04/23/2000 -

Infirmary, White Tower, Tar Valon
Square in shape, this room is most often abuzz with activity. It contains
the normal implements of a teaching infirmary, in fact, it is extremely
well stocked with all manner of things: cots, jars, bottles, syringes,
bandages, cloths, cabinets, shelves, books and tables along with plenty of
hot water. The air has that sterile smell associated with the constant use
of redwort, tinged with the unpleasant prickle of witchhazel. While most of
the Healing is done via the One Power at the Tower, there are many minor
medical situations that are dealt with the old fashioned way.

There are several areas curtained off, for patients' privacy as well as for
instructional usages. This is a teaching infirmary for the Yellow Ajah,
after all. Beds in cheerful colors are lined up in neat rows, providing a
comfortable place to sleep after a Healer's tender ministrations. Windows
are kept wide open to all for light and fresh air.


Laying in one of the curtained off areas, is a young man who's been
drifting in and out of consiousness since he was brought into the Infirmary
a few days ago by a Yellow sister. Neelkan's woken up long enough to down a
meal made for twenty every day or so, but that's about it. Eat. Sleep. Eat.
Sleep. He hasn't even said a word that wasn't completely delerious. Some
Yellows might wonder if the boy isn't all together there. In fact, this
happens to be the first time he's ever woken up with any sense of
awareness... ... Eh... Where is he exactly? His blue-green eyes dart around
quickly. He does not know this place... He sits up weakly, and pulls the
curtain open enough to peek outside. And his eyes widen to the point they
resemble the phrase "eyes popping out of his head". Um... why is he in some
place with a lot of women? Help! He actually yelps slightly, looking...
well... of all things, scared.

Yes, lots of women. One of whom stands right outside the little curtained
area, back to the bed, leaning over a table. She seems to be rolling up
bandages, or at least attempting too. The litle yelp startles her enough to
cause the carefully rolled length of material to fly from her hands,
unravelling its way to the floor. Twisting about, she blinks in surprise at
the young man, big blue eyes lingering on that hair. Truely she's never
seen anything like it. She keeps a hold of the end of the bandage as she
steps forwards, the rest trailing behind her like a limp tail. "Erm, is
everything alright?" she asks, in a country drawl, glancing quickly over
her shoulder. She really isn't sure if she should be talking to the
patients.

Most people haven't seen hair like his before. Sigh. Quite a source of
constant torture and insults at home from his five (Yup, Five) older
sisters. Neelkan just gapes for a minute, then clenches his eyes shut and
shakes his head, as if trying to wake up from a horrible, horrible dream.
When he peeks one eye open... nope... the women are still there. Light! He
really messed up this time. "Eh..." he mutters a soft curse under his
breath before continueing, "'ere am I?" Uh... He suddenly glances down..
Eeek! "Where're my bloody clothes!?" He's just wearing a medical shift like
thing and a sheet. Eeep.

Whoa, this doesn't fall into the category of rolling bandages.. definately
not. The young novice glances about, hoping that someone else might have
been in earshot of the patient's cries, but the yellow sister present is
tending to others at present and remain unaware of his awakening. She
swallows as she turns her eyes back to him, trying to avoid staring at that
hair.. it /is/ hair isn't it? "You're at the Tower. I.. I doesn't know
where your clothes are. I can get the Aes Sedai to come speak to ya," she
offers hopefully, as she hovers just before the curtain, still trailing
that bandage.

The... Tower... The WHITE TOWER!? Neelkan looks for a moment like he might
pass out. Or scream. Or... well... other not very good reactions. Light!
The White Tower! Aes Sedai! Not just... women, but AES SEDAI! "No no no no
no!" he quickly says, lowering his voice a little. "Don't bring the Aes
Sedai over here." He can tolerate the young woman before him as long as she
doesn't bring Aes Sedai! He takes a deep breath, steadying himself a little
then starts to shift to get off the bed... Why is he so tired? And
hungry...? Well... make that -tries- to get off the bed.

Eyes widening, Nilsha seems almost to reflect the young man's fear, as she
shifts uncomfortably from one foot to the other. What to do? Get into
trouble for upsetting him if she fetches an Aes Sedai.. or get into trouble
for not fetching one. Her indecision is quickly resolved as she sees him
start to get off the bed. She certainly doesn't want him sprawled out on
the floor, which is where he's likely to end up by the look of him. "'ey!
Take it easy. You've gotta stay in bed," she says to him, as she steps
forward and makes ready to grab him should he flounder. Looks as though she
could hold him up too, definately not a fragile little creature this one.

The hand would be greatly appreciated, if it weren't attached to a woman's
arm! Neelkan stumbles slightly and is supported for a brief second, then he
jerks back and lands on the bed again. He jerked back as if her hand were
on fire, not just offering support. He doesn't say anything for a few
moments, just blinking slightly, "Blood and ashes... I.. uh.. I have t' get
outta this place!" he pleads softly. Yes. He is willing to plead with the
girl. Better then having her bring Aes Sedai over... He's never met an Aes
Sedai while mentally consious, and doesn't plan to! But he doesn't really
want her to touch him anyway... hence why he jumped back like that.

His sudden recoiling causes a little blush to come to Nilsha's dark cheeks.
Surely he didn't think.. no.. she was just trying to help him. She takes a
little step back, hoping that noone has noticed the little happening here.
Or perhaps she should hope that someone does see, then she won't have to
deal with this alone. "Please.. get back in the bed," she says, her own
voice just as pleading as his. "I'll not fetch the Sedai, but get in bed."
If only she can get him back in there, then perhaps she can pull the
curtain and pretend he doesn't exist.

There's a soft moment where he wants to protest. He wants to yell and curse
and scream and... well... be who he is. But he doesn't have the energy
right now... Neelkan's not even sure he can remain sitting up like this...
So slowly he complies and lays back down. pulling the blankets over him as
if a shield from all the women in the area. If anyone asks why he complied
to the wishes of the girl he'd just insist that it was only because he
would rather lay back down then have her call an Aes Sedai over. It's not
because he's tired and all. Nope. Not at alllll.

Breathing a very visible sigh of relief, Nilsha stands in place for a
moment, perhaps just to ensure that he doesn't spring right back out of
that bed again. Once his form has stilled beneath the blankets, she makes a
quiet retreat, just a few steps back.. enough to pull that curtain closed
again. A quick glance about reveals life in the infirmary passing pretty
much as it was. Hurriedly, she gathers the bandage trailing at her feet up,
rolling it into a quick little coil and dropping it into the box. Then the
box is picked up and carried across the room, dumped with an Accepted, and
her escape is made. Though of course, she pauses at the door, half
expecting to see a the young man suddenly lunge out through those
curtains..