suggestive of tentacles.
Sayward: You are welcome. It's a hobby of mine. I just couldn't let all that beautiful wood go into the fires.
Sayward: Orvis, Baley, Rodric, Moes, thanks I think we can take it from here. [to her renSime porters]
Arat becomes even more baffled as he tries to guess how many hundreds of hours must have gone into this.
Arat thinks Sayward must have begun work on this weeks ago.
Sayward watches as the Simes in question squeeze out of the office.
Arat thinks that Sayward must have begun work on it before she began talking to Arat at all, a disturbing thought.
Arat hopes that this desk started its life with no particular destination in mind.
Sayward: Do you like it?
Sayward folds the tarp being careful not to kick up any dust in the process.
Arat: I... it is a most generous gift.
Arat's aesthetic sense is best not brought to bear when tact is called for, a major reason his quarters and office rarely contain anything but practical items.
Sayward: Just something to pass the time and keep my mind of things.
Arat: I understand.
Arat of course is never in this position. His hands are constantly full with the duties of Controller. When he takes time off, it is because someone else has plans for him!
Sayward: I don't sleep much.
Arat can zlin that.
Sayward: Working with Simes has been enjoyable. You folks don't sleep much either.
Arat: We don't require it. [points out]
Sayward: Why don't I help you get your stuff switched over to the new desk. If that's okay?
Arat frowns, but cannot think of any particular way to say no.
Arat: Very well.
Sayward inches her way around the new desk to get to the old one.
Arat picks up a pile of confidential papers before Sayward can get them, and puts them safely on a nearby shelf.
Sayward starts transferring papers from one desk to the other.
Sayward: I guess you will put things where you want them. When you get a chance.
Sayward: This one has no splinters. [smiles to herself. She would never have thought of it if Cris hadn't told her that Arat was picking up splinters off his make shift desk]
Sayward had sanded and polished for hours until Cris had declared it completely smooth. The sanding had helped her not think of the current illegal Gen problem.
Arat is not used to being spoken to so familiarly by someone who is nearly a stranger and who he has not had good relations with in the past.
Arat attempts good grace, however: he keeps his mouth shut and moves some more papers between the two desks.
Arat still has no idea how to feel about the gift, much less how to respond.
Arat wishes it was as simple as Mr. Birch ordering her to do it, but he knows that is not the case. There is something else going on with Sayward.
Sayward decides there is nothing to it but to do it. She has to ask.
Sayward: Arat, I want to ask you something. I am hoping that you will help me understand.
Sayward waits to see if her request has met with willingness or not. She does remember her last encounter with the man. He seems to have a hard time with kindness. Especially when it is expressed toward him.
Sayward comes from a background that requires mutual kindness and support as a way of life. Which support she sends home in the form of money still.
Arat appears to be beside himself with anxiety, to be perfectly honest.
Arat is not prone to hand wringing or tentacle waving, but his Farris features hide nothing when he is this distressed.
Arat however says, "Oh? What is that?"
Sayward: I'm trying to understand why you refused my offer of breakfast the other day. I have to admit it totally baffles me. [She is aware that he is distressed.]
Sayward wonders where Nick has gotten off to.
Sayward thinks probably trying to find something to eat.
Arat: I am not accustomed to... such familiarity.
Sayward: Oh, I offended you then?
Arat: Yes. [admits]
Sayward thinks for a moment. "Does the desk offend you?" She hadn't intended offense with either offer.
Arat hesitates.
Arat: No.
Arat: It is unexpected.
Sayward has become use to solving problems when she perceives them. This is the reason why she got the job she has. But she has to admit to herself that she has been more than a bit frustrated by the constant string of disasters that have come with this project.
Arat: I wonder as to your motives.
Arat: But I am not offended.
Sayward: Motives? ~~confusion~~
Arat: This was clearly the work of several months. We are nearly strangers to one another. I have no insight as to why you would make me such a gift.
Sayward: You needed a desk that didn't have splinters. I had the skills to give you that desk. That was my only motive.
Sayward: I'm a problem solver by nature. Where I grew up everybody pitches in when things have to get done. Just the way we are. [shrugs, truly not understanding his suspicions]
Arat thinks it is a bit more than that. Sayward is a construction site official with a tremendous job, equal to his own in difficulty and time consumption. Such a person doesn't dedicate many weeks of their free time for anything they are not passionate about. Her lack of strong interest or emotion in this matter is peculiar.
Sayward: I can see you don't believe me. [she can't zlin but it is written all over his face]
Sayward is from farmer stock. Equanimity is just second nature. After all crops grow or they don't but you have to go on. Getting upset is counter productive.
Sayward: Is there no one you trust, Arat? Does everyone have to want something from you? ~~ un pretentious openness ~~
Arat studies Sayward sharply.
Arat: In my experience, everybody does. However, trust has little to do with that.
Sayward: Well I don't want anything from you. I just wanted to solve a problem I saw. ~~truth~~
Arat notes that Sayward is unaware that she has just contradicted herself.
Arat is intimately familiar with people who want others to let them fix their problems; it is common enough in Donors. It is very very common with Arat's personal Donors.
Arat: Perhaps in the future, misunderstandings could be avoided if you were to ask first, rather than embarking upon... solutions... without my knowledge or consent.
Sayward: Can't help being what I am. ~~laughs at her own faults~~
Sayward: Where I come from gifts aren't given by prior appointment. ~~amused~~
Sayward: Neither is help.
Arat thinks it is a peculiar desire to give one's own notion of "help" without regard for whether it is welcome or appropriate.
Sayward: The funny thing is that since I have been here I have been "helped" by every Sime I have run across. I thought that was the way you people operated.
Sayward: But I think I understand what you mean. ~~dawning comprehension~~
Sayward: Would you prefer that I ask you or Nick?
Arat: Yes, that would be preferable. Particularly when the... help... intended is of a personal nature.
Sayward: ~~confusion again~~ Personal nature?
Sayward can't figure out any type of help that isn't really personal in one way of another.
Arat considers his choice of what, when, and where to eat for breakfast very personal indeed.
Arat considers his choice of office furniture to be an ordeal of picking between evils.
Arat draws his line for where he will accept help from Sayward somewhere between the two.
Arat: Yes.
Arat: I require privacy, and I will not allow my dignity to be compromised, nor my work to be interrupted.
Arat of course doesn't always have any choice in these matters, but it definitely affects his mood adversely when he's crossed.
Sayward: ~~more confused~~ The desk compromises your dignity?
Arat: No. It does not.
Arat: The desk will be acceptable. It is unexpected, but it does fill an unfilled requirement and I... appreciate... your care and effort in constructing it.
Arat: Thank you.
Sayward: You are very welcome. ~~still lacking comprehension~~
Sayward: What compromises your dignity?
Arat: The... incident of the breakfast is an example.
Arat will not even mention the sorts of questions Sayward was asking in Mr. Birch's back office. At least those were in a relatively private and presumably informal situation.
Arat: Please do not do that again.
Sayward is now wondering if this is a larity prejudice thing.
Sayward: You don't want to eat with me? Is it because I am Gen or because I am from Out Territory?
Sayward: ~~some concern at this last~~
Arat: I consider meals to be a private matter.
Arat: And certainly not a matter for the office, on an unscheduled basis.
Arat: It has nothing to do with you specifically.
Arat thinks, except that nobody but Sayward would have dared attempted what she did.
Sayward: Oh! ~~relief that there isn't some dark underlying hatred~~
Sayward: Well then when shall we do breakfast?
Sayward: Name the time and place and I will be there with all the fixins!
Sayward: ~~ quite happy about the prospect~~
Arat's expression clearly shows his alarm.
Arat: No, thank you.
Sayward see his reaction and wonders if maybe he really does hate Gens.
Arat's own personal idea of hell could be easily adapted to describe a pancake breakfast with all the fixins.
Sayward: Well, if breakfast isn't your thing, how about lunch? ~~trying to figure out what the real problem is~~
Arat: I consider meals to be a private matter.
Arat's real problem is his heredity and upbringing, so it may take a while to dig down that far.
Sayward: Well, I can't think of anywhere more private than your office except maybe your quarters. ~~quiet dismay~~
Arat: I apologize for any misunderstanding, but I do not eat with company. Ever.
Arat hopes that Sayward will get the point.
Sayward: ~~pity~~ How very lonely. Do you have some difficulty digesting your food? [has seen quite a few of his other difficulties]
Sayward decides that if he does have a physical problem that would explain his reluctance.
Arat: No.
Arat: Not unless there are secondary problems because of other difficulties.
Sayward: ~~confused again~~
Sayward: Does having people in the room cause complications?
Arat: No. It is simply my preference to eat in privacy. My strong preference.
Sayward: Oh! You're just antisocial. Well why didn't you say so? Had a peculiar aunt like that.
Sayward: ~~relieved that she now understands~~
Arat's food problems extend a good deal farther than simple antisocial behavior, but he is more than willing to leave it at that.
Arat: I am glad you see now.
Arat would not have been willing to explain any further.
Sayward: Yes I do. Boy you must have hated the party!
Sayward looks at the now empty makeshift desk.
Sayward: Do you have someone to help you move that out of here? [points at the makeshift desk]
Arat: Yes. I will have it removed.
Arat won't be involved of course; Arat and physical labor haven't had more than a passing acquaintance, and that on a third party basis.
Sayward: Well I've forced you to be social long enough. Enjoy the desk. Let me know if you have any problems with it.
Sayward feels quite happy that she has done some good. She also now is laying plans to make sure Arat doesn't starve poor Nick to death.
Sayward: Good day Controller Arat.
Arat: Good day. [politely, but clearly very relieved she is going]
Sayward has another woodworking project in mind. The Narosians will need bath tubs. She whistles a happy little tune. A woman's work is never done.
Go on to Episode #77: Prickly Plum
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