Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #156: Ixnay on the Assbray Andbay (4/22/01)
Birch stands on the dock at the Old Dam, watching the slow approach of a barge across the Lake.
Birch scans the area to be sure all is ready to welcome appropriately the bigwig Professor Alain Ro. FluCon is not big on ceremony, but they did have a few dusty banners in a back storage shed.
Birch hopes that will be enough, along with the welcoming committee. He knows his future is on the line with this peculiar deal.
Alain Ro stands on the deck of the barge as it moves slowly and gingerly through drifting chunks of ice.
Alain Ro knows that this is early in the year to cross the Reservoir, but he was impatient to start the next phase of his research.
Alain Ro feels the cold wind tear through his gray hair and tan suede outfit. His tailor told him this gear was appropriate for a trek in the wilderness, but he is beginning to have some doubts.
Alain Ro disdains to acknowledge the cold. His inner fire will sustain him.
Riyyh flutters up to Birch, some 45 minutes late for the occasion.
Riyyh: Oh, my, I'm terribly sorry. There was this problem with a steam valve, that I... well. Here I am now. I see I haven't missed him?
Birch turns to Riyyh, glaring ferociously.
Riyyh cringes appeasingly, while offering a friendly and apologetic smile.
Birch: No, you're just in the nick of time.
Riyyh smoothes back his wind-swept mane and straightens his cloak. He is wearing his Narosian formal best, as requested.
Riyyh pats Birch's arm reassuringly.
Riyyh: I am certain everything will go perfectly.
Riyyh can zlin that Birch is all in a knot about the meeting.
Birch, knowing Riyyh's lackadaisical attitude towards schedules (amazing in a being with a built-in watch!) had sent a note that requested the Sectuib's presence a half hour early.
Birch reminds himself to make the invitation an hour early the next time.
Birch: Let's make sure it does, Sectuib Riyyh.
Riyyh beams soothingly at Birch. If Birch had been a renSime, reassuring him would be a lot easier.
Birch figures he can rely on Riyyh to make a good first impression, anyway. That is one of the channel's best skills, he has found.
Alain Ro can make out the banners on the dock and the welcoming crowd.
Alain Ro lifts the binoculars to his eyes and scans the faces eagerly. He searches for the distinctive features of the channel he has come in search of.
Riyyh zlins in the direction of the barge, not figuring he'll be able to tell one Gen he's never met before from the rest of the bunch on board.
Riyyh squints, picking out one fellow in a safari outfit and using binoculars.
Alain Ro doesn't see any face that looks Farris, though he does I.D. Marty Birch, the FluCon official who brought him here, standing next to what looks like a channel in golden Householding regalia.
Birch: We owe the good Professor a lot, especially for rescuing us from having to do business with the Purists.
Riyyh: Oh, yes, I agree entirely.
Riyyh hopes that Arat delivers, because neither Naros or FluCon is in a position to repay the funds that Alain lent.
Riyyh had known it would be a mistake to run the camp as a free home for the Gens and fail to demand their donation payments as compensation... even if that would have been maybe treading a bit on the Gens' rights.
Riyyh is fairly certain that he can convince this Alain Ro to be a bit lenient about the repayment terms if the man is pleased by his interviews with the Controller.
Birch thinks that even negotiating with the Purists was a disaster, and in the case of Minister Plum, not all the chickens have come home to roost yet.
Birch hopes the Ro business will work out better; he can't afford any more trouble with the New Washington powers-that-be.
Riyyh: Why, I do believe that must be him, on the rail -- the one with the binoculars.
Riyyh can zlin a gold watch that is much too gold for the average lake rat.
Birch squints into the sun.
Birch: Well, yes. You're right.
Birch waves in a dignified manner.
Alain Ro waves back.
Alain Ro is relieved to see Birch hasn't brought out a brass band or other nonsense, as he hates that sort of ostentation.
Alain Ro watches as the barge inches closer into shore.
Riyyh: Well, this is dreadfully exciting! [in an attempt to cheer Birch up]
Riyyh does think it's rather exciting. In Naros they don't give this much fanfare to a person's approach, but instead don't think about it until the person arrives, then drop everything to glom them.
Birch has detailed some FluCon workers to provide an escort and move luggage, and gestures to them to look alive.
Birch smiles a Riyyh, rather grimly.
Birch: I'm glad you are enjoying this, Riyyh. It's just my career on the line, not yours.
Riyyh looks at Birch in some concern.
Riyyh: Why, I am sure everything will be fine. You'll see.
Riyyh pats Birch's arm again.
Riyyh smiles encouragingly.
Riyyh is used to appeasing people to get what he wants, and of course optimism and friendliness only lead to doing a better job of the butt kissing, which is why he tends to emphasize them in his personality.
Riyyh is also just a really nice guy.
Birch gestures in irritation, was if to wave away the tradition Narosian "concern," which he finds rather cloying.
Birch does appreciate Riyyh's butt-kissing skill, and admits the channel is much better at this than he is himself.
Birch: I am sure it will.
Birch pastes a smile of welcome on his face.
see note 1
Alain Ro disengages himself from the knot of customs officials and deckhands and sets foot for the first time in Norwest Territory.
Birch steps forward to greet him.
Riyyh is at Birch's side, like a colorful decoration or maybe some sort of elaborate honor guard.
Riyyh is, as always, smiling kindly.
Birch offers both hands and pumps Ro's arm up and down in a hearty shake.
Birch: Professor Alain Ro! Welcome to the Snake River Dam Reconstruction Project. This is an honor.
Riyyh: Yes, it is truly a pleasure to have you with us.
Alain Ro tries to rescue his rather delicate fingers from Mr. Birch's macho grip.
Alain Ro: Such vigor! Good to see you again, Mister Birch.
Alain Ro turns to Riyyh and wracks his brains to identify the Householding colors.
Riyyh: Riyyh, Sectuib in Naros.
Riyyh smiles in demonstration of the aforementioned pleasure.
Riyyh: I have heard so much about you.
Riyyh: I hope you will enjoy your stay here, and find your research fruitful.
Alain Ro: Ah, Naros. Which exemplifies the Virtue of Caring?
Riyyh smiles warmly. "Why yes, precisely."
Riyyh's English is excellent, though accented with Norwest and with a flavor reminiscent of several Gen localities near there.
Alain Ro bows.
Alain Ro: I understand your Household has taken part in the relief efforts here?
Riyyh is flattered by the attention, and shows it.
Riyyh: Yes, we originated the plan and have assisted Mr. Birch, here, and the Immigration and Donor Assimilation Service in the implementation of it.
Riyyh: Of course, none of it would have been possible without your generosity and flexibility.
Alain Ro: So annoying, this jurisdictional squabbling, when there is work to be done.
Alain Ro: Building this Dam, feeding these people.
Alain Ro: I am glad to be able to smooth the way a little.
Alain Ro would in fact like to do a great deal more than that, but I digress.
Riyyh beams at Ro.
Alain Ro examines the channel with interest. He approves of people who, like the Sectuib of Naros, take the initiative to right what is wrong, but the real question is why was that necessary? Why did both Gen and Sime government's fail to provide for these indigent people?
Birch: I hope your trip was... pleasant.
Birch himself considers any crossing of the Lake in early spring in which the barge remains afloat to be pleasant.
Alain Ro: Oh, quite. Luckily I have a strong stomach.
Alain Ro: I brought quite a lot of gear with me. I hope that's all right.
Riyyh: Quite all right. Why, there are mules, and plenty of strong laborers in the camp.
Riyyh happens to know that there are always tons of itinerant workers hanging out by the docks in the hope of picking up a quick buck or maybe a meal.
Riyyh paid a fair number of them to collect bottles for him for the bath house glass.
Birch: Certainly. No need for us to wait. I brought some FluCon workers who can oversee the transportation.
Alain Ro nods.
Alain Ro: Perhaps we could get out of the wind then?
Riyyh zlins Alain Ro to make sure the Gen is not in danger of getting a chill. His outerwear is not exactly draft proof.
Alain Ro won't deign to let a little cold blast stop him, but he's not as young as he used to be.
Alain Ro fingers are nearly blue from cold, despite the tan suede gloves.
Riyyh tsks.
Riyyh: Let me offer you my cloak. You're freezing!
Riyyh quickly divests himself of his cloak.
Alain Ro frowns. He is not sure he wants to be seen walking around wearing Householding insignia.
Riyyh: Now now, it's only until we can get you into a nice warm tent. [smiles kindly]
Alain Ro at the same time realizes that his physical discomfort must be an annoyance to Simes nearby.
Riyyh doesn't know why Alain Ro is frowning and assumes it is reluctance to accept generosity.
Alain Ro: Very well. You are most kind.
Riyyh helps Ro don the cloak, and assists with the elaborate wheat-sheave clasp.
Riyyh: Your hands are simply blue with cold. [fussing]
Riyyh: Let me warm them for you.
Alain Ro realizes that the cloak is much better insulated than his tailored safari outfit.
Riyyh tugs off Ro's gloves and clasps the fingers tenderly in his Sime-hot hands.
Alain Ro finds his hands being fondled by the channel before he realizes what is happening.
Birch: [hastily] Uh, here comes the carriage.
Riyyh: Oh, and here it is.
Riyyh hands the gloves back to Ro with a smile.
Birch: Professor Ro, Sectuib Riyyh, lets settle in for the ride back to the main camp.
Alain Ro retrieves his hands with some bemusement. A long-time supporter of Unity, he has been touched by channels before, though usually with more advance warning.
Birch sighs in relief that Ro does not seem to have been startled or offended by Riyyh's impulse to feel every Gen who walks by.
Birch leads the group to the covered cart... uh, "carriage."
Riyyh goes with them to the "carriage", such as it is.
Riyyh supposes Ro will understand what a luxury it is once he's seen more of the camps. Riyyh certainly does now.
Birch offers a hand to steady Ro as he climbs in.
Alain Ro clambers up into the cart and seats himself.
Birch debates whether to also offer a hand to Sectuib Riyyh, though wondering to himself why a Sime would require any assistance.
Riyyh zlins the impulse and smiles gratefully at Birch, taking his hand.
Riyyh didn't technically require the help, but always appreciates offers of it.
Birch lifts Riyyh up into the cart... uh, carriage. He realizes that he has unwittingly given Riyyh another excuse to touch him.
Riyyh seats himself beside Alain Ro.
Birch wonders again why Riyyh is so unrestrainedly touchy-feely. Controller Arat seems to get the same way, but confines his attentions to his Donors.
Alain Ro ties the curtains closed. He already feels warmer inside out of the lakeshore breeze.
Birch climbs into the carriage and seats himself across from Riyyh and Alain.
Riyyh: Well, do you have any plans right away? [kindly, to Alain Ro]
Riyyh means, besides getting warm and as far away from the barge as possible.
Alain Ro smiles at the channel.
Alain Ro: Well, I'll have to scout the lay of the land first.
Alain Ro: And meet with Controller Arat.
Alain Ro: I take it you know each other?
Riyyh: Well, that certainly will be... oh dear, yes, we do.
Riyyh looks rather apologetic as he says so.
Alain Ro would be surprised if two channels in this remote region did not know each other.
Riyyh imagines Alain Ro will hear all about their relationship if he cares to question Arat about it.
Alain Ro: Oh, dear?
Alain Ro thinks this a rather helpless and fluttering utterance for a Sectuib of a House.
Riyyh: Well, we do go back a long way.
Riyyh actually goes back farther than Arat does.
Riyyh: I am sure he will tell you all about it.
Riyyh rather hopes he won't, as he would probably make it reflect poorly on Riyyh, but then again Arat had promised to answer all of Ro's questions.
Alain Ro: What is he like, this Arat?
Riyyh glances at Birch.
Alain Ro has already had Birch's description.
Riyyh returns his attention to Alain Ro.
Riyyh: Oh... well, he's very....
Riyyh: Hard working and dedicated.
Riyyh: Devoted to the goals of the Tecton.
Birch thinks Alain would do well to garner as many Arat-handling tips as he can get.
Alain Ro eyes gleam.
Alain Ro: Devoted to the goals of the Tecton....
Alain Ro: The heir of family Audnes?
Alain Ro lets his eyes drift over Riyyh's silver hair.
Riyyh: It does sound a bit odd, doesn't it? But of course today nobody understands about the family.
Alain Ro: You are old enough to have seen... a lot. What it is that nobody remembers?
Riyyh considers.
Riyyh: Much of what Arat is now is exactly what his parents would have intended, I should think.
Riyyh: They would have expected him to be a sober and iron-fisted ruler, and yet to care for the wellbeing of his flock.
Riyyh: They would have expected him to maintain an obvious distance and superiority, and yet be accessible for the disposition of complaints.
Riyyh: Some might say it is simply the context that is different, now.
Riyyh smiles.
Alain Ro: They were feudal lords and of course they would want their heir to be a strong leader.
Alain Ro: And yet the goals of the Tecton stand in complete opposition to the goals of Family Audnes... or do I misunderstand?
Riyyh: Well, of course, their goals were to retain their land right and their rule of the people of that land. They wished to be left to their own business and their own matters.
Alain Ro: While a Tecton channel is but a cog in a huge bureaucracy.
Alain Ro: I would think that the role of a Sectuib such as yourself would be closer to the feudal model than that of a Controller.
Riyyh spreads his hands and tentacles.
Riyyh: Well, the Householdings are rather exclusive these days, as you may know.
Riyyh: I suppose he could found his own, but that would really take a sort of... ambition... that really isn't in him. At least in my observation.
Alain Ro: So he really isn't a ruler of the kind his family would be proud of.
Riyyh: They were not empire builders.
Riyyh: Except in the time sense.
Alain Ro gazes at Riyyh inquiringly.
Riyyh: The sort of dynastic rule and firm business base they worked for was quite rare in pre-Unity Sime Territory, as I am sure you are aware.
Riyyh: The "empire" they sought to conquer was their future in that place and position.
Riyyh smiles.
Birch leans back and rests. He finds this type of conversation intensely boring, but expects to hear a lot of it in the days to come. He wishes he had his pipe.
Alain Ro smiles. This type of discourse is his meat and drink.
Alain Ro: Yes, they were feudal lords in a culture of wandering barbarians.
Alain Ro: What future did they envision?
Riyyh: Well, I suppose they envisioned things going on much as they had before.
Riyyh: They were quite well placed, you must admit.
Riyyh: However, they were as caught by surprise as everyone else by the events of Unity.
Riyyh: And they chose to attempt to preserve their ways in the face of the Tecton's coming into power, instead of adapting to it.
Alain Ro: You speak as one who was there to witness what happened?
Riyyh: I was. [smiles] For much of it.
Riyyh: It was a difficult time.
Alain Ro: For all of us who survived it.
Riyyh zlins Alain Ro speculatively.
Alain Ro played a key role in managing the Ro family estates and factories during the Unity War, and can vividly remember the efforts to hold off the hordes of Raiders.
Riyyh nods.
Alain Ro: As I recall, those newspaper articles said you have a particular aversion to guns because of your wartime experiences.
Riyyh winces as he realizes Alain must have read Elte's piece.
Alain Ro hopes that Sectuib Riyyh won't hold it against him that a major part of the Ro fortune was built on munitions manufacture.
Riyyh realizes he said articles plural, and winces further.
Riyyh hadn't realized there were more than one article.
Riyyh: Well, it is simply that there is no use for them except to shoot people. [explains]
Riyyh: At least on this side of the border.
Riyyh: And I really don't find that sort of behavior appropriate.
Riyyh is speaking fairly harshly for him, which basically means speaking with less than gushing praise and not apologizing for it.
Alain Ro smiles wryly.
Alain Ro is a philanthropist, but not a pacifist. Sometimes there is no other way to handle certain people except to shoot them.
Alain Ro is always open to alternatives, however.
Alain Ro: No, a Sectuib has other ways to exert authority.
Alain Ro thinks, like refusing or delaying transfer to renSimes who are disobedient.
Riyyh nods, though he suspects Ro isn't referring to his own infamous ability to exert a wide variety of cajolery, misdirection, seduction and when necessary plain good old fashioned passive aggression to get people above and below to do as he pleases.
Riyyh: Well, I wish you luck in your quest for knowledge. I am certain that Controller Farris intends to offer his full cooperation in your endeavor.
Riyyh means, to the extent he is capable, which extent remains to be seen.
Alain Ro: So Mister Birch has assured me.
Alain Ro intends to make full use of that cooperation, and not only for research.
Notes:
1) Some minutes pass between these two scenes. [return]
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