Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #163: Strawberry Blush (5/7/01)
Riyyh sits in the cheerfully sunlit Narosian tea house (attached to the bath house and laundry) and enjoys a brief respite from being mobbed by people wanting this or that.
Riyyh is actually waiting for Alain Ro, as they were supposed to have tea this morning, but his chosen spot was just a bit too visible it seems.
Riyyh zlins about for Ro, hoping that the fellow will have the good fortune to turn up during the lull.
Alain Ro pauses in the entrance to the tea house, gazing bemusedly at the charming setting in the middle of so much mud and ugliness.
Riyyh spots Ro and waves.
Riyyh rises to greet him.
Riyyh: Professor! So good to see you again.
Alain Ro's sharp eyes assess the structural integrity of the building and is less than impressed, but it has a certain charm, like a gingerbread house
Riyyh fairly gushes with pleasure. Well, it is true he hasn't seen Ro since helping Birch meet him at the docks.
Alain Ro: Sectuib Riyyh. The pleasure is mine!
Riyyh: I have a table here... do you like strawberries?
Riyyh shows Ro to a tiny round table filled with a small tea set and an assortment of pastry treats.
Riyyh: When you said you'd like to take tea with me, I hoped that meant you'd be interested in trying some of our Narosian blends.
Alain Ro is genuinely pleased to see Riyyh, if for no other reason than that they are of similar ages in a wasteland filled with burly workers with minds like mayflies.
Riyyh has several little jars stashed around the tea set.
Alain Ro: Strawberries?
Alain Ro raises his brows in surprise.
Alain Ro appreciates the level of hospitality involved in handling poison to please a guest.
Alain Ro's mouth is indeed watering at any prospect of tasting real fruit rather than the fermented variety favored by Mr. Birch.
Alain Ro: Yes, I'm very fond of berries of all kinds.
Alain Ro: And I'd consider it an honor to sample your special blends of tea.
Alain Ro is indeed a connoisseur of anything subtle and civilized.
Riyyh waits until Alain Ro is seated before taking his own seat.
Riyyh: Well, I've prepared these small samples in case you wish to take home the ones you haven't tried. I wasn't sure if you'd prefer wax paper or glass. The former is lighter, but of course not as waterproof.
Riyyh smiles apologetically. He really is sorry Ro has to travel part way by boat.
Alain Ro examines Riyyh to see how the channel's current appearance compares to that day on the dock at the pier when they first met.
Riyyh is not wearing his most formal Narosian finery, so the glitter factor is cut back considerably.
Alain Ro: You are too kind. The glass would preserve the flavor better, would it not?
Riyyh has on some slim pants, an embroidered vest and a pretty necklace of gold with a matching bracelet.
Riyyh: Yes, I think so.
Riyyh's hair is considerably neater, due to the lack of wind inside the tea house.
Riyyh smiles.
Alain Ro reaches out for one of the samples and brings it to his face to smell the bouquet.
Riyyh: Ah, the Blushing Rose. One of my personal favorites.
Alain Ro is dressed in a simple but warm suit of flowing grey knit wool. It seems almost a kind of uniform with him.
Alain Ro: A very delicate scent.
Riyyh beams at the praise.
Alain Ro returns the Blushing Rose and reaches for another packet.
Alain Ro finds the scent here more pungent.
Riyyh begins to prepare two cups of tea with some of the Blushing Rose.
Alain Ro: ~~sensual pleasure~~
Alain Ro: That's interesting.
Riyyh zlins Ro's reaction, thinking it certainly is.
Riyyh: That one we call "Sylise's Surprise".
Alain Ro rubs his chin, slowly returning the packet to the table.
Alain Ro: What's that pungent undertone? Juniper?
Riyyh doesn't mention that it's called that because the aforementioned Sylise, being a bit sleep-deprived, had accidentally mixed two blends in her morning tea and was quite astonished at the results.
Riyyh: No, it is our dark trin. Very different don't you think? It's brought out quite nicely by the other ingredients.
Alain Ro: Quite remarkable.
Alain Ro makes a note to have his steward order some for Ro Hall when he returns to Chago.
Riyyh pours some hot water into the two cups.
Alain Ro: There is so much wealth and wonder locked away behind our Territorial borders, don't you think?
Riyyh: Well, I've always thought so. [agrees]
Riyyh thinks it is a bit difficult to see the glamor of it all when one's main contacts with OT culture come in the form of sobbing, lonely junct changeover victims, starving refugees, construction workers and the occasional gun toting soldier.
Riyyh however is certain there must be much of interest beyond all that.
Alain Ro: Your Narosian delicacies are enough to tempt most Gens to open their doors wide.
Alain Ro: But I wouldn't expect strawberries....
Riyyh positively glows at the added praise.
Riyyh: Oh, these are newly imported from your side of the border.
Alain Ro can see already that Riyyh is going to be an easier nut to crack than Arat.
Riyyh: We thought people would enjoy a spring treat, even if it is a bit early to ship them economically.
Riyyh and Naros are charging up the yin yang for the strawberry tarts, but crazed Gens lonely for home will pay just about anything.
Riyyh has been ripping his hair out trying to find things that the Gens will buy with their donation money, so that they have some hope of making back at least part of what they owe Ro.
Alain Ro: I am surprised your folks are willing to risk handling them.
Riyyh smiles.
Alain Ro: I thought they were deadly poison to Simes.
Riyyh: At Naros we are 50% Gens.
Riyyh: The Gens can handle them safely, of course, and even enjoy eating them... although they do wash their hands afterward.
Alain Ro nods.
Alain Ro: That is the Householding ideal, is it not?
Alain Ro: Equal populations?
Riyyh: Yes. [smiles]
Riyyh: Of course at Naros, we do have a larger population of renSimes simply because of our disjunction program.
Riyyh: But they are only staying there for a year or two, before moving on to new lives.
Riyyh: The 50% figure applies to our members.
Alain Ro: Ah, yes. You manage the ones who didn't make it to a Sime Center in time.
Alain Ro doesn't add "and who managed to dodge the posse with rifles".
Alain Ro figures that goes without saying.
Riyyh: Yes, we do.
Riyyh smiles kindly; he can guess what Ro is thinking.
Riyyh: It has been Naros' specialty for decades now, although of course in the early days they were all from Sime Territory.
Alain Ro: I am sure it is a difficult transition for those youngsters.
Riyyh: Yes, terribly difficult. But fortunately, those in First Year are remarkably flexible.
Alain Ro: You've been around long enough to remember how it was before Unity.
Alain Ro: I am sure that things have changed a lot over the years.
Riyyh: Oh, my, yes they have.
Riyyh: For the better, I would say, wouldn't you?
Riyyh hands Ro his tea.
Alain Ro: Certainly, or I wouldn't be sitting here sharing tea with you, Sectuib Riyyh.
Alain Ro takes the cup in his long, delicate fingers.
Alain Ro savors the delicate aroma once more.
Alain Ro: But as you know, I am an historian.
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh enjoys other people enjoying life's little pleasures almost as much as he enjoys life's little pleasures himself.
Alain Ro: And I want to truly understand these changes... and put them in context.
Alain Ro 's nager emphasizes the word "context" -- it seems to have a peculiar significance for him.
Riyyh wonders if he should be worried about this "context" business.
Riyyh has heard that Ro has been chasing Arat all over the camps.
Alain Ro: And so I delve into the past, when life was not so pleasant.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Riyyh had been afraid it would be something like that. Well, fortunately they are only getting together for tea. It's Arat's past Ro is interested in, after all.
Alain Ro: And seek to divine the future....
Riyyh: Do try one of these tarts, I'm told they're simply marvellous.
Alain Ro frowns slightly at the "oh, dear." He hoped for a bit more enthusiasm for his favorite subject.
Riyyh attempts to distract Ro by placing the shining red strawberry pie-lets over on Ro's side of the table.
Riyyh senses that he wasn't anywhere near subtle enough with the distraction.
Alain Ro attention is drawn by the glistening berries. They smell simply delightful.
Riyyh: My apologies, I get so excited when they come up with a new treat.
Riyyh: And since I cannot enjoy them myself....
Alain Ro knows he is being deliberately distracted, but decides the serious stuff can wait. In the light of the centuries, what is a few minutes to scarf down a tart, after all?
Alain Ro: Well, then I'll enjoy them for you.
Alain Ro understands that Simes derive some vicarious pleasure from watching Gens eat, though he doesn't quite understand how it works.
Riyyh smiles.
Alain Ro picks up the strawberry tart and tastes it, savoring the sharp and sweet flavors.
Alain Ro: This is quite wonderful.
Alain Ro had heard horror stories about in-T cooking; what a relief to find such civilized delights in this wilderness.
Riyyh beams once again. He is clearly more comfortable now that the subject of the less-than-pleasant aspects of the past has seemingly been averted.
Alain Ro is not so easily diverted from his obsessions, alas for Riyyh.
Alain Ro: What a marvel to taste fresh fruit in the midst of all this misery and starvation.
Alain Ro: I understand your House has played a key role in the Gen relief effort?
Riyyh: Yes, we have. The camp for the Gens was originally our proposal.
Riyyh: We also assisted in all phases of the implementation, and continue to provide volunteer teachers and kitchen staff on site.
Alain Ro: And you were party to the decision to invite my participation?
Riyyh: Yes, I was in on those discussions. [smiles] Although of course, it was ultimately up to Arat.
Riyyh thinks it is a lucky thing that the Controller agreed to it on his own, as encouragement from Riyyh would only have made things worse.
Riyyh had hesitated to express a strong opinion on which of the methods of obtaining funding was chosen; while it would have been awful to become entangled with the CoP, the consequences of a seriously offended Arat aren't pretty either.
Riyyh thinks it has worked out for the best, however.
Alain Ro: Yes. He has been most cooperative about discussing the past, but displays a certain... reticence... on other matters.
Alain Ro: And I was hoping you might elucidate the circumstances.
Alain Ro takes another bite of tart, half-closing his eyes to fully experience the flavor.
Alain Ro has his own methods of distracting his subjects.
Alain Ro figures one channel should understand another, but whether they would share that understanding with a strange Gen remains to be seen.
Riyyh does find Ro's antics terribly distracting.
Riyyh waits until Alain Ro is finished savoring the bite before he answers.
Riyyh has, of course, nothing whatsoever against discussing Arat's circumstances, such as he knows them, particularly as Ro doesn't seem to plan to ask him about Naros' gory past or anything.
Riyyh: Certainly. [smiles]
Alain Ro: I thought that Sectuibs and Controllers were the rulers in your society.
Alain Ro: And yet I get the distinct impression that Controller Arat is afraid to say what he thinks on any contemporary topic.
Alain Ro: I see a very different man than the one who reputedly stopped the Capitol Riots with his visionary leadership.
Riyyh smiles kindly at Alain Ro.
Riyyh: What sort of topics did you ask him about?
Alain Ro: Well....
Alain Ro: His opinion of the Tecton's stewardship of New Othwol.
Alain Ro: His views on the strengths and weaknesses of the current bureaucratic structure.
Riyyh's smile turns rueful.
Riyyh: Oh, dear, no, you'll never get him to speak about that.
Riyyh: It simply wouldn't be politic.
Alain Ro: Why not?
Alain Ro thinks that evaluating policy is a basic function of all management and leadership.
Riyyh: As for New Othwol, he's watched carefully for signs of wishing to regain control there. It wouldn't do to show too much interest.
Riyyh: Why, I have heard some people speculate that he asked to be sent here, to the Dam, purely because it was nearer to New Othwol. Although of course the very idea is ridiculous.
Riyyh, though he doesn't realize it, has no idea!
Alain Ro: Why is that ridiculous?
Riyyh: Well, the risks far outweigh any gains.
Riyyh: There is basic survival to consider, after all.
Riyyh: For you and I, this is merely unpleasant. For him, it is dangerous.
Riyyh might concede that it is dangerous to pretty much everybody, without too much convincing though.
Riyyh does have to spend his quota of time patching up construction workers and such after all.
Alain Ro mulls this idea over.
Alain Ro thinks that certainly Arat was quite vehement about the importance of personal survival as a priority.
Alain Ro wonders, however, if Arat wants to survive for himself, or because it is his duty to carry on the Audnes legacy.
Alain Ro finds it more credible that Arat would risk himself for his family than for a bunch of ragtag rioters in Capitol.
Riyyh: As for his opinions of the Tecton's bureaucratic structure, remember that he has no way to leave here until his transfer is arranged for by one of the very bureaucrats who make up that structure.
Riyyh: It would little benefit him to badmouth them.
Riyyh is certain that Arat would, if Arat thought he could get away with it and thought it appropriate.
Riyyh thinks those are big ifs, however.
Alain Ro: I am not talking about "bad-mouthing" anyone. Simply discussing the structure and form of the organization.
Alain Ro: Are channels forbidden to voice political opinions, then?
Riyyh: Perhaps he misunderstood your questions. [soothingly]
Riyyh: I am certain he was only attempting to be prudent.
Riyyh would rather that Alain Ro is pleased with his half of the deal. After all, at some point he is going to have to find out that Naros does not have the funds.
Alain Ro: Well, what does he have to fear from speaking his mind?
Riyyh: It goes back to his changeover and who his parents were, I'm afraid.
Alain Ro rubs his chin.
Alain Ro: Certainly his family were portrayed as villains in the popular press.
Riyyh: He began his life as a channel as a war captive of sorts.
Riyyh: His choice was prison, which would be certain death, or to train.
Riyyh: It served the Tecton's purpose that he publicly join their ranks.
Riyyh: Or at least, so long as he did so with grace and dignity.
Riyyh: When he became too influential in New Othwol as a regular citizen, they removed him to Capitol.
Riyyh winces slightly at the memory.
Riyyh had enjoyed the relative freedom of Neptude's years as District Controller.
Riyyh: Well, when it happened, they made it clear that the decision would stand, even if it became a life or death situation.
Riyyh: He was to be finished with New Othwol, and that was that.
Alain Ro: Yes, the Tecton wanted the old order demolished. That I understand very well.
Riyyh: It was not so long ago, in some people's minds.
Riyyh smiles.
Alain Ro: But Arat was Controller in Capitol for years, and from all I have read performed admirably.
Alain Ro: You say he is still not trusted?
Riyyh: Oh, my, yes, certainly, in any ordinary matter.
Riyyh: He is probably a bit too cautious in avoiding criticism of authority, but caution is in his nature.
Riyyh remembers how difficult it was to coax Arat out of his shell back when he and Deah and Jeniard were in First Year School. Well, those were certainly interesting days.
Riyyh smiles pleasantly at the memory, which is much nicer than dwelling upon the many couriers who visited Naros looking for paperwork while Arat was 53rd DC.
Alain Ro: And how does the Tecton discipline a channel who criticizes authority?
Riyyh: Well, I am certain it is in proportion to the act. One who repeatedly and publicly questioned the Tecton's practices, in such a manner as to cause instability in government and in public safety, would no doubt be removed from the public eye.
Riyyh: While opinions given in private might only slightly affect a person's future.
Riyyh: Of course, if they were radical enough opinions, and the wrong person heard them... but isn't that true of all human organizations?
Riyyh smiles.
Alain Ro: Of course.
Riyyh adjusts a small plate of leaf-shaped chocolate mint dipped shortbreads so that it will be easier for Ro to reach.
Alain Ro: And it is the structures for managing such diverse opinions that determine whether a way of life survives or stagnates.
Alain Ro: Hence my curiosity.
Riyyh enjoys agreeing with people too much to be an effective debater.
Riyyh: Oh yes, I agree entirely.
Riyyh tends to come across as a bit flighty because of this, but that impression is not entirely erroneous so it's OK.
Alain Ro doesn't particularly want to be agreed with.
Alain Ro: How do you deal with divergent opinions within your own House?
Riyyh: If those involved cannot work it out themselves, they often come to me for advice or a judgment on the issue.
Riyyh: Of course a good deal of discussion is generally involved, and afterward if feelings were hurt then a period of reconciliation and friendship renewal takes place.
Riyyh rather likes that last bit.
Alain Ro smiles.
Riyyh: Sometimes I will talk privately with each of those concerned, in an effort to see their points of view.
Riyyh's problem solving abilities are both helped and hindered by the fact that he does tend to agree with each person in turn, in private.
Alain Ro: So it sounds like your style is to negotiate rather than to dictate.
Riyyh: Oh, I would much rather.
Alain Ro: And is that style common to all Households, or only to Naros, or just to yourself as an individual?
Riyyh: It really depends upon who you talk to. [smiles] There is quite a bit of diversity, even in leadership.
Riyyh: I would venture to say that in Sime Territory, where so much is shared emotionally, negotiation is emphasised.
Alain Ro: And if a member of your Household argued against policies you had established, what would you do?
Riyyh: Well, I would certainly listen to what he had to say.
Riyyh is a good listener.
Riyyh: Many of them do have excellent ideas.
Riyyh: And of course, they are all experts in their own chosen fields.
Riyyh means that quite literally in some cases.
Alain Ro: And if you thought the ideas being proposed were flawed?
Alain Ro attends with curiosity. He has not met many Sectuibs, but it is clear Naros is much more flexible than Zeor.
Riyyh: I would explain why.
Riyyh would be terribly nice about it, of course.
Riyyh: Or I would try to accommodate them in some way that pleased them without encountering the flaw in question.
Alain Ro: And if the person persisted in a course you thought was wrong?
Riyyh looks pleasantly bewildered.
Riyyh can tell Alain Ro is searching for a certain answer, but is not quite sure where he is aiming.
Riyyh: Perhaps if you could give an example...?
Alain Ro: I don't know enough of the issues within Naros to give a good one.
Alain Ro: But one circumstance that comes to mind....
Alain Ro: The conflict between Rior and Zeor over renSime transfer.
Alain Ro: If you had a Distect advocate among your membership, how would you handle that?
Riyyh's puzzlement increases.
Riyyh: Would this person insist that all of us must share the same beliefs?
Riyyh: Because of course if it was simply for themselves they wished it, it would not be a problem at all.
Riyyh: We do have renSime/Gen pairs at Naros.
Alain Ro: Ah, I see.
Alain Ro: Then your ways are more flexible than many other Households.
Riyyh smiles. Naros has been accused of many things, but rarely has it been accused of inflexibility.
Riyyh: We do take great care in matchmaking in such cases.
Riyyh wonders if Alain Ro has entertained some fantasies along these lines himself. Many who bring the subject up have.
Riyyh studies Ro speculatively.
Alain Ro: ~~no particular indications of nageric sensitivity and way too old to train~~
Alain Ro: ~~complex and vital field pattern~~
Alain Ro: And of course the Tecton officially opposes the practice.
Riyyh: Yes, it does. It is much too dangerous to allow on a wholesale basis, at least at this stage in the evolution of the mixed society.
Alain Ro: Now what happens to a Tecton channel who is not the heir of famous war criminals who espouses such unpopular views?
Alain Ro: You say such an individual might be asked to hold his tongue? Or demoted?
Riyyh: It is quite rare for channels to hold such opinions.
Alain Ro smiles.
Alain Ro: Only because the ones who do were excluded from Tecton service.
Riyyh: It is more often seen among Gens and renSimes. A channel would have no personal stake in such a thing, already possessing monthly Gen transfers, and further more would have ample opportunity to zlin how unready the average person is for such a relationship.
Alain Ro considers.
Alain Ro: Well, yes, you have a point there.
Riyyh: The easy compatibility between channels and Donors is difficult to come by, requiring years of training.
Riyyh: It may be centuries before our larities can co-mingle on a large scale as freely as the genders do -- if that ever becomes possible.
Riyyh: There is a good deal of cultural and behavioral baggage to be worked through first.
Riyyh mixes metaphors; it seems appropriate when discussing direct Gen transfer.
Alain Ro: And, as you said, you are able to discuss the issue and explain why you think the idea is flawed.
Alain Ro: Do you think Arat harbors ideas that the Tecton leadership would consider equally flawed?
Riyyh considers this interesting question.
Riyyh: No, [finally has to admit]
Riyyh: As far as I know, he is fairly mainstream in his beliefs.
Alain Ro is pleased that Riyyh is taking his inquiries so seriously.
Alain Ro: Then why is it necessary to muzzle a man of his abilities?
Alain Ro: Arat told me he sees his own interests, those of the Audnes family and the Tecton as one and the same.
Riyyh: His parents attempted to overthrow Tecton rule three times.
Riyyh: He was trained by them to, shall we say, serve and protect those who remained loyal.
Riyyh: Some do not wish there to be any risk of trouble due to his influence.
Riyyh: That is no doubt why they brought him away from there.
Alain Ro: Yes, I can see that bond still motivates him.
Alain Ro: And I can well understand the decision to remove him from New Othwol.
Alain Ro: But why did he leave Capitol for here?
Alain Ro: You were Controller after him; perhaps you have some insight there?
Riyyh: Officially, it was because your government specifically requested him.
Riyyh: Unofficially, well, it's no secret he was having trouble with Regional Controller Neptude.
Riyyh: This assignment puts him outside of Neptude's Region.
Riyyh: It is possible he requested it of Seruffin.
Alain Ro: What was the source of the difficulty?
Riyyh considers how frank he should be.
Riyyh prefers tact, although it's clear Ro wants meat.
Riyyh does enjoy divulging information, though; after all he was raised at Naros.
Alain Ro is cognizant of the Naros' reputation for gossip; it is one of the reasons he targeted Riyyh as a potential informant.
Riyyh: Neptude was... well, you must understand, the position of Controller is not considered a desirable one.
Riyyh: It requires both the "discernment" as it is called -- the ability to judge nageric potential and compatibility -- and skill as a channel. But it also requires a good deal of time, and most channels capable of performing a Controller's duties suffer from entran when they do not work enough.
Riyyh: Therefore, few seek out the Controller's position, most are granted it unwillingly, and the assignment is usually brief -- like mine.
Alain Ro rubs his chin thoughtfully.
Riyyh: It is, how do you say it? A dirty job, but someone has to do it.
Riyyh smiles. He knew some of these phrases the junct kids taught him would come in handy sometime.
Alain Ro smiles at the colloquialism.
Riyyh: Now, those who become Controller long term usually do so for one of three reasons:
Riyyh: They are competent to perform a Controller's duties but unfit for any other work; they are the only person available qualified to do it; or they do such an excellent job of that nobody can imagine them doing anything else.
Riyyh: I'm afraid that Neptude, well.... [apologetically]
Alain Ro gazes at Riyyh inquiringly.
Riyyh: He wasn't that good a District Controller, and he would not have been promoted to Regional Controller if they hadn't required his position to move Arat into.
Riyyh: Once there, he found himself nominally in charge of a channel who far outstripped his performance as District Controller, and who as well as being plainly his superior as a channel, would doubtless have done better in his new position as well.
Riyyh: They could not actually give Arat the Regional Controllership, of course, because it would grant him too much power.
Riyyh: And so the situation remained.
Alain Ro: Can't they zlin whether the man is loyal or not?
Alain Ro has always imagined that zlinning would make governance a lot easier.
Riyyh: Loyalty can be zlinned, but where the loyalty lies cannot.
Riyyh: And Arat is an exceedingly difficult man to zlin.
Riyyh: I certainly could not find a secret of him if he wanted it kept.
Alain Ro nods.
Alain Ro: And this Neptude felt threatened... but you said no one wants to be Controller? What made him unfit to simply go back to channeling?
Riyyh: Well, I hate to say it so baldly, but... well, he simply isn't that good a channel.
Riyyh: He does a good enough job as Controller though, and he has all of the political connections that make the job go smoothly for him.
Riyyh: People are used to seeing him there in one capacity or another.
Alain Ro nods.
Riyyh: And he is one of the few who truly does desire the job.
Alain Ro: So Arat was willing to take the physical risks of this assignment to get out from under the thumb of a supervisor who disliked him.
Alain Ro has seen plenty of such unhappy bureaucratic partnerships in the military, government and business out-Territory.
Riyyh: There were... very real dangers to remaining there.
Alain Ro: Dangers?
Riyyh isn't going to go so far as to outline the evident malice in Neptude's choice of assignments for Arat, or his frequently making Arat wait beyond his due date before assigning him somebody, and so forth.
Riyyh: Do try one of these little mint cookies. See, there is chocolate, and a cookie inside. Wonderful.
Riyyh offers the cookies to Ro.
Alain Ro sees that there are topics even Riyyh feels it prudent not to discuss.
Go on to Episode #164: Three-Wheeler
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