Gerrhonot spreads jam on a cracker and takes a bite.
Seruffin: How's the strawberry jam?
Gerrhonot: Um. Not very good. These crackers aren't either. Sorry, it's all they had at the store.
Seruffin: Well, perhaps they'll get something better soon.
Gerrhonot: I don't know. I think these crackers were probably there a long time.
Seruffin: Ah. Perhaps they have bread that's fresher?
Gerrhonot: I didn't see any. I got some flour. I can maybe make some flatbread or something. Maybe pancakes, if they ever have eggs.
Seruffin: Are there any chickens in town? We might be able to get eggs from somebody else.
Gerrhonot: I didn't see any. Or hear them, either, but I just went as far as the store and the train station.
Seruffin: If nothing else, the search would give a chance to get acquainted with some of the locals.
Gerrhonot slices off some cheese from the wedge and tastes it.
Gerrhonot: This cheese isn't too bad. Here, have some.
Seruffin takes a bite.
Seruffin: It's edible, at least.
Gerrhonot nods.
Gerrhonot: Maybe some people have gardens and we can get some vegetables, too.
Seruffin: Yes. I think our best strategy is to meet as many people here as will speak with us. If there are Distect subversives here, they'll be well hidden.
Gerrhonot: Do you want to go for a walk around town later? How are your tentacles?
Gerrhonot is concerned because Seruffin had his retainers on for a long time today already.
Seruffin: Sore. You know how it is with trains. But it would be nice to get out into the fresh air.
Gerrhonot: Do you want me to work on your arms a little first? ~~ willing, sympathetic ~~
Seruffin: When you're finished eating. There's not really any hurry.
Ferrox knocks on the door.
Gerrhonot looks to his channel for instructions.
Seruffin realizes that he's in worse condition than he thought, if he could be caught by surprise like that.
Seruffin: Go ahead and answer, Gerrhonot.
Gerrhonot gets up, wipes his hands on his trousers, and opens the door, blocking access and view as best he can.
Gerrhonot: Yes?
Seruffin surreptitiously tries to zlin around the Donor's nager to assess their visitor.
Ferrox: I'm Lora's dad. C'n I talk to you?
Gerrhonot: Um.
Gerrhonot turns to see what Seruffin wants him to do.
Seruffin nods encouragingly.
Gerrhonot: Sure. Come in. Um, my channel is here, too.
Ferrox: Whatever.
Gerrhonot steps back to let the man in.
Seruffin hastily retracts his tentacles.
Ferrox walks around the younger man to address the older. Okay, he's a Sime. Ferrox can deal with that. ~~ wariness ~~
Seruffin: I'm Hajene Seruffin, and this is my Donor, Sosu Gerrhonot.
Seruffin is dignified, courteous, but not at all condescending.
Ferrox does his best to match the tone, if not the speaking style.
Ferrox: M'name's Ferrox. Pleased to meet you.
Seruffin: A pleasure.
Gerrhonot stays close to his channel. ~~ protective ~~
Seruffin: Your daughter came by earlier. She's quite a... determined young lady.
Ferrox: You c'n say that agin. She's a corker, ain't she? ~~ parental pride ~~
Seruffin: I hope she returned your gun intact?
Ferrox nods.
Ferrox: She was talkin' something about selling our -- stuff, though? For cash money?
Seruffin: Yes. The Tecton pays for selyn donations.
Ferrox: Huh. Never heard it called slime before. Thought you Simes were the ones with the slime, excuse me for mentioning it.
Seruffin chuckles.
Seruffin: The words do sound similar, don't they?
Ferrox scratches his head.
Ferrox: Eh? Well, never mind. What I'm thinking is, well, I guess you know I can't walk so good.
Ferrox points to the cane with the opposite hand.
Ferrox: Lora likes to tell people I got no foot left at all, but that's a bit over the top. It's there all right, just too flimsy to support me without the stick.
Seruffin tries to zlin.
Seruffin: Broken bones and torn muscles both?
Ferrox: I reckon so.
Seruffin: Would you like me to take a look at it?
Ferrox shrugs.
Ferrox: Sure. Probably can't help, but probably won't hurt.
Seruffin: No, it won't.
Ferrox has the ~~ courage ~~ you'd expect from a man who risks his life daily.
Ferrox: Umm, what now? This boot, I can't take it off standing here.
Seruffin: Gerrhonot, would you help your guest to the sofa?
Ferrox: No need.
Ferrox stumps over to the sofa and collapses on it, hoping the thing will survive the blow. He begins to unlace the boot. What's underneath isn't pretty.
Seruffin draws closer in as nonthreatening and casual a way as he can.
Gerrhonot stays close to his channel. He's surprised at the Gen's lack of concern over Seruffin's larity, but doesn't trust it to last.
Seruffin looks ~~ thoughtfully ~~ at the injured appendage.
Seruffin: This was treated by the local physician?
Ferrox: Yah, if'n you c'n call him that. "Local drunk" would be more like it.
Seruffin winces.
Seruffin: I see.
Ferrox: Not that I don't take a drop or two myself from time to time.
Ferrox did so before coming here, for instance.
Seruffin can zlin that.
Ferrox: But sensible drinkin's one thing, being an alky's another.
Seruffin: That's very true. I'd like a closer look at it. May I touch you with my tentacles?
Gerrhonot moves closer, arranging his nager to make it easier for Seruffin to zlin the foot, while not relaxing his ~~ vigilant protection ~~.
Ferrox shrugs, adding ~~ worry ~~ to his ~~ courage ~~.
Seruffin decides that this constitutes permission and reaches cautiously out to assess the damage to the foot.
Seruffin: Besides the missing toe, there's three badly healed bones and several mangled muscles.
Ferrox nods, somewhat ~~ surprised ~~ that this isn't ~~ hurting ~~ any more than it is, which is minimal by his standards.
Seruffin: If I'd been here when you were first injured, I could have done a somewhat better job, but you'd still be limping.
Ferrox nods, as he has no reason to expect anything else.
Seruffin: As it is, I think I can ease your discomfort at least a little, if you want.
Ferrox shrugs again.
Ferrox: Do what you can. Don't think I have much of a soul left anyhow.
Seruffin chuckles.
Seruffin: If there's a way to damage a soul, they never taught it to me during my training.
Ferrox chuckles in return.
Ferrox: If you came'n worked out here, you'd find out quick enough.
Seruffin: I did learn a bit about healing, however. Let me see...
Seruffin signals to Gerrhonot to adjust his support, then extends his laterals for closer work.
Gerrhonot complies.
Seruffin does what he can to ease the old damage, which would challenge a Farris.
Ferrox: Hey. Not bad. Doesn't hurt as much, y'r right.
Ferrox thinks about the implications.
Ferrox: Will I be able to walk better?
Seruffin: Somewhat. If I keep working on it, there can be further improvement.
Ferrox: Hey, I got the time. Go for it.
Ferrox was about to put his boot back on, but waits for Seruffin to continue.
Seruffin works a little longer, then retracts his laterals and sits back.
Seruffin: That's all I can do today.
Gerrhonot ~~ encourages ~~ Seruffin to lean on his field as he recovers from the functional.
Ferrox puts his hands over his head in acceptance.
Ferrox: Fair 'nuff. C'n you still take my stuff, like we talked about before? Y'c'n hold back some to pay for this work here.
Seruffin: The healing is free. I can take your donation if you wish, if you'll give me a moment.
Seruffin is not as young as he used to be.
Seruffin: It's a simple process, if you can remain calm.
Seruffin hopes this Gen can remain calm; it's been quite a day.
Ferrox half-shrugs.
Ferrox: I'll try.
Seruffin smiles.
Seruffin: It's a lot less complicated than the healing I've already done, but sometimes people who aren't used to it can find it a little upsetting. Most get used to it pretty quickly, though.
Ferrox puts his lip out and nods.
Seruffin holds out his hands.
Gerrhonot puts his hands on his channel's shoulders, hoping this is not going to be like Ma Mullins's donation last year in Gumgeeville. Why is this Gen so accepting of a Sime he's never met?
Seruffin: I'll need a transfer contact for this.
Ferrox shakes his head rapidly.
Ferrox: Say what?
Seruffin: To take your selyn, I'll have to hold your arms with my tentacles and make a lip contact.
Ferrox: Umm, well, isn't that, well, kinda ...
Ferrox grinds to a halt.
Seruffin: Yes?
Ferrox: I mean, you're a man too.
Seruffin chuckles.
Seruffin: Believe me, compared to a certain young lady of my acquaintance, you are... not interesting. No offense, I hope?
Ferrox nods his head in a negative sort of way.
Ferrox: No. Do what you gotta.