Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #164: Nikki, Needy and Nosy (5/14/01)
Arat for once is not pacing. He is staring out the window, the tension visible in his back and shoulders.
Arat would be pacing actually, except that he is due for transfer and he tries not to demonstrate nerves around OT Gens when in hard need. As a policy, that is.
Arat would like to know who the devil decided today of all days would be a good time to box Arat in on the matter of an additional interview with Ro.
Arat had difficulty making the decision about Nick's presence or absence, but finally decided he could manage without him for the sake of his dignity and privacy.
Arat's sensitivity is even more hypersensitive than usual, due to his need.
Arat therefore is even more painfully familiar with every pore of Ro's being and physical form than he had been on previous occasions.
Arat waits for Ro to finish his preparations.
Ro pages leisurely though his notes, considering what approach will work in stalking this very cagey subject.
Ro thinks that the conversation with Sectuib Riyyh put a lot of things in perspective.
Ro has matters he wishes to discuss frankly with Arat, but understands that such conversation may not be possible if the channel is really under surveillance by political enemies.
Ro decides he will have to accept that the silences may speak louder than what is said.
Ro understands that one of the dangers of documenting contemporary history is that the subjects are still around to change the outcomes.
Alain Ro: Well, I think we've got most of the facts in order.
Alain Ro: But I would like to return a bit to the matter of perceptions....
Alain Ro: You've said the Audnes family was an insular secretive group....
Nikki looks up at the very large guard at the door. She smiles her most endearing gap-toothed smile as she signals to be let in.
Alain Ro: And that they presented a powerful front to the world that accentuated their--
Ro breaks off in mid-sentence.
Arat freezes at the sound of the signal. He does not zlin who it is, which could mean only one person.
Arat: One moment. [to Ro]
Nikki has been looking for her big brother Nick for what seems like weeks.
Arat strides to the door, confident that Nikki will get lost (alas, figuratively, not literally) when informed that Nick is nowhere around.
Ro wonders what crisis is going to interrupt his precious session this time.
Arat has done his best to convince Nikki that he is no fun whatsoever to be around, and hopes that that will be sufficient to keep her away.
Arat has failed to take the Ro factor into account, however.
Arat opens the door and is unsurprised to see Nikki standing at his feet.
Ro turns curiously to see who dares to interrupt what he is doing.
Arat looks down at her with something very like a shudder.
Arat: Good day. I regret that Nick is not here.
Arat does, though not perhaps for the reason implied.
Ro sees Arat open the door to a very small child.
Nikki smiles up at the very tall sad man that Nick spends so much time with.
Nikki: Hello Controer Arat.
Ro doesn't recognize the girl. She doesn't look at all like Arat, so he doubts this is one of his relatives. In fact, he recognizes the tell-tale grey eyes and brown hair of a Narosian.
Arat: Perhaps you can see him another day.
Ro wonders if it is one of Sectuib Riyyh's children, to have the temerity to intrude on the Controller this way. He remembers that all Narosians are Riyyh's children, one way or another.
Nikki looks around Arat's very thin legs to see Ro.
Arat hopes Nikki doesn't take this as an invitation to drop by whenever she likes... not that hoping such things has ever gotten him anywhere in the past.
Arat: I do have company. Now is not a good time to visit.
Nikki ducks around Arat to see who it is more clearly. She recognizes the Gen that her daddy has entertained at least once.
Ro remembers that Nick is also Narosian... ah, sister to Arat's Donor, then. He likes to keep the kinship ties straight; they are so significant in field work.
Nikki skips right past Arat and and up to the Gen in question.
Arat starts back like a high strung palfrey that has just had a dog explode from the bushes at its feet.
Arat swings around in amazement to watch her go, still holding the door handle.
Nikki: Hello, my name is Nikki. [beaming her endearing gap-toothed smile]
Ro raises his eyebrows at this juvenile intrusion.
Nikki: You know my daddy, Sectuib Riyyh.
Alain Ro: Yes, I do....
Arat zlins Ro's reaction.
Ro gropes for the correct Simelan title for a highborn child.
Ro wonders if there is one.
Nikki has practiced "Sectuib" long and hard to be able to say it correctly. But not "Controller", though.
Alain Ro: Nikki... ambrov Naros, is it?
Nikki giggles.
Alain Ro: Or do you have to be grown up to be a member of a Household?
Nikki: I will pledge Naros thomeday. But not yet.
Ro has had occasion to entertain the children of other colleagues and his own grandkids at his knee, but usually these encounters are reserved for special holidays.
Arat realizes there's no way he can throw Nikki out now that Ro has accepted the interruption.
Arat closes the door carefully.
Arat being a Farris has the willpower to close it with him still on the inside.
Ro didn't get to spend much time with his own children since they were born while he was running a factory to supply the Gen Army during the war.
Alain Ro: I am pleased to meet you, Nikki.
Nikki decides that she likes this Gen. He has very nice hair.
Alain Ro: Are you here on some kind of special errand?
Nikki: I'm waiting for my big brother Nick.
Ro thinks that, in business affairs, children should be seen and not heard. Maybe not even seen.
Ro does accept that he is on someone else's turf, however; indeed, in Arat's private quarters.
Nikki: Do you have any children?
Alain Ro: Yes, I do, Nikki.
Alain Ro: They live far away from here.
Nikki has found that this question is very important. People who don't have kids tend to be a bit stand-offish.
Alain Ro: I am here on important business which should not be delayed.
Ro hopes that the child will take the hint to sit down and keep still, but the ones capable of this are few and far between.
Nikki: Oh, my daddy has lots of children.
Arat hopes Nikki is not going to talk about that in detail.
Ro looks around for Nikki's nurse. Arat has made the point that his family employed servants to care for their children. Surely other in-T officials do the same.
Arat therefore wears a bit of a wince as he edges back towards the seating area with the thought of maybe heading her off at the pass.
Alain Ro: Ah, and where are they all?
Arat: Mainly at Naros. [interjects, in the hopes of ending it there]
Arat: Although some Narosians, all of them Nikki's brethren, have operated a reachout program here since last spring.
Nikki: Oh, everywhere. But most at Naros. A lot of them are here. I can't go anywhere with out running into a sister or brother.
Alain Ro: [to Arat] Is Nick expected soon?
Nikki: Then there are nineteen at the commune.
Nikki continues cataloging her kin unaware of Arat's input.
Ro had hoped a reasonable amount of time was allotted for him to spend with Arat; that time is rapidly eroding and Nick's entrance will take more of it.
Nikki: I have a really lot of brothers and sisters.
Arat starts to answer Ro, but stops at Nikki's mention of the other 19 brothers and sisters.
Ro realizes that getting Nikki to sit still and be quiet won't be enough. It is hard enough to get Arat to loosen up and talk without a stranger present.
Arat wishes she found her family situation as embarrassing as Nick obviously does.
Nikki: Oh, and uncles, and cousins and aunts. I don't much like my aunts. They try to make me do stuff I don't like.
Ro wonders if there is a way to use the child's artlessness to elicit a different set of responses.
Alain Ro: Well, Controller Arat and I have been sitting here talking about families.
Alain Ro: There are many different types of families.
Arat zlins the speculative shift in Ro's nager and his flickering attention between Nikki and himself. Ro's words only confirm his apprehension.
Arat's expression takes on a look of devout pain.
Alain Ro: Naros is one kind of family.
Alain Ro: I come from a family called Ro. My people lived in Gen Territory.
Alain Ro: And Controller Arat comes from a family who lived in Othwol.
Nikki smiles happily at the nice man. She decides to reward him by climbing into his lap.
Alain Ro: ~~slight alarm at this lack of discipline~~
Nikki: I can say "Othwol". [a good word for her speech impediment]
Ro glances around again for someone resembling a nurse.
Nikki doesn't hear it come out more like "Othwothl".
Ro has had experience being piled on and pummelled at Year's Turning get-togethers, but he prefers to avoid it in public.
Ro meets Arat's gaze, his own eyes acquiring a slightly frantic gleam.
Alain Ro: That's very fine, Nikki.
Arat notes that Ro is not liking Nikki's attentions.
Nikki is careful not to knock the papers out of N'vet Ro's hands as she makes herself more comfortable.
Alain Ro: Did anyone ever teach you about not getting too close to strangers?
Arat tries to decide whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, for himself.
Nikki has found that Gens may not be as warm as Simes but they are a lot more comfortably padded.
Ro thinks any Chago kid would know better than to get near someone who might kidnap them as pre-Gens.
Ro realizes he has his own cultural biases and that this probably isn't a concern on this side of the border.
Ro considers that, based on what he knows of the Narosian lifestyle, it is doubtful Nikki has been taught any limits whatsoever.
Arat: Nikki, if Professor Ro does not wish you to climb on his lap, then it is rude to do so.
Arat: You would not want to be rude, would you?
Arat thinks that if Riyyh has taught her discipline in anything, it would have been in the area of pleasing the company.
Ro notes the diplomatic way Arat puts this. Obviously he is not in control of this child either.
Arat's idea of good parenting is, of course, about 180 degrees askew of Riyyh's.
Ro is grateful to Arat for zlinning his discomfort and taking some action.
Nikki looks thunder struck.
Nikki: Oh, no I wouldn't want to be rude. [looks up at Ro for confirmation of her misdeed]
Alain Ro: We really are in the middle of some important work, Nikki.
Alain Ro: As adorable as you are, you are distracting.
Nikki grins. Ro thinks she's adorable. That is very nice indeed.
Alain Ro: Perhaps you could sit quietly in the chair there while you wait for Nick to come?
Alain Ro: I can't write with you in my lap.
Nikki smiles and climbs down from Ro's lap.
Alain Ro: That's a good girl.
Ro smiles mildly.
Arat: Nick is not expected here. I am to join him at the -- [almost says, transfer suite] -- dispensary when we are done.
Alain Ro: Ah... Is this usual, for the children to run about unsupervised?
Nikki goes to sit in the chair, happy to have pleased the very nice man who thinks she's adorable.
Ro imagines it would be in Naros, but this is not Naros by a long shot.
Ro thinks there are some very rough customers about who might find unpleasant uses for wandering children.
Arat can't help but approve of Nikki's quick response to his chiding.
Arat thinks there may be hope yet.
Arat: It is not unusual for Nikki.
Arat thinks more than that is better left unsaid.
Arat: However, Narosians are... freer than most.
Ro decides to include Nikki in the discussion. She is sure to fidget and fret if she gets bored.
Arat still has not sat down again. He has stepped away from the door but he is still standing behind the couch where he can keep an eye on them both from afar.
Ro assesses the channel's stance, rather like a stag who has heard a twig break and is about to head for the brush.
Arat does not handle either children or personal questions well, and hasn't had a lot of practice at fielding both at once.
Alain Ro: So they do not, for instance, assign round-the-clock nursemaids to their offspring to keep them from wandering into trouble or Controller's sitting rooms?
Alain Ro: ~~rather dry humor~~
Arat glances at Nikki.
Nikki looks happily back and forth between the two men. Haji Arat has been very nice to her (well for him anyway).
Arat: It is my impression [rather uncomfortably] that her presence here at the Dam site was unexpected, and therefore unplanned for.
Ro frowns.
Arat would rather not give any details, but perhaps none are necessary.
Alain Ro: Nikki, you said something about 19 other children? Where are they?
Ro did not realize that Nikki meant literal brothers and sisters. Though, knowing Riyyh, he should have.
Nikki: At the commune.
Alain Ro: Ah, is that a Narosian outreach program?
Nikki: No. It's where my Mamma and me used to live. I don't want to go back there ever!
Ro nods. He doesn't fully understand the situation.
Nikki frowns as her one great fear comes to the fore.
Alain Ro: So who at Naros watches out for you, Nikki?
Arat tries desperately to think of some way to change the subject without drawing undue attention to himself. From either party.
Nikki: I want to stay with my Daddy. [stops and hears the question Ro has asked]
Nikki: I've never been to Naros.
Ro catches the note of fear in her voice. He has heard it before. His family fostered hundreds of orphans on their ranches.
Alain Ro: And you are living with Sectuib Riyyh and his people?
Nikki: Yes. [smiles] I will be staying with my Daddy when Mamma goes back to the commune.
Alain Ro: Did they know that Sosu Nick would not be here to meet you?
Arat had rather been hoping that Riyyh, along with Nikki and the equally obnoxious [though at least possessed of some self-control] Ali would be heading back to Naros any day now.
Nikki: No. I've been looking for Nick all over. He just seems to disappear thometimes.
Alain Ro: Sometimes grownups are busy. Sometimes they have work to do.
Nikki: Yeah. My Daddy works a lot too. But he never disappears like Nicky does.
Nikki wonders if Haji Arat ties Nick up and puts him in the cellar like Aunty Vera used to do to the kids that misbehaved.
Alain Ro: Nick will not be here today, Nikki.
Nikki looks at Arat. No Nicky wouldn't let Haji Arat do that to him.
Arat is literally incapable of laying hands on a person in anger, due to a combination of a lifetime of rigorous attention to lack of physical activity combined with an acute distaste for violence.
Ro glances inquiringly at Arat to be sure he heard that part right.
Alain Ro: [to Nikki] When are you expected back at the Narosian camp?
Arat certainly would never dream of locking somebody up for misbehaving, except in extreme cases, and then only for the sake of public safety.
Nikki: But, today is... [looks at Arat]
Nikki thinks that maybe she shouldn't mention transfer from Arat's reaction.
Nikki has some empathy from her father's side after all.
Nikki seems to be hearing only evey other question from Ro.
Nikki: I don't have to go back until after I see Nicky. [knows that Nick will probably shoo her out just after giving her a big hug]
Alain Ro: Can you leave now, or do you have to wait for someone to pick you up?
Ro is assuming a much closer level of supervision than actually exists.
Ro would really like to get on with his interview. His time is slipping away!
Nikki: I'm waiting for Nicky. He will be here 'cause today is his trans... [claps her hand over her mouth]
Ro raises his eyebrows and glances at Arat.
Arat: I will be meeting Nick in the transfer suite, Nikki.
Arat's voice is gruff, partly with embarrassment at her bringing it to Ro's attention, and partly annoyance at Nikki in general.
Alain Ro: I see.
Arat: He is not coming here until later tonight.
Arat's need is, in fact, not particularly difficult to see, if one knows what to look for.
Nikki glances once quickly at Haji Arat and just as quickly at Ro.
Nikki: Oh.
Ro has to marvel at Arat's self-restraint (just what you would expect of a Farris, of course.)
Ro is still somewhat befuddled over in-T child-rearing practices, however.
Nikki certainly isn't willing to wait for Nick through supper. Not when she might miss dessert.
Nikki climbs down from her chair.
Nikki looks solemnly up at Arat.
Nikki: Would you please tell Nicky that I was looking for him, Controer Arat?
Arat: Yes, I will.
Arat may not relay it in exactly the manner Nikki might hope for, but he will make sure Nick hears about this.
Nikki is now practicing her party manners. A bit late.
Nikki: Thank you, Controer Arat.
Arat will probably not mention it until after he wakes up after his post-transfer blackout, so the message may be a bit blunted by time.
Arat nods gravely.
Nikki turns to Ro and smiles her best gap-toothed smile.
Alain Ro smiles back with a kind, but stately nod.
Nikki: Nice to have met you N'vet Ro.
Alain Ro: Nice to meet you, young Nikki.
Nikki isn't sure what social level things are on this is still pretty new to her.
Alain Ro: Be careful, now. Go straight home.
Ro thinks if she were one of his own grandchildren, he would tell her the story of Little Red RidingSime. But in that case he wouldn't have channel in Need waiting on him.
Nikki just smiles and heads for the door. She has no intention of going "straight" home but she will get there by supper for sure.
Ro glances at Arat, gauging his frame of mind.
Alain Ro: Perhaps this was not the best time for my visit, either.
Arat appears distraught, stressed out, and as always, angry at the world in general.
Arat turns back to Ro when Nikki is gone.
Arat: It is not. However, it was arranged for, and I will carry it through.
Arat would really rather not have to reschedule another one right away.
Ro knows that Arat will try to do his duty. Whether he is capable at this time in his cycle of philosophical reflection remains to be seen.
Arat moves around the couch to sit down opposite Ro, his customary interr... that is, interview position.
Ro thinks in any case the interview will provide an interesting example of Simelan cognition.
Alain Ro: That child... she left without any supervision.
Alain Ro: Did you ever have the chance to just wander about when you were young?
Arat: My parents did not allow it, save when privacy was desired. It was generally permitted by the foster homes, though within limits.
Arat attempts to remember what the actual limits were.
Arat: After school, homework and dinner were all completed, but before darkfall. Or something of that nature.
Arat had generally avoided such outings when possible.
Alain Ro: I get the impression that you were a dutiful and obedient child. But did you ever simply kick over the traces and rebel... or run away?
Arat: It was often difficult to reconcile my parents' wishes with those of my other caretakers.
Arat: In many cases disobedience to one or both was the only compromise.
Ro leans forward intently. This interests him.
Alain Ro: How did you resolve such conflicting demands?
Ro thinks the child is father of the man.
Arat: When necessary, I refused cooperation.
Arat: When possible, I avoided the situations.
Arat's ability to become genuinely feverish and ill at the drop of a hat simply due to being terribly unhappy about something someone wanted him to do was legendary long before he changed over and began exhibiting Farris allergies.
Alain Ro: Can you give me some examples?
Arat: My parents forbade me to interact with the children of any family which did not support them.
Arat: However, when taken from them I was invariably placed with such a family, as they could be counted upon to uphold the Tecton's beliefs.
Arat: Where I would be expected to play and otherwise interact with their children without any ill will or resentment.
Alain Ro: So what did you do?
Arat: When I had no choice, I would accompany them. But I did not participate in their games.
Arat had sometimes wanted to, though. He'd had no idea how to begin even if he'd worked up the nerve to, though.
Alain Ro: So you complied physically, but not mentally or emotionally?
Arat: It is difficult to explain.
Arat means, without making himself look thoroughly unable to cope.
Arat: I was too inhibited to have played, as children do, even if I felt I was free to do so.
Arat: Except upon occasion.
Arat: I found it difficult to fit into these homes.
Arat: Another example is... [hesitates because he does not like to bring this up, but it is a good example]
Ro listens attentively.
Arat: My parents forbade me to eat what was not prepared by their own hands.
Arat: Now I know that it is because of the family allergies, which manifest at the onset of adulthood.
Arat: However, little was known of that at the time.
Arat: It was simply firmly upheld tradition.
Arat: And they insisted. But it was not practical, when I would not see them for weeks or sometimes months at a time.
Alain Ro: Not practical, no. You would have starved to death.
Arat: It was, however, so forcefully driven home to me that mealtimes in the homes of others were a constant stress.
Arat feels no further explanation is necessary; after all, it is obvious that some accommodation was found or he wouldn't be here today.
Arat shifts uncomfortably.
Arat: I do not like to speak of that. [adds]
Arat hopes this will prevent any further inquiry.
Ro is sorry to dash Arat's hopes.
Ro is, however, not too sorry.
Ro thinks pushing the point will in and of itself demonstrate how Arat deals with conflicts between what he himself needs and what others demand of him.
Alain Ro: You said you were in and out of these foster homes. Did your parents give you any further instructions on how to handle the situation?
Arat: They said that if I refused to comply, I would be returned to them for my own safety.
Arat: It was understood that I would, and that it would happen.
Arat: It did on occasion. [adds]
Ro: Refused to eat, you mean?
Arat: Yes. [a bit stiffly]
Arat: However, it did not always result in my being returned to my parents.
Ro: Your parents ordered you to starve yourself so that you would be returned to their custody?
Arat: They ordered me to eat only what they prepared for me.
Ro: And when out of their sight, did you obey them, or take care of your own needs?
Arat: I attempted to obey them.
Ro: What happened when your caretakers wouldn't return you?
Arat: I would eventually submit.
Ro: How did that make you feel?
Arat looks guarded.
Arat: Relieved. But a failure.
Arat: And yet obedient to the wishes of those immediately surrounding me.
Arat: In some cases special effort was made to accommodate me. Some families were willing to prepare my parents' recipes for me, for example.
Arat: In those cases, it was not as difficult for me.
Arat: I could feel that I was pleasing both.
Ro: And it was important to you to please these other people -- your parents, your caretakers -- even though it left you feeling helpless and ashamed?
Arat draws himself up defensively.
Arat: It is only natural.
Ro: Did you ever feel angry?
Arat: Sometimes.
Arat has, to put it more accurately, had occasional moments in his life when he did not feel angry.
Arat radiates a suppressed fury that smolders on the edges of the perceptions of everyone who meets him.
Ro: Did you think the problem through intellectually? Decide who was right, who was wrong, and why?
Arat: I had such thoughts, such questions, but no answers.
Ro: And now, speaking as a man with a wealth of experience of the world....
Ro: If you could speak to your younger self, what course of action would you advise?
Arat: I would give much the advice my nanny Tethie gave me, which I relied upon in my youth and rely upon now.
Arat: She told me that hardship is often endured, but not often understood.
Arat: And that there is seldom a perfect solution, only one's best judgment.
Ro silently applauds.
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