Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #121: Meat (2/12/01)
Nick leads Nikki by the hand towards Sayward's tent.
Nick hopes that she will be considered sufficient chaperone to ward off any unpleasant rumors about popping buttons, soup kettles, and such like.
Nikki is enjoying her little outing with her favorite big brother. Nikki has found that she has more siblings here than she did at the commune.
Nick: Have you ever had out-Territory food before, Nikki?
Nick might have wished for an older chaparone, but Arat wasn't interested in a dinner date, and Nick was afraid that if he asked Du, she'd agree.
Nikki: I don't think so. [not sure what the difference is]
Nick: Well, I don't think she'll have any meat, but some of the dishes might be a bit strange.
Nikki frowns. She isn't sure what this meat stuff is but it sounds like it wouldn't be good.
Nick: It's most polite to eat everything you're served, but if something just tastes too weird to eat, you can leave it on your plate.
Nick: But don't make a point of telling Sayward that you don't like it. If she asks, just tell her you're full.
Nick: And start with small servings, all right?
Nikki: Okay. [smiles happily at Nick]
Nick grins down at Nikki and squeezes her hand.
Nick stops outside of Sayward's tent and signals.
Sayward finishes setting the "table". It is actually her desk but with a nice table cloth who would know?
Nick can smell interesting odors wafting out of the tent.
Sayward: Come on in!
Sayward doesn't stand on ceremony.
Sayward wishes that Cris could have stayed as a chaperone. No use adding to the rumors but well....
Nick ducks into the tent.
Nick: Good evening, Sayward.
Nick: I'd like you to meet my, um....
Nick tries to figure out the degree of relationship between half siblings, one of whom is three quarters and one of whom is only half Riyyh.
Nick is not up to the calculation, however.
Sayward turns to see Nick with a little girl by the hand.
Nick: ...my sister, Nikki.
Nikki looks up at the biggest woman she has ever seen in her life!
Nick: Nikki, this is Sayward. She works here, helping to build the dam.
Sayward: Why Nick, I didn't know you had such a cute little sister. Hello, Nikki.
Nikki is staring at the woman. She really looks more like a man.
Nick smiles a bit weakly.
Nick: I didn't know either, until a few weeks ago.
Nikki is not the shy type but this does not fit into her world view.
Nick: But Nikki and I have been having lots of adventures since she came here, haven't we?
Nick shoots an encouraging look at Nikki.
Sayward gets on her knees and offers Nikki a hand to take.
Nick wonders if Nikki knows about the Gen Territory greeting.
Sayward is very well aware that her height can be intimidating.
Nick: Nikki, do you know how out-Territory people shake hands to say hello?
Nikki looks at her brother and then a the large outstretched hand.
Nikki shakes her head.
Sayward: Well if you put your hand right here I'll show you.
Nick watches Nikki to see if this is sufficient to overcome the bout of shyness, or if further action on his part is required.
Nikki looks at Sayward's plain face and back at Nick. She has to be polite and places her hand in Sayward's.
Sayward: There you go.
Sayward: Pleased to meet you Miz Nikki!
Nikki: Pleased to meet you Miz Sayward. [she still isn't sure what to make of this woman]
Nick: You see, Nikki? If you offer to shake hands like that with any out-Territory Gens using the bath house, they'll be very pleased at how friendly they are.
Nikki: This is for Gens only?
Nick: Well, most Simes around here grew up in Sime Territory. They aren't used to shaking hands.
Nick: But I'm sure that Simes who grew up in Gen Territory know all about it.
Nikki has no idea whether she will be Sime or Gen at this point. She files it away with all the other things she has learned that make no sense.
Sayward: Nick she looks just like you. [especially around the eyes]
Nick is used to the family resemblance by now.
Nick: Yes, Riyyh tends to be dominant.
Sayward smiles. Having met Riyyh it is odd to think of him dominating anything.
Nick: Genetically, that is.
Sayward: Oh, well, I'm a throw back myself. Don't look like anyone in my family. Although Granny Mullins said I look like her brother.
Nick thinks that neither he nor Nikki would ever have been conceived, if Riyyh was more used to asserting himself, and less used to pleasing others.
Sayward rises still holding Nikki's hand.
Nick suspects that many of their 200+ siblings would also not be around, in that case.
Nikki is now looking way up at Sayward again.
Nikki: Why are you so tall?
Nikki would like to be tall one day and wonders if there are any things she can do.
Nick is afraid that Sayward might feel a bit awkward about her height.
Sayward chuckles. That is a good question.
Nick: Sayward is shorter than Controller Arat. Remember him?
Nikki nods. Haji Arat is very tall.
Sayward: It's okay Nick.
Sayward: Nikki, I'm tall for the same reason you have grey eyes.
Nikki frowns and stares up at Sayward.
Nick somehow doubts that Sayward's height is the result of a rather wild party at a feminist commune.
Nikki now wonders if she has found yet another sib.
Nikki: Is Riyyh your daddy too?
Nick sincerely hopes not.
Sayward blinks and remembers her child speak.
Nick: No, I don't think so, Nikki.
Nick: Sayward was talking about genetics. Remember how Racknie breeds artichokes?
Nikki: Oh! She is tall because her genes are tall.
Nick: Well, close enough.
Sayward tries not to bust out laughing. One should never laugh at a child. Well not where they might hear you.
Sayward: Yes, all my jeans are tall. [winks at Nick]
Nick winks back.
Nick chuckles.
Nick: What's that I smell?
Sayward: Oh, that would be Granny Mullins' venison stew.
Nick: ....venison?
Nick's alarm is ill-concealed.
Sayward: Yes, Devore and I went out for a bit of a hunt. Meat is hard to come by and I thought you might like... You don't eat meat do you?
Nick is starting to look more than a little nauseated.
Nick: No, I'm afraid neither of us does.
Sayward: It never occured to me that In-T Gens wouldn't eat meat. I am so sorry!
Nikki thinks that the meat smells good.
Nikki: I never ate any before. Is it good?
Nikki learned early in her life not to turn her nose up at any food she could get her little hands on.
Sayward: Well, sweetie I like it. But you don't have to eat it if you don't want to.
Nick hasn't spent enough time with small children to be used to their unconventional attitudes towards what is edible.
Nikki: Okay.
Nikki is totally unaware of the fact that Nick is about to spew.
Sayward is very aware of the fact that Nick is about to -- do something other than eat the stew.
Sayward: Nick I do have some vegetable dishes. You can eat that if you like.
Nick: Thank you.
Nick: ~~ ill concealed relief ~~
Sayward: Will it bother you that the stew pot is on the table, Nick?
Sayward would normally have put the stew into a tureen but well one must make do.
Nick swallows, reminding himself that he is a Farris-trained Donor noted for self-control.
Nick: No, I don't think so.
Nikki has wandered over to the "table" to see what is on it.
Sayward: I can move it if it will make you more comfortable.
Sayward: I hadn't intended for you to suffer through dinner.
Nikki looks at what must be the meat pot. It is bigger than the other assorted pots lined up down the center of the table.
Nick is Farris trained, after all, and has now largely regained his composure.
Nick: I'll be fine.
Nick moves to the table, selecting the seat farthest from the venison.
Sayward realizes that a large part of her war on hunger for Nick has now been excluded.
Sayward rembers what Granny Mullins used to say, "The chil' just needs some grease." Grease she can do.
Sayward: Nikki, why don't you sit here?
Sayward points to a chair that will put the two of them on the same side of the "table".
Nikki looks at the crate that Sayward is pointing to. She shrugs and sits down.
Nikki looks at her brother. She hopes that he won't mind if she eats the meat stuff.
Nick eyes the covered dishes, avoiding the stew pot.
Sayward dishes out a large bowl of the wild geens and taters and hands it to Nick.
Sayward paid a lot for those greens and a nasty looking wilted bunch they were but...
Nick's eyes widen.
Nick: Whereever did you get greens, at this time of year?
Sayward has always had a flair for cooking. No one would know what they had looked like.
Nick doesn't let that stop him from taking the bowl eagerly.
Sayward: Oh here and there.
Sayward is not giving up her source. Not even to Nick.
Nick is well aware that as a Tecton official, he lacks access to some of the more cautious black marketeers.
Sayward dishes a very small portion of greens for Nikki. She knows not to intimidate a child with large amounts of food.
Nikki looks at the meager portion on her plate and at the very large portion on Nick's. This is not fair.
Nikki: Can I have some more food, please?
Sayward is startled by the request. Most kids would rather be punished than eat their vegetables.
Sayward: Oh, sure, Nikki. [glances sideways at Nick] Do you want some stew to go with that?
Nikki: Oh, yes please!
Nikki is now feeling more mannerly since she will get to taste the meat and Nicky won't.
Nick is a bit suprised at Nikki's acceptance of meat, but forbears from commenting.
Sayward puts a small amount of stew on Nikki's plate.
Sayward: If you like it you may have more.
Nikki looks at the strange greyish brown mixture that Sayward has added to her plate. She sniffs it. Smells okay to her.
Sayward dishes herself a large helping of the stew. She will leave the rest of the vegetables for Nick.
Nick has been well drilled in high-society table manners by Arat, and so waits for Sayward to finish serving and take the first bite.
Sayward: Well everybody just dig in. [suits actions to words and digs in]
Nick takes a generous bite of potato.
Nick: This is delicious, Sayward.
Nikki takes a small fork full of stew and puts it in her mouth. She is very hungry. She doesn't know that she is going through a growth spurt but that doesn't make any difference to her anyway.
Sayward is relieved that she does have something that he can eat.
Sayward: Glad you like it.
Nikki chews the meat stew. It isn't like anything she has tasted before. She frowns.
Sayward notices Nikki frowning.
Sayward: You don't have to eat that Nikki if you don't like it.
Nikki is trying to decide if she likes it. She chews some more.
Nikki notes that meat takes a lot of chewing.
Sayward watches her little dinner guest wondering whether giving her the stew was a good idea.
Nick hopes that Nikki will remember what he said about just not eating food she doesn't like, without making a scene.
Nick takes a bite of the greens.
Nikki swallows and picks up another fork full. She smiles.
Nick: How have you flavored these greens, Sayward?
Sayward is slightly distracted watching Nikki eat.
Sayward: Oh, sorry, I used the ... [cringes as she remembers that she used a bone from the venison to add flavor to the pot]
Sayward: An old family recipe. Sort of a secret you know.
Nick: Ah. Well, I shan't ask you to reveal a trade secret.
Nikki is making very short work of the food on her plate.
Nick isn't doing too badly on his vegetables, either.
Sayward smiles weakly. She hopes that Nick's aversion to meat is all in his head, er, a cultural bias.
Nikki finishes her stew and vegetables and holds out her plate large grey eyes shining.
Nikki: Please, can I have some more?
Sayward looks from Nikki to Nick as if to ask if he thinks it is a good idea.
Nick shrugs: children are incomprehensible to him, but if the food doesn't make Sayward sick, he supposes Nikki will survive it.
Nick nods permission.
Sayward takes Nikki's plate and puts the same amount of food on it as she did before.
Nikki takes the plate and "digs in". This meat stuff is pretty good.
Sayward: Just currious, do any In-T Gens eat meat?
Nick: Not usually. At least, I haven't met any who do.
Nick: I suppose the ones who grew up out-Territory might, though. At least if it's available.
Sayward: How do you get enough protein to grow?
Sayward: I mean children need the protein.
Sayward has been noticing that most of the people she has run into tend to be on the short side.
Nick: There's milk, and cheese. Beans and cereal. It's not difficult to get protein without meat.
Sayward: I guess I'm just used to Out-T kids who hate vegetables with a passion.
Nick: I suppose it's mostly what you're used to eating.
Sayward: They'd rather eat bread and meat than vegetables and beans.
Nikki has been busily packing her dinner away. She is full and satisfied which is unsusual for her. Her daddy keeps plenty of snacks around and makes sure she eats regular food but she never has felt full. Well at least not like she does now.
Sayward: I hope everyone has room for desert. I made potato pie.
Nikki never turns down sweets but she feels like she is going to pop if she eats anything else.
Nick: I love potato pie.
Nick eats the last bite of the greens and settles back in anticipation.
Sayward: Good. I'll go get it out of the safe.
Nick: ...the safe?
Sayward literally has put the pie in the safe. There really isn't anywhere else to shut it up in.
Nick watches Sayward get the pie with amusement.
Sayward: Well, if you were at home I would have put it into the pie safe, but here it is in the real safe.
Nick: If you have to lock it up, it must be good
Nikki feels fuller and fuller. Maybe the extra stew wasn't a good idea.
Sayward chuckles.
Sayward: I hope it is.
Nikki doesn't feel at all well.
Nick turns his smile on Nikki, and it fades as he notices that she is looking a bit green.
Nick: Nikki, are you all right?
Nikki rubs her tummy, it hurts.
Sayward looks at a rather green little girl rubbing her belly.
Nikki: I think I ate too much.
Nikki: My tummy hurts.
Nick stands hastily.
Nick: Perhaps we'd better get you back to Riyyh.
Nikki nods and tries to stand up.
Sayward can read the signs very well. She is greatful that the slop jar is clean. She rushes it around to the very green little girl.
Nick reaches over to steady Nikki.
Sayward: Here, Nikki, it's okay if you have to be sick.
Nikki never gets sick. She also doesn't want to be sick at the dinner table.
Nikki: I'm okay. Nick, can we go home? I don't feel so good.
Nick: Of course we can.
Nikki has just contradicted herself but she doesn't care.
Nick helps Nikki towards the tent door.
Sayward is worried about Nikki.
Sayward: Please let me know how she is Nick.
Nick: She just ate too much. Children do that, sometimes.
Nick at least assumes that if it was food poisoning, Sayward would also be showing symptoms.
Nick: Riyyh will be able to help her.
Nikki gets a very sharp pain in her middle and doubles over. She has learned not to scream when she is in pain.
Nick sincerely hopes that Nikki will wait to throw up until Riyyh can take care of it, at least.
Nikki: Daddy! I want daddy. It hurts.
Sayward: Oh, no! I'm so sorry Nikki.
Nick picks Nikki up, with due caution to make sure that her potentially messy mouth is pointed outwards, and carries her from the tent.
Go on to Episode #122: Butt Load of Bang
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