Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode 85: Yo-Yo Has Some Nerve (12/12/00)
Roliver has decided that things are looking up this month. Well, anything would be better than having to deal with Franses the Mule for another week!
Roliver zlins the steady warmth of Pomma as they make their way through the Gen encampment.
Pomma trails after her channel, her attention fixed on him, trying to ignore the distractions of the cold, the mud, the throngs of hustling renSimes and the tall, tall fir trees.
Pomma is not sure what to make of the whole situation, but she concentrates on doing her piece of it right. This is her first real challenge as a Donor.
Roliver stops and takes off his cloak, handing it to Pomma.
Roliver: I think you could use this more than I can at the moment.
Pomma has to admit the dour Roliver is a challenge. He is not the vital, idealistic channel she had imagined serving. Instead, he is rather sarcastic and moody.
Pomma smiles at Roliver gratefully, trying rather unsuccessfully to banish the cold from her nager when her feet are freezing and the wind goes right through her clothes.
Roliver smiles at Pomma. She is so green but so willing. He is actually enjoying working with her.
Pomma wraps herself in the cloak, and promises that some day she will master the trick of thinking herself warm.
Roliver frowns. Not at Pomma but as he zlins around for Elte. He is not happy about having to track down the Gen to take his donation. If it weren't for the fact that Elte reminds him of home he might have complained about it.
Roliver zlins a familiar nager off to his left. If the Gen hadn't been so highfield he might have missed it.
Elte's nager is not hard to spot. He is engaged in one of his favorite activities, digging into someone's personal life.
Elte's nager scintillates with glee, carried on a field that should have been taken down at least a week ago.
Grenade, the subject of the interview, has a rather prominent field signature also.
Thergude shifts the equipment bag to his other shoulder. It isn't as heavy as it was when he first started carrying it but after a while it does get heavy.
Grenade is also high field and the ominous bloody tincture of his mood indicates he is on the verge of stopping the conversation and communicating with his fists.
Elte makes a hand gesture to Thergude to move the valuable equipment out of harm's way and be ready to duck.
Thergude backs up as he is directed to. He shakes his head. Some times Tuib doesn't know when to leave well enough alone.
Elte: So basically you don't like to work.
Grenade: I work as good as any other man!
Grenade: I pull my weight! Ask anyone around here.
Grenade knows that he particularly weighs in when engaged in bar-room brawls and, given his reputation, the other Gens will say anything to stay on his good side.
Roliver zlins the shifting mood of a second high field Gen. This is not going to be pleasant.
Elte: Then why'd you leave your job at the lumber mill?
Grenade: 'Cause me and the boss didn't see eye to eye.
Grenade: Don't like people telling me what to do.
Grenade particularly didn't like being told not to drink on the job.
Elte gestures to Thergude to get ready to take a picture. The kid has begun to get the hang of the camera apparatus. Elte suspects he may have both of his hands occupied in a moment.
Roliver quickens his pace and comes up behind Elte's assistant Thergude. He motions for Pomma to stay back a bit.
Elte: So now you're going to have Simes telling you where to live and how to behave.
Elte: Do you like that?
Elte notices the Channel and Donor approach out of the corner of his eye, but his attention is focused on his subject.
Grenade: No Sime tells me what to do. No Gen neither.
Thergude looks up to see Roliver just behind him. He looks back at Tuib and the Gen who is about to pop Tuib a good one.
Roliver can read the ambient very well indeed and he is not happy about the what he sees.
Grenade: Especially no pretty boy with a lot of fancy words and embroidery on his jacket!
Elte: Yeah? Takes money to buy a coat like this. More than you'll make donating selyn.
Roliver: Good afternoon, gentlemen.
Roliver is intent of breaking this up before some Gen gets hurt. Especially when they are both highfield.
Elte glances at Roliver, annoyed. The channel has broken his rhythm.
Roliver: Elte I have been trying to track you down for two days!
Elte knows that Simes can be hurt by strong emotions, but passion is what makes a good story, and it's his job to elicit it.
Thergude has given Tuib the messages that he should go donate but well. Tuib does as he pleases.
Grenade: Ain't no amount of money can pay for a man's honor.
Elte doesn't dare take his attention from the volatile Gen.
Grenade: I taught that Mill Boss Faid what my honor is worth. You want some of the same?
Roliver: Gentlemen! If I could have your attention for just a moment!
Elte: Uh, Roliver, I'm a bit occupied at the moment.
Roliver is very much afraid that he will have to try and separate the two Gens.
Grenade: ~~grenade on the verge of explosion~~
Roliver: Well, Elte I don't think that this can wait.
Grenade: And what do you want?
Grenade sees that the newcomer is Sime, in one of those official Channel uniforms, and moderates his temper just a hair.
Grenade in general doesn't want to alienate the people who pay his bar bills, but they can be so unreasonable sometimes.
Roliver stands his ground as the blast of anger washes through him. He is very glad he isn't a First.
Roliver leans on Pomma's support.
Roliver: What I want is to take Elte's donation and it looks like it is time for yours as well.
Grenade catches sight of the pretty young blond thing trailing behind the Channel, and his field does a double-flip.
Grenade: You gonna pay me like the last time?
Roliver is in the wrong part of his cycle to notice that Pomma is anything but Gen.
Roliver: Of course.
Grenade: I'm experienced now. I want a raise.
Roliver: You will be paid for the amount of selyn that is donated as always.
Grenade lets his eyes wander over Pomma's 16-year-old body, what he can see of it swathed in the winter clothes and robe.
Elte sighs and motions to Thergude to set aside the camera. His dramatic scene has been derailed.
Roliver has become used to open air donations but he isn't fond of them.
Roliver: Is there somewhere close by that we can go to get this done?
Elte isn't going to manage to get a shot of Grenade taking a swing at him, but maybe a shot of the donation might be useful, if not as interesting.
Grenade: We ain't done negotiating.
Roliver: There is nothing to negotiate, Grenade is it?
Grenade: That's what they call me.
Roliver has a good memory for names and faces.
Grenade: You want my selyn that bad, you can pay a little extra.
Grenade sometimes loses his target, but he can always take aim at a new one.
Roliver looks up at the heavy canopy of trees and sighs.
Roliver: Selyn is selyn. It is all worth the same amount per dynopter.
Elte: I'm right in the middle of something, Hajene Roliver. I'd rather not leave the area.
Roliver: [gives Elte a sharp look] Nothing doing! I have no intention of wasting more of my time tracking you down again.
Elte catches sight of the Donor's fresh young face with the blonde curls peaking out her hood, and does a bit of ogling himself.
Elte: And who is this? I don't think we've been introduced.
Thergude: Thergude is still too young to appreciate Pomma's attributes.
Roliver: This is Pomma Barry. She is my assigned Donor for the month. Pomma, this is Elte Andover.
Roliver keeps a sharp zlin on Grenade as he watches Elte.
Pomma smiles warmly. She has heard of the famous journalist, though she has never read his work.
Pomma: I'm so pleased to meet you.
Elte holds out his hand to shake. He knows it's not the in-T custom, but she's Gen and he likes that personal touch.
Pomma stares in bewilderment at the hand held out to her. She has read about this but never encountered it before. She glances at Roliver to see if he will be bothered if she goes ahead with the strange custom.
Roliver: If you are through stalling Elte, I would like to get this over with.
Grenade glares at Elte, envying his city manners.
Grenade sticks his dirty hand out also.
Grenade: Hey, Pomma, pleased ta meet'cha!
Grenade: Maybe I'll give you guys a discount, if I get the right sort of personal service.
Roliver is beginning to loose his decorum. He really likes Elte but the man can be a menace. And Grenade is a mistake anyway you look at him.
Pomma shyly touches her fingers to Elte's hand.
Roliver: Gentlemen, I have to get back to the dispensary. Could we move this along?
Pomma giggles.
Grenade: Put her here, little lady!
Grenade grasps Pomma's out-stretched hand and gives it a vigorous shake.
Grenade: Now that wasn't so bad, was it?
Pomma withdraws her hand, startled.
Pomma: We do things differently here. But I'll get used to it, I'm sure.
Roliver hisses at Pomma's reaction to being pawed by Grenade.
Roliver move in to stand between his Donor and the Gen.
Pomma adjusts her field to support Roliver, sorry for having momentarily lost control.
Roliver: Enough!
Elte: Okay, okay, Hajene Roliver. You'll get your donations.
Elte: A bit touchy today?
Roliver is a bit touchy most of the time but he has learned to hide it in most cases.
Elte, looking at the channel a bit closer, notices that his face seems somewhat drawn and haggard. Signs of Need tension that he has become all too familiar with on this assignment.
Roliver: Please Elte. Just let's get this done so that we can both be about our business.
Elte: All right.
Elte: I'm at your service.
Roliver: Thank you.
Elte has been through the drill several times already.
Roliver: We may as well do this here. [has zlinned there aren't any Gens or Simes close by]
Roliver looks at Grenade. He wonders if the man will behave.
Roliver: Do you have a problem with that?
Grenade grins. He hopes the Sime will take the cocky son-of-a-bitch down a peg or two.
Grenade: Nope.
Grenade: Let's see just how tough you are, city boy.
Roliver: All right. [pulls his journal from under his arm where he usually carries it on it's own strap.]
Grenade thinks that donating is an ordeal that only a desperate man would subject himself to.
Elte glances sidelong at Grenade, amused.
Elte starts to strip off his winter coat.
Elte: You want a show, you're going to be disappointed.
Elte: Simes don't bother me.
Thergude takes Tuib's coat.
Elte has no hesitation about performing this intimate act in public; exhibitionism is one of his favorite sports.
Roliver hands the journal to Pomma with a reassuring, he hopes, smile.
Roliver: Could you hold this for me Sosu Pomma?
Pomma takes the journal. She hopes Elte is telling the truth, but just in case moves into position to shield Roliver from any sudden emotional reaction.
Roliver: Thank you, Sosu.
Roliver is grateful to have Pomma as highfield as she is. She is a bit higher than Elte, but he notes, not by much.
Elte tries one of the pointers Sosu Nick gave him, breathing deeply to calm his field. Certainly he has seen the difference that makes with some of the more sensitive channels.
Roliver falls into the sudden shift in Elte's field. He wasn't expecting it.
Elte grins.
Elte: Been picking up a few tricks.
Elte: Ready whenever you are.
Roliver shakes himself and reminds himself he is supposed to be professional about this whole thing.
Roliver check to zlin where Grenade is and adjusts his position slightly.
Roliver: All right then Elte. [holds out his hands with his handling tentacles sheathed]
Grenade watches with interest.
Grenade always likes to see how other people handle themselves when they're put on the spot.
Roliver waits for Elte to take his hands. One never rushes a Gen in such matters.
Elte holds out his hands. The cold penetrates his now bare forearms. The touch of warm Sime fingers feels pretty good.
Pomma moves to adjust the ambient.
Roliver takes Elte into a transfer grip without seating his laterals. He waits to make sure Elte is ready.
Roliver: Make lip contact when you are ready, Elte.
Roliver bend forward to make that easier for Elte.
Elte gazes at Roliver's gaunt face. He supposes that seeing indications of Need there would frighten some Gens, but he's really not bothered by it. Donation is easy; he doesn't know why people like Minister Plum and Chief of Police Kennis make such a fuss over it.
Elte makes the lip contact.
Roliver makes full lateral contact at the same instant.
Roliver starts to draw off the shallow levels. He is very careful to keep the speed down to where there is no sensation of selyn movement at all.
Elte feels nothing but the Sime's grip and a subtle flush of warmth.
Roliver continues to draw until he has taken the usual donation amount plus just a bit more as Elte seems to have increased his production some since his last donation.
Elte is careful to stay calm and hold still. Actually, he no longer has to try to accomplish this.
Elte figures by the time this assignment is over, he will handle himself in a Sime Center as well as any in-T Gen.
Roliver has to remind himself that he is dealing with a donor and not a Donor. The Gen has absolutely no fear.
Roliver breaks lip contact and retracts his laterals at the same time. He then releases Elte.
Roliver: There. Now that took almost no time.
Roliver: Next time could you come in and donate?
Elte: Sorry, Hajene. There's a lot going on, you know, and I tend to get distracted.
Elte: I know that's no excuse.
Elte stares down at the ronaplin that is already freezing into ice crystals on his arms. It feels tingly and odd.
Roliver: Better put your coat back on.
Elte: Yeah.
Thergude hands Tuib his coat.
Grenade is satisfied that, city boy or not, this newspaper yo-yo has some nerve.
Thergude is somewhat reluctant to give it up he was nice and warm for a change.
Elte abstractedly takes the coat and slips his arms into the sleeves.
Elte is beginning to understand why in-T couture favors cloaks and robes. It would have been nice to avoid the draft.
Roliver reaches for the ledger which also contains his voucher book and the paperwork that he has to fill out.
Pomma hands the ledger to Roliver.
Roliver: Thanks Pomma.
Roliver augments slightly as he fills in all the blanks that are required and writes out the voucher for Elte to get what he is owed for his donation.
Elte glances at Pomma. Her nose and lips are red with cold in a very appealing way.
Elte smiles at her.
Grenade: Well, you ain't gonna show me up, city boy.
Roliver tears off the voucher and hands it to Elte.
Grenade: If'n you take my coat, pretty gal, your channel can do his worst.
Grenade: I can take it.
Pomma smiles shyly at Grenade.
Pomma hasn't quite got the hang of out-Territory manners, but anything to make taking a donation easier.
Roliver smiles to himself. If Klyzer had to take Grenade's donation he would be scrubbing for an hour just to get the top layer of grim off.
Pomma: I would be glad to help you prepare, Mister Grenade.
Pomma emulates Thergude and helps the scruffy man out of his top layers.
Grenade grins, happy that he is now getting the attention he thinks he deserves.
Roliver takes advantage of the delay to readjust his selyn flows to accommodate the newly acquired selyn and prepare himself for another donation. His recover time is pretty fast for a Second. 1
Grenade: Why don't you come find me after your shift? We could have a party.
Pomma: Well, I don't think--
Roliver tries not to react to his Donor being propositioned in his presence.
Roliver would be laughing at said proposition if it were any other time of the month. Right now he just quirks a tiny smile.
Elte: Grenade, lay off. She's too young for you.
Elte beams his best smile at Pomma.
Roliver thinks she's too young for Elte too by OT standards but IT is another matter entirely.
Elte: Miss, I really am honored to meet you. If you ever want to stop by to have some tea and a little chat, my tent is on the left of the Cliffside encampment. It's brown with two green flaps.
Elte has been picking up a few tricks from Riyyh, as well.
Roliver finishes his paperwork and closes his ledger. The paperwork was probably invented by channels to cover their recovery time. Or at least that is his theory.
Roliver: I hate to interrupt but... If you would hold this again Sosu?
Elte: ~~smitten with her beauty~~
Pomma: Oh, my! Well, I don't know--
Pomma immediately returns her attention to her channel and takes the ledger.
Roliver: Thanks again Pomma.
Elte smiles again.
Elte: Well, think about it.
Roliver: Now Grenade, if you are ready? [holds his hands out to the Gen in question]
Grenade grits his teeth and prepares to subject his arms to the Sime's disgusting touch. He really wishes it were Pomma who wanted to embrace him.
Grenade steps forward and offers his gritty hands to the Channel.
Notes:
1) There is quite a bit of inconsistency as to people's relative field levels, here. Roliver was previously described as in need, while Pomma was said to be high field. They are supposed to be Seconds, and yet Pomma's field was described as only barely higher than Elte's (a General Order Donor). Behind the scenes it has been established that Elte has Donor potential; however at this time it has not yet been realized. His field may be higher than it was the last time he donated, but it would be considerably less than a Third Order Donor's, and there could be no comparison between him and Pomma. [return]
Go on to Episode #86: Moose Sandwich and Crow Hors d'Oeuvres
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