Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #81: Dirty Look (12/4/00)
Arat makes his way through a deep new snowfall, zlinning through the flakes still falling.
Arat hasn't yet decided whether the snow is nostalgic, or a nuisance, or both.
Arat reaches his office, which has a snowdrift against the front door, and pauses to locate his keys.
Arat's bodyguards (Thureal and Gashnom this time) stand there looking dignified, even though their feet are getting cold.
Arat locates the correct key, gets the door unlocked, and pushes inside.
Arat ignores the bodyguards as they check the place out to make sure no assassins -- or worse yet, government agents -- have broken in over the brief hours of Arat's sleep.
Plum strides up the path to the Tecton compound, peering nervously at the Simes on all sides of him.
Plum has managed to shake his escort, an obnoxious in-Territory-raised heathen.
Arat shakes the snow off, removes his cloak and hangs it, then takes his seat.
Arat glares at a boy who comes to set the fire in the fireplace, a good two minutes late.
Plum is determined to confront the loathsome Demon Controller in his den, and make his bones rattle in his boots.
Plum knows that most men would feel terrified alone in-Territory, but he has Right on his side.
Nick has finished his breakfast and is making his way toward the Sime Shack to start his day's work.
Arat continues to glare until the kid is frantically hurrying, and then turns to his desk and the large piles of unfinished paperwork upon it.
Plum also has a letter from the Synod burning a hole in his shirt pocket, and he figures that is also good for something.
Nick is technically a half hour early, but Arat likes his Donor's company, and it's just as convenient to have his second cup of tea in the office.
Nick's dedication is not, of course, altered in any way by the far superior collection of Narosian blends available in Arat's office.
Plum catches sight of the rough building that is his destination.
Nick whistles as he blinks snowflakes off of his eyelashes.
Nick's eyelashes, of course, are only 75% as long and shapely as Riyyh's.
Plum glares at the Simes he passes and is pleased to see them cringe and back away from him.
Nick spots a Gen up ahead, who is evidently a bit upset, judging from the reactions of the Simes in the area.
Nick lengthens his stride to catch up, and tries to ~~ calm ~~ the ambient.
Plum notices a bundled up figure moving up behind him rather than backing away.
Nick: Hello! Is something wrong?
Plum spins around to confront the stalker with a furious stare.
Nick notes the style of clothing, and repeats himself in English.
Plum stares at the person fixedly. Since he does not quail before the sight of Righteousness, Plum concludes this must be a Gen.
Plum: Of course. Everything is wrong in this miserable place.
Plum: Who are you?
Nick: My name's Nick Reckage. And you're right, there's much that could be improved here.
Nick has a tendency to omit his Tecton title when he can get away with it.
Plum: Nick. Are you a person?
Plum doesn't think a demon would cover his arms like that, even in the cold.
Nick blinks in surprise at this odd inquiry.
Nick: Last time I checked, I was.
Nick: Although in this weather, I'll soon be an icicle.
Plum: That building -- is that the Demon Controller's lair?
Nick: Demon Controller?
Plum: ~~impatiently~~ That's what I said.
Plum's toes are starting to get frost-bitten, in spite of his thick socks and leather boots.
Nick: This is Arat Farris's office, if that's what you mean. But he only controls the selyn supply, not demons.
Plum: Well, it's the same thing, isn't it?
Nick: Not really. But it's freezing out here. Do you have an appointment with Arat?
Nick starts edging towards the door of the office.
Plum: I must speak with him.
Nick: And you are?
Nick pauses with one hand on the doorknob.
Plum knows he is imperiling his immortal soul through these conversations. He has had nightmares ever since encountering Gideon again.
Plum: Minister Plum of the Salmonton Church of the Pure Life.
Plum: You dare to enter there?
Nick looks at the building, such as it is.
Nick: It's a lot better built than it seems, truly. It only looks like it's going to collapse any second.
Plum: Well, permit me to accompany you then.
Nick: Certainly.
Nick opens the door and enters first, so he can steady the ambient.
Plum wouldn't like to admit to any lack of Faith, but he really wouldn't mind having another Gen around.
Nick: Arat, Minister Plum from Salmonton is here to speak to you.
Arat has been pretending he did not zlin them standing on the doorstep. However, he now has all paperwork related to the Narosian proposal in front of him.
Arat gestures for Nick to show him in.
Plum wonders at the casual tone of Nick's introduction.
Plum enters the room boldly.
Nick: You can hang your coat on the pegs, there.
Nick proceeds to demonstrate.
Arat's cinder boy finishes his work, having created a small but growing blaze that even a distracted Controller or Donor should be able to tend properly from now on. He departs.
Nick is, of course, wearing his Establishment-day sweater, covering up his uniform shirt.
Arat is wearing his Elte-designed robes, although the veil is unhooked because the heavy snowfall has temporarily rid the area of dust.
Arat may be delicate, but a little snow and water vapor won't kill him.
Plum stares at the gaunt Sime sitting behind the huge desk. His robes convey a chilling aura of authority, as if he were no mere demon but Death himself.
Nick ushers Plum towards the fire.
Nick: Here, come and get warm. Would you care for some tea?
Arat nods acknowledgement to Plum, then continues to study him visually and nagerically as Nick tries to make him comfortable.
Plum is horrified to recognize the chair Arat is sitting in as the special property of the Mayor of Salmonton.
Plum: Where did you get that chair!
Arat refocuses on Plum as he realizes Plum has just made a demand. It takes him a moment to register what was asked of him.
Arat: I bought it from the Mayor of Salmonton.
Arat thinks he paid through the nose for it, and with a Farris nose that is saying something.
Plum: You... bought....
Plum: Impossible!
Arat has no comment on that. After all, he knows it is not impossible; he did it.
Nick measures Lilac Passion into two cups, and a plainer (but exquisite) blend into a third, and adds steaming water.
Plum waits for an explanation, but none is forthcoming.
Nick sets the plain blend in front of Arat, then pushes one of the Lilac Passions towards Plum.
Nick: Here, this will warm you.
Nick takes his own cup over to his chair beside Arat's.
Plum: That's a marvel of Gen craftsmanship! An antique!
Arat zlins Plum's incredulity and does not know what to make of it.
Arat: It is a perfectly serviceable chair, and not unpleasant in appearance. [agrees politely]
Plum: You don't have any right to park your skeleton shanks in that chair!
Arat is not sure he heard that correctly.
Arat can, however, zlin Plum's attitude very clearly.
Arat: It was a legitimate business transaction. [stolidly]
Arat signals Nick to block for him. He has zlinned all the detail he requires, and the rest of the conversation can be zlinned in generalities. Preferably muffled generalities.
Arat: Now, if there is something you wanted to discuss...?
Nick obediently muffles Plum's nager.
Plum evaluates Arat's expression. He would like to physically remove the Sime from the chair, but realizes that would probably require a contingent of the Border Patrol.
Plum was very distressed to learn that the military on the site were recently disarmed.
Nick sips contentedly at his tea, feeling himself thaw more with every swallow.
Plum reminds himself to do Heaven's work one day at a time.
Arat's expression is annoyed and somewhat haughty. His features would be aristocratic on either side of the border and only add to the effect.
Thureal and Gashnom watch with great interest, able to interpret Plum's body language without much difficulty.
Thureal, sadly, can also zlin what Plum is feeling. Fortunately he has some training in withstanding that sort of thing.
Plum looks about for his Gen ally, and realizes that the man behaves like the Demon's servant.
Plum stares with disgust at the steaming cup of poisonous brew Nick left for him.
Nick is now warm enough to unbutton his sweater, revealing a clean (if slightly rumpled due to primitive laundry facilities) Tecton uniform shirt underneath.
Plum recognizes the Tecton colors and identifies Nick as another soul-less heathen like the escort he ditched.
Nick is, however, much better looking than said escort, thanks to his unfortunate genetic heritage.
Plum's lips turn downward in a dour curve as he realizes he is alone.
Plum: I have the answer from the Synod.
Plum: We will provide funds to provide food, shelter and medical care for those Gens who can be saved.
Nick is ~~ heartened ~~ by the news.
Nick is, perhaps, using a different definition of "those who can be saved" than the Synod.
Plum means Gens whose souls can be saved. He isn't concerned all that much about bodies.
Plum: But we have some additional revisions to the proposal.
Arat listens carefully.
Plum: We wash our hands of any Gen who commits to change of citizenship.
Plum: Your IDAS can take responsibility for those.
Nick isn't terribly concerned by this condition, as due to IDAS's laborious procedures, any Gen wanting to change citizenship is unlikely to be able to do so inside of six months.
Arat frowns. Under those conditions, any Gen who wished to become a citizen would be without any visible means of support for several months, while they were still interned but no longer qualified for CoP assistance.
Plum: We will accept the restriction of preaching only within the camp or private dwellings. But there our access must be unrestrained.
Arat: Please clarify.
Plum: We must be allowed to speak to any Gen within the camp. You may not hide, imprison or pen any of them where we cannot reach them.
Plum: I understand that many of these people are criminals. We will wish to minister even within the prison, should one have to be built.
Arat: You will obey the wishes of Gens who do not desire your presence in their private dwellings?
Plum: If a Gen, without Demonic influence, orders us out of his house, we will leave.
Nick: Err, how do you define "demonic influence", in this case?
Plum glares at Nick.
Nick looks at Plum with innocent inquiry.
Plum: Sorcery, mind control, drugs, intimidation, irresistible temptation.
Plum: The usual.
Arat: Sorcery? Mind control? [disgustedly]
Arat: What you speak of does not exist.
Plum: Your evil powers are well known. But Faith protects us.
Arat redistributes Minister Plum from the "foreign dignitary" category to the "idiot who shall not be permitted into my presence again under any circumstances" category in his mental filing system.
Arat's elegant Farris lip curls expressively in response, though he is attempting to control it.
Nick spots the danger signals, and increases his ~~ support ~~
Arat: I shall relay your statement to the others.
Plum is not blind to the expression of contempt.
Arat: A decision will be made shortly.
Arat doesn't actually have any control over when the decision is made, but he knows Birch, Riyyh and the others are eager for a resolution to the funding issue.
Arat hopes Plum will take the hint and depart.
Plum: Under no circumstances will you devour the souls of our missionaries.
Plum: You are the Controller, and I will want your word on that.
Plum doesn't think a Sime's word is worth much, but he would like to at least be sure they understand each other.
Arat: If you refuse to communicate in a fashion suited to adults, we have nothing further to discuss.
Plum thinks that Arat is pretty arrogant for a representative of a group that approached him begging for help and money.
Arat of course only represents said group in approximately the same sense that Plum does.
Plum is puzzled by Arat's reference to adults, but he has heard Demons consider all real humans to be like children.
Arat may be a bit more aligned with them spiritually than Plum is, however.
Plum: The only way I communicate is in good, plain human speech.
Nick: No channel would harm your missionaries, or any other Gen, for that matter.
Plum: All channels harm Gens. That is what they do. Steal their souls.
Plum: When Gens died from it, they fought hard to keep themselves intact.
Plum: But these days, channels extract their souls without pain, and Gens sell their essence for money.
Plum glares at Arat.
Arat's expression has not changed: arrogant impatience with no small measure of distaste.
Plum: As you have, Mister Nick, have you not?
Nick rubs his chin thoughtfully.
Nick: Actually, I earn a salary. Only general-class donors get paid by the dynopter.
Plum: All the gold in Fort Knox would not be worth what you are giving up -- your humanity.
Plum doesn't know where Fort Knox actually was, but it is a treasurehouse of legend.
Nick smiles with mild amusement.
Plum: You could come out-Territory and be your own man, not a Sime's servant.
Nick: I've done that. Frankly, I much prefer my current situation.
Plum shrugs.
Plum knows these Tecton lackeys are pretty much hopeless cases.
Arat: Regardless of how you choose to word it, all Gens will be required to donate if they are to spend more than a few hours on site.
Arat: It is a matter of safety and not negotiable.
Plum: No missionary will "donate," as you put it.
Plum: That is out of the question.
Arat attempts to calculate the life expectancy of a bible preaching Simephobe high field in the camps, and then gives it up as requiring numbers too small even for Farris powers of calculation.
Plum would like to save the souls of the Gens in the camp, but most of them are already lost. He will not risk the salvation of pure and holy congregationalists.
Arat: In that case, I will have to recommend that your offer be rejected.
Arat: As Controller, I am responsible for the safety of all present at the camps, where selyn is concerned.
Plum: In that case, your purported care for Gen welfare will be proved to be a lie.
Plum: All you care about is extracting selyn.
Plum: You would let these Gens starve and freeze rather than let them alone.
Arat does not appear particularly impressed by this 'deduction'.
Arat: Actually, everybody here is quite interested in preventing such deaths.
Arat: It is the purpose of the Narosian's proposal.
Plum: But only if you can get your tentacles on our missionaries?
Arat actually believes the purpose of the Narosian's proposal was to accommodate the wishes of Sayward, who apparently managed to catch Riyyh alone and impress him with the depths of her feelings on the matter.
Arat: Minister Plum, it is a matter of safety. High field Gens are a disruption as well as at high risk of being accidentally killed.
Arat: Ordinarily Gens are not allowed to cross the border into Sime Territory for more than a day without donating first.
Arat: It is also part of our system of taxation.
Plum: Ordinarily four thousand Gens don't leave the safety of their homeland and go to live among demons.
Plum: The whole situation is beyond comprehension.
Nick finds himself in agreement with Plum, if only on this last statement.
Arat: I can assure you that I am fully aware of the situation, in every detail.
Arat: It has been my responsibility to identify and track each of these Gens, as well as to guarantee their safety from the kill.
Plum frowns. He cannot just abandon all these Gens to the Tecton's tender mercies. They must have a chance for salvation.
Arat of course gave the actual dirty work to his subordinates, but the responsibility itself is his.
Plum: And of course we would want our missionaries to be protected from the Kill, but donation is out of the question.
Plum thinks that of course the whole point of the evangelistic effort is to persuade the Gens not to donate.
Arat has already said he will not recommend that Mr. Birch and Riyyh accept Plum's money for that reason. He does not like to repeat himself. Therefore, he says nothing.
Plum examines Arat's stony expression.
Plum: Your people asked for our assistance. You would reject it, for this?
Arat: Mr. Birch is not fully cognizant of the difficulties of maintaining adequate safety levels in the environment of these camps.
Arat: He is from Gen Territory just as you are.
Arat: I understand his desire to at least investigate any possible sources of funding.
Plum shakes his head. He would hate to just leave all these Gens to their fates.
Arat: However, Naros and he must agree upon a solution which produces the fewest deaths and the least impact upon the social balance of the camps.
Arat: It would hardly do to save a few hundred lives at the expense of kills, riots or worse because of... unsafe practices.
Arat is like most Tecton bureaucrats in that he would rather starve ten Gens than let one get killed. Grim, but true.
Nick: And would you really want to send your people over here high field, knowing the danger they would be in, when it is preventable?
Plum wonders which is a worse sin, to let the Gens die of starvation or to feed the Sime's unholy lusts.
Nick sees Plum's indecision.
Plum: We wish to preserve human souls, which are endangered either way.
Plum: Something a soul-eaten being like yourself would not understand.
Nick: If you are worried that giving a donation would cause your people to leave their faith, you shouldn't.
Plum knows there are, however, people in the congregation who may have traveled in Sime territory and donated before. Do their souls grow back? He really isn't sure.
Nick: If it were that easy to change people's minds, the Tecton would be a lot more popular on your side of the border than it is.
Plum wonders if it would damn someone who had already donated to donate a few more times.
Nick doesn't elaborate on the psychological effects of giving repeated donations, which are statistically likely to be somewhat different.
Plum stares at Nick as if he were crazy.
Arat picks up his tea and sips it. He looks at the fire, wishing somebody else would add some wood to it. He would never do such a thing while others are around, of course.
Plum: It has nothing to do with what people think.
Plum: It's about Purity.
Plum: Separating the sheep from the goats.
Plum: Only the unblemished are chosen.
Plum thinks that the Almighty knows if a soul is mutated or perfect, regardless of what any man might think or say.
Arat thinks, but does not say, that Plum is a fool.
Arat sets his tea down, casting a dark look at Plum.
Arat wishes Plum would stop wasting his time.
Nick is more forgiving: he merely thinks that Plum is a raving lunatic.
Plum: I will convey your conditions to the Synod. But I tell you frankly, I doubt they will be acceptable.
Plum decides that even if he is forbidden entrance to the camp, he will be sending missionaries over the border.
Arat: Then I would suggest you approach Mr. Birch and Riyyh separately and plead your case.
Arat: You will get no recommendation from me.
Plum can see that he has irritated the Demon Controller, which is proof that he has behaved correctly.
Plum: Plum backs towards the door, not willing to turn his back on Arat.
Nick: Minister Plum, you shouldn't go walking through the camp without an Escort, while you're high field.
Plum glances at Nick.
Plum: I will be fine.
Nick: Surely you were assigned an escort?
Plum: I didn't care for her company.
Nick: She wasn't there to entertain you.
Nick: She was there to make sure that you didn't accidentally get yourself killed.
Plum: All I require is God's protection.
Plum has actually noticed that the Simes seem to back off pretty fast when he directs righteous wrath at them.
Plum is not quite sure why this technique didn't work on the Raider bands before Unity.
Arat gestures for Gashnom, at the door, to fetch a runner. Nick is right; it won't do to let Plum leave without a proper escort, especially the way he is zlinning now.
Nick looks at Plum with honest curiosity.
Plum: Good day, Controller Arat. Mister Nick.
Plum: Perhaps we will meet again.
Plum sincerely dreads the idea of meeting Gideon again, but that could happen too.
Nick can't help but wonder at a religion that seems to require its adherents to treat their God as a servant, doing things for them that they could easily take care of themselves.
Plum leaves the office and heads back down the path the way he came.
Go on to Episode #82: The Green Marauder
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