Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #169: The Wicked Witch of the Woods (5/26/01)
Nikki escapes. Well, not really escapes, she wanders off as usual. The only real difference is the place where Daddy is tends to move now. Nikki has grown adept at listening for the sound of wagon wheels creaking into motion.
Nikki gets someplace new to explore every time they stop. They stop a lot, usually because one of the big wagons has gotten stuck. This time the big heavy one in the middle broke a wheel.
Prunida keeps her long-suffering horse plodding down the road, which is fetlock-deep in mud in some places.
Prunida thinks this area, and this season, are far too damp for her.
Prunida is eager to have her journey finished, so that she won't have to spend her days plowing through mud.
Prunida has not spent a great deal of time around construction sites, or she wouldn't be so optimistic.
Nikki has decided to see what's ahead this time. She has been picking her way around mud holes she could bathe in. She wouldn't dream of getting her pretty clothes dirty though.
Nikki sings a silly song that Ali taught her. She misses Nicky though.
Prunida spots a child in the road, and nudges her horse to the side to avoid it--not out of any altruism, but because she doesn't want to deal with the protests the beast and presumed parents would make.
Prunida notes that said parents don't seem to be much in evidence, however.
Nikki looks up to see a very old lady on a horse. She smiles her semi-toothless smile at the nice lady who let her by.
Prunida takes a closer look at the child's clothes, and jerks abruptly on the reins to stop her horse, which would have been more than glad to stop with far less urging.
Prunida: You! Child! Is that Narosian livery you're wearing?
Prunida's eyesight is no longer good enough to catch all nuances of dress, if she'd ever had enough sophistication to distinguish between fashions in the first place.
Nikki blinks at the word livery. But she got Narosian and wearing. She nods figuring the lady must be asking about her Narosian clothes.
Nikki: Yes.
Nikki: My Daddy picked this out for me to wear.
Nikki would zlin full of pride if she had more than a barely noticeable nager.
Prunida: Your Daddy, eh? You mean the rabbit?
Prunida is, of course, familiar with the parentage of the last two generations of Narosian children.
Nikki: No, [slowly as if talking to a not to bright younger child] my Daddy the Sectuib.
Nikki has no innate respect for age.
Prunida: That's what I said: the rabbit. Is he around, ...what is your name, anyway?
Nikki isn't sure but she gets the feeling this old lady just insulted her Daddy. She frowns looking for all the world like her mother Meana.
Nikki: My name is Nikki ambrov Naros. And just who are you?
Nikki feels no disadvantage at having to look way up at the Sime on the horse. She has to look up at just about everybody.
Prunida looks at Nikki more closely, warning signs flashing through her mind. Specifically, these signs: $$$$$$$$.
Prunida: Nikki? Are you the girl my grandson Nick wrote about?
Prunida's grandson did not, of course, write his grandmother, but one letter to Nick's mother did get through.
Prunida had no hesitation in confiscating it, of course.
Nikki can't read very well yet and hasn't seen any letters so how could she know? She shrugs big.
Nikki stops and replays that last question.
Nikki: Nicky is your grandson?
Prunida: Nick Reckage is my grandson, yes.
Prunida is aware of how many times a common name like "Nick" is likely to crop up.
Nikki has been getting a lot of practice figuring out how she is related to people. This one stumps her though. If this is Nicky's grandma does that make her Nikki's grandma too?
Nikki thinks a little harder. If she is Nicky's grandma would that make her Daddy's mother?
Prunida peers down at Nikki, who doesn't strike her as anything special. Just the sort of tiresome infant Nick would take up with, actually.
Nikki: Who are you?
Nikki has no desire to get the headache that thinking about this genealogy problem seems to be starting.
Prunida: I'm Nick's grandmother. The 25% of him that isn't Riyyh.
Prunida is familiar enough with Narosian genetics to be able to pinpoint the genealogical complexities.
Nikki cocks her head to the side. She has learned a lot about calculating percents since coming to live with her Daddy.
Nikki: Do you have a name?
Prunida: Prunida.
Prunida: I'm traveling to visit Nick.
Nikki smiles and drops a very proper curtsy.
Nikki: Pleased to meet you Prunida.
Prunida tries to look like a friendly visiting grandmother, rather than a circling shark.
Prunida has not had much practice at it, but at least the effort should count for something.
Prunida decides that if this child is the sister whom Nick apparently befriended, for some unknown reason, she might prove a useful source of information.
Nikki has been trying to get over her innate distrust of members of her own gender. Daddy says it isn't nice.
Prunida swings off of her horse, which grunts with relief.
Prunida: Tell me, child, how has my grandson settled in, at this dam construction site?
Nikki thinks for a moment. Nicky is always so busy but he seemed happy, well, when he wasn't being angry at something she had done.
Nikki: He's doing just fine.
Prunida: Really? He doesn't wish that her were, say, back in Capitol?
Prunida had rather hoped that a winter in the mountains would have persuaded Nick to move back to a more accessible location.
Nikki shrugs big again.
Nikki: He never said so to me.
Prunida: Are there things that he misses, that he can't get in such a remote site? A favorite food, perhaps?
Nikki looks off down the road where she had been headed. The wagons would be moving soon and she hasn't gotten very far ahead.
Prunida figures that Gens are relatively easy to woo through gifts of food.
Nikki racks her seven year old brain for a moment.
Nikki: Apple sourballs!
Nikki reaches into her pocket and takes out the one Nick gave her when they said goodbye. She really misses him.
Nikki: He gave me his last one.
Prunida looks at the unappetizing-appearing, lint-covered pea green ball.
Prunida: Apple sourballs, eh? He used to prefer the lemon ones.
Prunida's sour face looks as though she herself sucks on lemons frequently.
Prunida: Well, as his visiting grandmother, I should find some apple sourballs to take to him. Do you think he would like that?
Nikki has been trying not to think of how much she misses Nicky. Even though she didn't see him for days sometimes, she always knew she would see him when he came to the bath house, or to visit Daddy or on the rare occasions when she would sneak into the lodge to see him.
Nikki: Yes, he would.
Prunida isn't terribly sensitive, even for a renSime, but small children are easy enough to read when there aren't any impinging fields, particularly when they aren't making any effort to hide their feelings.
Prunida: You miss Nick, don't you?
Nikki: A whole lot.
Prunida has always found her grandson a bit tiresome, herself, particularly when he was being stubborn about obeying her commands.
Prunida is not above using others' different opinions of Nick to her own advantage, however.
Nikki: Ali is nice to me but he spends most of his time with Daddy. He's Daddy's Companion.
Prunida pastes a smile on her grim face, unintentionally giving the impression of a person recently dead of cyanide poisoning.
Prunida: You know, child, I'm going straight up to the Dam site -- well, with a stop to get some apple sourballs for my dear grandson on the way.
Prunida: If you wanted to write a letter to my Nick, and tell him how much you miss him, well, I'd be more than happy to deliver it personally.
Prunida at least hopes that the lure of a communication from this tiresome brat would allow her to gain access to her grandson. At least, if he doesn't know who the messenger is.
Riyyh comes over the last ridge in the road, zlins Prunida and how close she is to Nikki, and instinct kicks in.
Riyyh flies down the hill at high augmentation and snatches Nikki up protectively.
Nikki: Weeeeee!
Prunida could have wished for a bit more time to work on the child.
Nikki: Daddy!!!
Prunida: Riyyh! Fancy meeting you here.
Nikki giggles with delight.
Riyyh: Oh, er, Prunida! [a bit apologetically and breathlessly] What a wonderful, er,
Riyyh wonders if Prunida had been about to kidnap Nikki.
Prunida actually hadn't, but only because letters are easier to deal with than struggling seven-year-olds.
Prunida knows Nikki is still years away from establishment or changeover, and therefore her marketability to the Tecton is not that great.
Riyyh would confront her about it, except that 1) he doesn't have much experience being on the delivering end of a confrontation, and 2) he wouldn't want to give her any ideas if she hadn't.
Nikki wraps her arms around her Daddy's neck and snuggles against him, happy. For the time being.
Prunida: So, Riyyh, what brings you out on this mud track that they laughingly call a road?
Riyyh hugs Nikki to himself. There's no particular reason to ask Prunida the same; the reason is obvious.
Riyyh: We are on our way home.
Riyyh: It's the first that the passes have been clear enough.
Riyyh means, clear enough for reasonably civilized travel.
Nikki is now looking down on Prunida from her new vantage in her father's arms.
Nikki: Prunida is going to take Nicky some apple sourballs.
Prunida: What's it like up there in the mountains, anyway?
Riyyh: Really! [in answer to what Nikki said]
Riyyh thinks Prunida has made some significant strides in learning how to be nice to a person, if that is the case.
Nikki nods enthusiastically.
Riyyh: [to Prunida] It's really terribly primitive I'm afraid.
Riyyh manages to refrain from saying what he was about to: that the conditions probably wouldn't trouble Prunida much.
Riyyh can be very polite even to really mean awful people.
Riyyh: We've been at our wits' end trying to keep our services open and well stocked.
Riyyh: But the people are friendly and there is certainly a lot to see.
Riyyh means, if you like people watching... and aren't either terribly fond of trees or terribly bored by them.
Prunida: Primitive, eh? I suppose that means my grandson is roughing it?
Riyyh: Well, he's got it better than nearly anybody else on site, of course.
Riyyh: The area's Controller does have to zlin him much of the time.
Prunida is not displeased, for two reasons: it leaves plenty of opportunities for potential amenities to use as bribes, and it means that Nick hasn't been able to spend much of his salary.
Riyyh: But conditions are pretty poor in places.
Prunida: Is he happy working with the Tecton, or is he longing to run off with that rogue of his again?
Prunida wonders if the Tecton would reward her with a pension for alerting them to the potential loss of a Donor, negating the need to actually convince Nick to fork over part of his salary.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Riyyh: Well, I'm afraid Snake and Nick have had a bit of a falling out.
Riyyh: He's really much more interested in Arat these days.
Riyyh: You must admit, Arat is the more... stable of the two.
Riyyh knows people don't usually refer to Arat as "stable", at least not until the third or fourth word of a description, but in the relative sense it's certainly accurate.
Nikki narrows her eyes at Prunida. This lady seems to make Daddy unhappy. That is not something that is good for him.
Prunida: Quite. That's good news. I didn't care for that Snake at all.
Prunida came close to being murdered by Snake on more than one occasion; one of the few things that she and Riyyh have in common.
Prunida does not know about Arat's private bodyguards, of course, as they were hired when he came to the Dam.
Prunida might not be concerned about them, even so; they were hired to guard Arat from physical harm, after all, not to prevent his Donor from familial stalkers.
Nikki only met Snake once. She seemed nicer than Haji Arat. Too bad she's a girl.
Prunida: Unless she's likely to take after Nick in revenge?
Prunida: ~~ worry ~~
Prunida would hate to have the cash cow she's spent her entire adult life breeding cut down before he repays her investment.
Riyyh shakes his head.
Riyyh: It's not likely, under the circumstances.
Prunida thinks that over.
Riyyh: Nick is one of only three compatible Donors in the area, until Tiarala arrives.
Riyyh means, the Donor accompanying Tiarala.
Prunida: Well, I guess even Snake would want a replacement on tentacle, before she did anything drastic.
Riyyh is not certain that Snake thinks things out in so many words like that, but he lets it pass.
Riyyh tends to let a lot of things pass when conversing with Prunida. It makes it so much easier.
Riyyh manages a weak smile.
Riyyh: So, you are continuing on to the Dam site straight away, then?
Riyyh: I don't suppose there is anywhere else to go is there?
Riyyh chuckles.
Prunida snorts.
Prunida: Not on this road, anyway.
Prunida: I was telling Nick's dearly beloved little sister, here, that if she wanted to write my grandson a short letter, why then, I'd be happy to deliver it... personally.
Riyyh winces. What Prunida most likely wants is a guaranteed foot in the door.
Riyyh: Well, that is certainly er, kind... of you.
Riyyh: Isn't it Nikki? [asks his daughter]
Nikki grins.
Riyyh: Do you want to write a letter?
Nikki: Yes, it is, Daddy. But I don't write too good.
Nikki slips on her grammar still sometimes.
Prunida is not about to give up that easily.
Prunida: Now, now, if you want to write a letter, I'm sure we'd both be glad to help you with it.
Prunida: Just think how happy Nick would be to hear from you?
Prunida might make a better impression on small children if she didn't despise them quite so thoroughly.
Prunida is willing to use people she despises to reach her goals, however, hence Nick's Narosian parentage.
Riyyh's tentacles curl up at the zlin of Prunida's nager.
Nikki keeps getting an odd vibe from Prunida or maybe it's the fact that her Daddy's grip tightens when the lady speaks.
Nikki: No, I think I will wait. Nicky told me to write him when we get home.
Riyyh: OK, Nikki. You know, we have special papers at Naros. You'll enjoy picking one out, I expect.
Riyyh smiles at her. This is a real smile!
Prunida: But child, I'm sure that Nick was just thinking that it would be too difficult to find someone to deliver a letter, while you were on the road. But since I'm here, why, what could be easier?
Prunida: Don't you want to tell him about all the things you've seen on the trip so far?
Prunida: If you wait, you might forget some of them.
Prunida is hoping that any letter Nikki writes on such a topic would include a few good words about Prunida herself, hence her continued grimace--I mean, smile.
Riyyh: Now, now, Prunida. She'll write him.
Riyyh: Shall we let your auntie Prunida go on her way, Nikki, and go back and see if the wagon is repaired?
Prunida: ~~ frustration at being foiled ~~
Riyyh means "auntie" in the loosest possible sense... that of "unidentifiable older female relative".
Prunida debates more direct action.
Nikki: Okay, Daddy. [can sense that Daddy would like to get away from this lady]
Riyyh: Good travels, Prunida. And be careful, the hills can be dangerous at this time of year.
Riyyh thinks Prunida ought to know; she kidnapped Nick after an avalanche one other spring, on another mountainside.
Prunida swings up onto her horse's back, inspecting Riyyh closely.
Riyyh looks up at Prunida, Nikki in his arms.
Riyyh is a bit worse for the wear after a winter on the Dam site, but basically himself.
Nikki hugs her Daddy more closely. She has absorbed the Narosian desire not have her Daddy upset.
Nikki hasn't made the connection between her actions and the fact that her Daddy spends a lot of time extracting her from the consequences of them.
Prunida kicks the horse abruptly, sending it staggering towards Riyyh.
Prunida reaches down and snatches at Nikki.
Prunida: You're not taking her anywhere until I get my letter!
Riyyh starts back in surprise as the horse nearly runs him down, his grip tightening on Nikki reflexively.
Riyyh: Oh, my! [to himself mostly] What a nightmare.
Riyyh: Prunida, dearest, please try to remain calm.
Prunida fastens onto Nikki with one claw, tearing at Riyyh's tentacles with those of the other hand.
Nikki's head snaps around in the direction of Prunida.
Prunida: You can have her back when I have my letter! A good one, mind you!
Prunida looks much like an attacking Freeband Raider from a storybook.
Riyyh is no match for Prunida in a contest of clawing.
Nikki sinks her teeth in to the offending hand.
Nikki draws blood.
Riyyh lets go of Nikki with one arm and grabs the horse's reins (which are conveniently pressed into his neck) instead.
Prunida yells, but keeps her hold on Nikki, dragging the child onto the saddle in front of her.
Riyyh may not be particularly fond of horses, but he does know that the person who has the reins closest to the bit is the one in the most control.
Nikki redirects her two sharp little teeth to Prunida's arm.
Riyyh: Nikki, don't bite, it's just not nice. [without any hope of being listened to]
Riyyh has met Nikki's mother, after all.
Nikki doesn't listen. She bites harder!
Riyyh glances back up the hillside, hoping some of the construction laborers travelling with them will hear the commotion and come to their rescue.
Nikki also kicks, flails about, thrashes and scratches.
Riyyh: I don't think she wishes to write one right now, [explains]
Riyyh having lost his grip on the struggling Nikki, grasps the reins firmly in both hands.
Prunida kicks her poor, staggering horse, trying to force it to pull free of Riyyh.
Prunida tastes even worse than she looks.
Prunida gives Nikki a hearty cuff on the ear.
Prunida: Stop that, you little brat.
Riyyh casts about for something he can do, and his eyes light upon the cinch buckles.
Riyyh doesn't want to get kicked, by either Prunida, Nikki or the horse, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Nikki is now seeing red as her ears ring. She bites harder and faster and keeps kicking. She is now mad and fighting purely on instinct.
Riyyh cringes away from Nikki's flying feet, then lunges for the buckle, his arm wrapped around Prunida's leg. The horse is pulled into a stumbling half-circle by the reins.
Nikki has spent too much of her young life in just such situations. She couldn't stop now if she wanted to and there is too much of her mother in her for her to want to.
Prunida hadn't credited any of Riyyh's get with that much spunk, forgetting that Nick managed to defy her (more or less) for years with only 25% non-Riyyh to draw on.
Prunida's horse isn't much, by Narosian saddle horse standards, but he really doesn't deserve this sort of treatment.
Prunida has never met Nikki's mother, of course, or she'd be considerably less surprised at the child's resistance.
Nikki is trying to get her teeth on a lateral sheath. But any place close will usually do.
Riyyh may not be much by some people's standards either, but one thing he knows how to do really well is undo belt-sized buckles quickly.
Riyyh pops both buckles loose.
Riyyh then grabs Nikki with his free hand, so she won't go over the other side when Prunida starts to go.
Prunida's horse continues to circle, and the centrifugal force sends the saddle over his side.
Prunida yells, letting go of Nikki as she plummets towards the ground.
Riyyh braces himself against the horse to stop it, so it won't trample the ho... I mean, just, Prunida.
Nikki is still thrashing but the smell of her Daddy penetrates her maddened brain.
Prunida's tentacles clutch futilely at the saddle, which does about as much good as you'd expect.
Prunida hits the ground hard, and the yell cuts off abruptly.
Nikki stops kicking and sobs against her Daddy's chest. "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!"
Prunida's handling tentacles writhe as she fights to draw breath; her wind has been thoroughly knocked out of her.
Riyyh: There there, Nikki.
Riyyh pats Nikki's back with some free tentacles.
Riyyh: It's all right.
Prunida's horse is quite happy to be unsaddled, and tugs hopefully towards a nice patch of fresh spring grass.
Riyyh absently allows himself to be tugged in that direction, his attention on Nikki.
Prunida is unable to resume her attack, at least temporarily.
Riyyh: Come along, there is grain at the wagon. [to the horse]
Riyyh pulls its head up and turns back the way he came, thinking that both Nikki and he can use a nice, long break.
Nikki calms down, somewhat. She glares at the mean old woman in the mud. She is now on Nikki's list of creatures to avoid.
Go on to Episode #170: A Rogue by Any Other Name
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