Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #109: Jangle (1/22/01)
Nick is returning from an inspection of outlying camps containing unemployed Simes, when he spots a familiar cape on the trail ahead of him.
Nick: Riyyh!
Nikki wanders back and forth. She makes sure she keeps her daddy in sight. He said that she shouldn't wander off too far.
Nick lengthens his stride, with due respect for potential icy patches.
Riyyh turns.
Riyyh: Why hello, Nick! [smiles]
Nick: Have you been visiting again?
Nikki sneaks up on her favorite big brother and hugs a leg.
Nikki: Hi!
Nick's arms wave as he struggles for balance.
Nick: Nikki!
Riyyh smiles indulgently as Nikki shows Nick a proper Narosian welcome.
Nikki grins up at Nick with her happiest gap tooth smile.
Nick regains his balance and bends over to pick Nikki up.
Nick: So, have you been visiting too?
Riyyh: We were just going for a little walk. I wanted to show Nikki the trapper's tent. [explains]
Nick: Did you enjoy that? [to Nikki]
Riyyh approves of Nikki's appreciation of the good things in life and wouldn't have wanted the poor dear to reach adulthood not having felt mink pelts.
Nikki: Yes! Everything is so soft in there.
Riyyh personally adores mink, almost as much as he adores zlinning people rolling around on mink... but I digress.
Nikki has no idea about where fur comes from but she loves it.
Nick: Riyyh, there was something I wanted to discuss with you.
Nick: An unfortunate incident at the bath house, actually.
Nick blushes scarlet.
Nick is 25% Prunida, after all, and was raised by her, to boot.
Riyyh: Oh? [concerned]
Riyyh: What is that?
Nick: A few days ago I was trying to relax in one of the private rooms, when a woman barged in and demanded that I immediately show her my, er, assets.
Nick: I gathered later that she wanted to be impregnated, and had a long list of candidates to try out that day.
Nick: It was very awkward.
Nikki has learned that people don't like to pick her up when her feet are muddy so she just hangs on to Nick's leg instead.
Riyyh: I am terribly sorry.
Riyyh assumes Nick is telling him this because he wants sympathy. He is good at sympathy.
Riyyh places a gentle hand on Nick's arm and appears thoroughly sympathetic, as requested.
Nikki: [looks from her brother to her father] Daddy what's 'pregnated?
Riyyh: That's when a woman becomes a mother... has a baby inside her.
Riyyh: Gets pregnant. [smiles]
Nikki: Oh.
Nikki has had some information imparted to her on the subject of sex but it's not a concept she grasps -- yet.
Nick: I think she's targeting Donors; at least, she seemed obsessed with financial security.
Nick: However, I was wondering how she managed to track me down in a private bathing room.
Nikki has found out that boys don't like it when you pull on their handles to get their attention in the bath. Nikki can't figure out any other use for the things but... oh well.
Nick: And more to the point, how she can be prevented from doing so in the future.
Riyyh looks innocently unaware of Nick's point.
Riyyh: Pardon me?
Riyyh hopes Nick isn't actually requesting that Riyyh block someone from the baths just because Nick doesn't want to sleep with her.
Nick: I would like to be able to use a private bathing room without becoming a tourist attraction for any and all interested spectators.
Riyyh's hand, which had wandered off vaguely, places itself lightly on Nick's arm again.
Riyyh: Truly, has this been a regular problem?
Riyyh: You have used the baths so often since they opened. Has it happened more than once?
Nick: Once was more than enough. She didn't burst in on me until after I was undressed and in the water. Someone has to have told her where I was.
Nikki looks as innocent as ever. She doesn't get the connection between the nice lady who asked where her brother was and the one that wanted to get pregnant.
Riyyh can't understand why Nick is so upset about that. He isn't aware of quite how much Arat and Arat's prudishness has been rubbing off on Nick.
Riyyh pats Nick's arm.
Riyyh tries to think of what to tell him.
Nikki emulates her father and pats Nick's leg.
Riyyh: Please do let me know if it happens again, then, and I will have a word with her.
Riyyh: Would that help? [kindly]
Nick sighs.
Nick: I like to think it would.
Riyyh smiles.
Nick: Would you also ask the people working as attendants in the bath house not to direct visitors to me, when I am occupying a private room?
Riyyh: Why, they wouldn't dream of such a thing.
Riyyh: I will tell them, of course, but I cannot see any of our members committing such a breach of hospitality.
Riyyh knows that not all outreach program Narosians are quite as domesticated as the stay-at-home kind, however.
Nick: Then how did she find out where I was? She's a Gen; she couldn't have zlinned me.
Riyyh will find a way to impress upon each the importance of good hospitality. In as kind a way as possible. One on one, perhaps.
Riyyh: Nick, please. You're so wound up.
Nikki is still learning about hospitality. She currently understands it to mean give people what they ask for including directions to private bath rooms.
Riyyh thinks Nick's original simple complaint is beginning to take on the tone of a peevish obsession.
Riyyh moves behind Nick and works on the Gen's shoulders a bit, tentacles extended to help make an impression through the thick winter coat.
Riyyh: Sometimes these things happen.
Riyyh: Why, I can't count the number of times women, and why even men, stumbled into my accommodations in this inn or that hotel, all accidentally of course, and wound up making some request or other.
Riyyh: It's just how some people communicate.
Nick: She reminded me of my grandmother--she just kept insisting that she be allowed to see all of me, and she wouldn't go away.
Nikki can't reach Nick's shoulders so she rubs his leg instead.
Nick has never had Riyyh's tolerance for Prunida.
Riyyh: Well. I am sure it was perfectly awful for you. [sympathetically, as he rubs]
Riyyh can zlin Nick's entrapped feeling, and agrees it reminds him of Prunida as well.
Nikki's hands are getting tired. She wonders how long she will have to keep rubbing to be polite.
Nick: I finally just left. She followed me all the way back to Arat's office. And inside.
Riyyh: Oh, my. What happened then?
Riyyh is sure that whatever it was, it wasn't nothing and it wasn't sex.
Nick: Arat managed to run her off. Then he told me that he could introduce me to a wide assortment of reliable and discreet ladies of the evening, when we return to Capitol.
Nick: Apparently it's expected.
Riyyh's eyes widen.
Nikki stops rubbing Nick's leg. He didn't seem to notice anyway. Maybe she has been polite enough.
Riyyh has stopped rubbing his shoulders too, out of pure surprise.
Nick: One more of those details I wasn't told before joining the Tecton.
Riyyh turns Nick thoughtfully around to face him.
Nikki backs out of the way.
Riyyh: Well, I don't think it's as usual as all that. [confesses]
Riyyh straightens a lock of Nick's bangs.
Nick: ~~ hope ~~
Riyyh: But I am sure he will do as he thinks best.
Nikki smiles at her daddy. She likes the way he combs her hair.
Nick: I don't like to disappoint Arat, but I really do prefer to make my own choice in some things.
Nikki wonders if her brother likes it too.
Riyyh doesn't know that much about Nick's sex life except that the last time they talked about it, Nick was frustrated and hurt because Snake preferred to make her own choice in some things.
Riyyh smiles kindly at Nick.
Riyyh: Perhaps he's just concerned for you.
Riyyh: Perhaps if you convinced him you are all right...?
Riyyh touches Nikki's shoulder and nudges her over to stand nearer him. He likes clingy kids, particularly when he is not carrying them.
Nick essays a smile.
Nick: I do think Arat means well, in his own way.
Nikki decides that she would rather hug her daddy's leg 'cause he is much warmer than Nick.
Riyyh: Sexual tension is of some concern in Gens, although not so much so as in channels. Perhaps all that is required is for you to... [smiles] attend to your own preferences as necessary.
Riyyh's tentacles play with Nikki's hair, straightening it as well.
Nikki sighs. Daddies are wonderful things.
Riyyh for some reason has not had too much trouble with sexual tension over the years. The problem always seems to get taken care of long before there is a problem at all.
Nick: I will take your advice under consideration. I do have some free time, particularly when Arat isn't in need.
Nick: With all the thousands of people here, surely there is someone compatible, wouldn't you think?
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh: There must be.
Nick wonders for a moment if having a steady girlfriend would discourage Du.
Riyyh: An eligible young bachelor like yourself should have no trouble attracting prospects, if you try.
Nick squares his solidly Gen shoulders.
Nick: You're right. It's just a matter of taking the time to look around.
Riyyh beams, glad to have turned Nick around to a more positive and proactive frame of mind.
Nick has no idea just how much time it would take to look over all the women in camp who'd be interesting in latching onto a First Order Donor.
Riyyh: If there is anything I can do to help, any advice I could offer, please don't hesitate to let me know.
Nick: Thank you.
Nick is not too proud to consult a world-renowned expert in the field.
Nick: I really must be going: Arat will want my report.
Riyyh: Good luck to you. [smiles]
Nikki smiles at her brother.
Nikki: Bye-bye Nicky!
Nick: Goodbye, Nikki!
Nick gives Nikki a hug, mussing her hair up so that Riyyh will be able to smooth it out again.
Nikki: Nicky! [grinning as she tries to look stern]
Nikki isn't mad and she can't stay mad at her brother even when she gets that way.
Nikki: Now daddy will have to redo my hair.
Nick grins back at Nikki, then continues down the path, passing Borgmann as he goes.
Borgmann was told that Riyyh had gone in this direction, and is glad to zlin that his last informant was correct.
Borgmann was not quite so lucky in his first three choices of informant.
Riyyh: Tuib Borgmann! [smiles as he sees the IDAS agent coming]
Riyyh: What a pleasant surprise.
Borgmann: Sectuib Riyyh! I've been searching the camp for you.
Riyyh has been seeing Borgmann daily for weeks, but it is always best to behave as though each person's arrival is the highlight of his day. In a way, it is.
Nikki looks up at the newcomer and smiles but doesn't let go of her daddy's leg.
Borgmann: There are some matters I've been meaning to discuss with you.
Riyyh: Very well then, shall we go somewhere nice and sit down?
Borgmann hasn't noticed any place that he would consider truly "nice" since he arrived in this mudhole.
Riyyh: There is the most curious vendor just a couple rows up, who sells bark tea. It takes some getting used to, mind you, but some of the effects are quite interesting. And it's near the musical instrument hut that Nikki loves so.
Riyyh hopes that they are still welcome at the musical instrument hut.
Borgmann looks down at the child, somewhat uncomfortably.
Borgmann: Of course.
Borgmann isn't used to children.
Riyyh smiles down at Nikki, and straightens her hair. He likes children enough for both of them.
Riyyh: Come along then. What was it you wanted to speak of? [as he leads the way]
Nikki perks up her ears, so to speak. She smiles up at her dad and lets go of his leg and takes his hand.
Borgmann: Well, there have been some irregularities that have come to my attention, with regards to the detainment camp.
Borgmann: I'm not sure whether they should be pursued or ignored; there are problems either way.
Borgmann follows Riyyh towards the tea vendor.
Riyyh: Irregularities?
Riyyh: Er, of what sort?
Riyyh does better with specific inquiries, although he is capable of providing sympathy in any case.
Riyyh therefore prepares his best sympathetic look and has it waiting in the wings.
Nikki's excitement is growing. She has fallen in love with a shiltpron and can't wait to beg that nice Tuib Trala to play for her.
Borgmann: I have noticed that a number of Gens have become quite prolific since they were first admitted to the camp.
Borgmann: And that many of the children they have acquired are fluent in Simelan, but not English.
Riyyh smiles and nods, looking utterly confused.
Riyyh then shakes his head.
Riyyh: I beg your pardon?
Riyyh: They have acquired pre-Sime children?
Borgmann: I can only conclude that someone is sneaking in children of renSimes, and placing them with Gens who are willing to claim them.
Borgmann: It is quite understandable: food is rather short, and children must eat regularly, just like Gens.
Riyyh: The orphanage in Salmonton has agreed to take children, but it would be hardly possible to visit them regularly there after all.
Riyyh: Particularly in winter.
Borgmann: We did not budget for feeding every child in the camp, as well as all the unemployed Gens.
Riyyh: I shouldn't worry about it if I were you, Tuib Borgmann. There aren't particularly many children here.
Riyyh: Most did not bring their children, but only themselves.
Riyyh does not care to be in charge of predicting how many children will be present in the camps in another year, however.
Riyyh frowns to himself.
Riyyh decides that coming boom is all the more reason to help Borgmann feel relaxed and in tune with the concept of the IDAS running a camp for children.
Riyyh's smile accordingly becomes even more friendly.
Riyyh holds a chair for Borgmann while waving a couple of tentacles to alert the bark tea vendor that two teas will be appreciated.
Borgmann: There seem to be more than enough children to create a great deal of confusion.
Borgmann takes the indicated chair.
Borgmann might be a bit less confused if he had ever spent any time with children.
Riyyh: Isn't it cunning, how they have carved the furniture all of branches? And with the bark all intact.
Riyyh: Well, you will want to keep close track in your paperwork, of course.
Riyyh: Do try these little rolls, they're simply precious. That's maple sugar inside, you know.
Riyyh pulls up another barky legged chair and sits at the small stumpy table.
Borgmann tries the indicated treat.
Riyyh is pleased that the profits from the bath house have allowed a him to live a lifestyle to which he could become accustomed, in addition to helping out the poor and unfortunate.
Borgmann: Very good. They remind me of the breakfasts I had growing up.
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh: And how is Minister Plum?
Riyyh: Better, I hope?
Nikki has no interest in tea, bark or otherwise, and starts drifting toward the exit and the music tent.
Nikki has gotten better about her wandering but grown-up talk is nowhere near as interesting as music.
Borgmann's face falls at the mention of his former friend.
Borgmann: He's been refusing to eat properly.
Borgmann: I've had to ask Controller Arat to make a determination on whether he is sane enough to be considered responsible for his actions.
Borgmann is obviously ~~ upset ~~
Riyyh leans forward and places a hand on Borgmann's.
Riyyh: I'm terribly sorry. [sincerely]
Riyyh: It must be difficult for you.
Riyyh can zlin that much.
Riyyh: Is there anything I can do to help?
Borgmann looks at Riyyh.
Borgmann: Perhaps there is.
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh: Tell me.
Riyyh: I would be delighted to be of assistance.
Borgmann: Plum has become more and more lethargic, the longer he stays confined. I am forced to wonder if part of the reason he isn't eating or taking care of himself is sheer depression.
Riyyh: It is certainly possible.
Borgmann: I was hoping that it might be possible to break the cycle: to get him out of his cell, clean him up, and see what that might do to bring him to a more rational frame of mind.
Nikki has made good her escape from boring grown-up talk. She enters the Instrument Maker's tent and looks around. Tuib Trala isn't anywhere around.
Riyyh nods.
Borgmann: Would it be possible to arrange for the use of a private room in your bath house?
Riyyh: Of course. There is quite a waiting list, but if you sign up now it shouldn't be any longer than a couple days.
Riyyh: [smiles]
Riyyh has been writing himself in for a bath a day and sometimes two, well in advance.
Nikki spies the object of her interest sitting on a shelf at the back of the tent. She tries to reach it but it is two shelves above her head.
Riyyh has the luxury of not having to pay, which helps.
Borgmann: There is the matter of security. Plum tends to react rather violently to the sight of tentacles.
Borgmann: Could he be brought in through a back door, so as not to disturb the other customers?
Riyyh: I am afraid there are people all over.
Riyyh: It wouldn't do to prevent others from using the bath house on his account.
Nikki looks around to see if Tuib Trala has come back in. She did so want to hear another song. Maybe if she...
Riyyh: Perhaps it would be easiest to allow him to wash up using a large basin of some kind, and some towels? We could provide those.
Borgmann: We have been providing him with hot water, but he refuses to use a basin.
Borgmann: It is my hope that having the chance to soak fully will relax him a bit.
Riyyh sighs.
Borgmann: Perhaps an Escort could be arranged?
Riyyh: Well, we do have Gen members.
Nikki pulls herself up onto the first shelf. The whole thing wobbles as she tries to reach the shiltpron again. She still isn't close enough.
Borgmann: He's not quite as terrified of tentacles as he was.
Borgmann: That disturbs him, I think.
Riyyh: It is normal for a person to become used to that which has not harmed him.
Riyyh: Otherwise we would die of terror while only hours old.
Riyyh: [smiles]
Nikki steps up onto the second shelf and pulls herself up. She is now face to face with the instrument.
Borgmann: Before long, he'll have to donate again.
Riyyh nods.
Borgmann: I haven't had the nerve to tell him yet.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Riyyh: When were you planning to do so?
Borgmann buries his face in his paws--er, hands.
Nikki reaches for the shiltpron with both hands. She is careful to hold it with both hands. There is just one problem: how to get down?
Borgmann: I've got to tell him, don't I?
Riyyh looks up and thanks the waiter with a smile as two bark teas are delivered to the stump, er, table.
Borgmann: But how can I? It's my fault he's put in the position of having to do so.
Riyyh moves one of the teas nearer to Borgmann's side, and takes the other for himself.
Riyyh: How is it your fault?
Borgmann picks up the proffered tea and wraps his hands and tentacles around the cup for comfort.
Borgmann: If he hadn't tried to murder me, he'd have been back in Gen Territory long since.
Borgmann seems to think that this is an explanation.
Riyyh smiles wryly.
Riyyh: You can't blame yourself for that.
Riyyh: Nor should you blame yourself for surviving your changeover.
Riyyh studies Borgmann carefully.
Riyyh: You don't, do you?
Borgmann: Not much. Not any more. I was lucky, after all: I didn't kill.
Borgmann: But Josef genuinely thought that he was acting in my best interest.
Riyyh: That is not what I have heard. [softly]
Nikki tries to let go of the instrument with one hand so that she can steady herself as she climbs down. This is not a good idea.
Riyyh: I have heard he was angry and frustrated and thought he was going to die when he did it.
Riyyh zlins something odd... almost like the tines of a shiltpron brushing against something.
Riyyh tries to zlin more, but cannot. Perhaps it is simply the kind woman showing Nikki her prized possession again.
Riyyh doesn't want Borgmann to know he was distracted, so he does not zlin further.
Borgmann: He was disturbed at being detained, for understandable reasons. But he was willing to turn what he perceived as a likely death sentence into a certain one, if it would free me from what he sees as an unbearable curse.
Riyyh thinks that sounds perfectly potty.
Riyyh smiles sadly at Borgmann.
Riyyh: I know you want him to be good and noble.
Riyyh: You are a good man.
Riyyh: But he did try to murder you, and you and I know that is wrong.
Riyyh: If you can accept that, you'll be able to understand your feelings about him better.
Riyyh: Perhaps come to some agreement with yourself about them.
Nikki overbalances and grabs for the shelf as she falls backward. The shelf and all its contents also fall in the same direction.
Borgmann: I can't ever trust him again--shouldn't have trusted him as far as I....what was that?
Riyyh is not available for comment, as he had vaulted over the table and dashed out the door before the words were out of Borgmann's mouth.
Riyyh: Nikki! [doesn't quite say: what have you done!]
Nikki hits the ground hard and looks up to see her daddy standing over her holding the makeshift shelf.
Riyyh, who is not accustomed to zlinning shiltprons pounded by assorted musical instruments shortly before sharp bursts of high level augmentation, shakes his head to clear it, then looks at the board in his hands with no idea how it got there.
Riyyh looks down at Nikki at his feet, then puts the board aside as he kneels.
Riyyh: Are you all right?
Nikki would say something but she has had the wind knocked out of her.
Riyyh carefully pries the shiltpron out of Nikki's grasp.
Riyyh may be a caring father, but the last thing he wants to do right at the moment is try to zlin a child's nager through a shiltpron.
Nikki is tuning up to cry but she can't seem to catch her breath enough to wail. She isn't hurt, just scared.
Riyyh sets the shiltpron aside (on a low table) and gathers Nikki up into his arms.
Riyyh: There, there.
Nikki sobs once which gives her her breath back and puts her arms around her daddy's neck.
Riyyh is fairly certain they will not be welcome in the music shop the next time around.
Nikki: I broke it. Daddy I didn't mean to! I'm sorry.
Riyyh: We'll just explain to the nice lady, darling, and I'm sure she will understand it was only a mistake.
Riyyh will probably have to do most of the explaining himself, as Nikki is far too young even for a Narosian.
Nikki sobs.
Riyyh: There, there. [pats her back]
Go on to Episode #110: Cash Crunch
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