05/05/2000 The Plaza, Tar Valon A babble of different dialects combines into a swirling cacophany of sound. Hawkers in faded, patched clothes cry out their wares, some of which decrease in quality daily. Refugees huddle in doorways and allyways, cradling their babies on street corners and begging quietly for food. Here and there a well dressed merchant changes a window display in a shop -- for some, who have known nothing but war all of their life, it is merely business as usual. This business district is beautiful, however. Most buildings show the touch of Ogier stonemasonry, rising up side by side as if holding hands against the encroaching ugliness of the outside world. These walls remain white, truly shining, as if an Aes Sedai descends from the dominating spire at the north end of the city daily to scrub the walls clean with their grand Power. Only the newest of the city notice, however, most striding down the cobblestones with eyes straight ahead or cast down, with business to attend to or dreams to pursue. Wandering down the Plaza, singing a soft softly under his breath, Neelkan is trying to work his way back to the Tower. The Yellows are probably never going to let him out -again-. First time they trust him long enough he runs off to the nearest Tavern and downs five glasses of ale. He's not -completely- drunk, but he's more then a little fuzzy in the head. And we're not talking about his poofy hair at this point. Denn'ryiel exits the Tower, giving a brief tug on her vest. She appears to be on a shopping excursion, as her eyes wander from one business to another. Her eyes widen slightly as she spots Neelkan. A'right... Neelkan must stop suddenly and holds on to the wall of a store to remain standing. The after-effects of the Healing are still present, despite the fact he was Healed a while back. He has to rest a few moments before he collapses or something. He doesn't continue to sing, but he does continue to hum softly. That bloody tune will be stuck in his head for weeks. Denn'ryiel blinks, but then composes herself. She crosses through the people walking down the road to arrive at Neelkan's side. She offers a hand if he doesn't resist. "Neelkan? Why on earth... Did you drink an entire cask?" Eh? Neelkan glances up a little, eyes wider then usual, and brighter too. He doesn't resist the offer hand and smiles widely upon recognizing who the woman is. Yes. A wide smile. And genuine. Being a little drunk has one good result. He forgets for a while that he hates women in general. "Hey, Denn! How're y'doin'?" Did she ask a question? Hmm? "No..no.. justa few glasses..." Denn'ryiel nods once, as she tries to support Neelkan's weight. "Well... maybe the Healing and wine don't go together. At least that smells like wine," she says, turning her head away from Neelkan's breath. "Let me help you back to the Tower." It's probably a good thing Neelkan was never a huge man. He still has most of his footing at least, so he can support most his wieght. "'anks! Was startin' t' think I wouldn't be able t' make it..." Hmmm. When he's drunk he's willing to admit doubts of his own limits. Once he can securely stand again he starts to humm the song the Tinker woman was singing in the Tavern again. Some song about love and romance and other weird stuff he would never admit to listening to (much less humm) if he wasn't drunk. Denn'ryiel winces as she listens to the lyrics, while helping Neelkan down the road. "I think even a Tinker woman would be tempted to slap someone they heard singing that," she says, with a jesting smile. "At least it looks like you've enjoyed yourself, a little bit. Let's see if there's somewhere closer where you can get washed up... if you meet the Yellows in this condition, your next few days might be really unpleasant." His humming trails off and Neelkan looks over towards Denn as she helps him down the road. Then he mutters in a soft voice, "Yer nice... too nice f'r a woman..." Pause. He looks the woman over a few times, "Ya sure yer not a man in disguise 'r somethin'?" The question actually sounds genuine. Not intended as a jest. Denn'ryiel blinks, and looks down at herself. Bringing her eyes back up she shakes her head. "Pretty sure... that'd be a surprise to me," she smiles. As she helps Neelkan past an herb shop, she stops. "I know the owner here... I'm sure he'll let you wash up." Hrm. Maybe the evil women are just the women where he's from, cause since he got here he's mect a couple women that we'ren't completely evil. Neelkan reaches up to scratch at his white-streaked hair for a moment and replies, "If ya say so!" If he was a little more drunk he might have followed up with a rather crude 'Prove it.' but he's not -that- far gone... Thank the Light. "'anks." He look at the herb shop. Hopefully they'll have something to cover up his breath.. Denn'ryiel helps Neelkan into the shop, and smiles to the man behind the counter. "Greetings, Master Kilgan. Mind if my friend uses your washroom? I can pay for any damage he causes," she says, smiling slightly. The man nods, and opens a door in the back of the room. "Ya think I'll cause damage?" Neelkan questions, looking at the woman with those bright eyes of his. "I'll be good! Honest..." But isn't that what he inssured the Yellows of before they let him out? Bwah. He stops leaning on her for support and moves to head slowly towards the opened door. Denn'ryiel follows Neelkan into the room, darting off for a moment to select a bucket for sale and depositing the money for it on the counter. "Did I imply that?" she asks, feigning innocence. "Well.. ya.. said ya'd pay f'r any damages I cause!" Neelkan declares in close to his usual volume voice, still scratching lightly at his hair with one hand. Then he looks around the room he's just been followed into. There should be a larger tub, and a few buckets filled with water resting against the wall. A chamberpot also rests in one corner. "How does your stomach feel?" she asks first, deciding to take care of the most serious problems first. Stomach? "Oh. Fine!" Neelkan said, lowering his hand from his hair finally. Pause. "Well, it feels a lil' empty, but it always feels like 'at lately." Even if he at a double serving of a meal while in the Tavern. That poor bartender looked like she'd never seen anyone eat that fast. Denn'ryiel grins slightly and nods. "Then none of it will be coming back up?" she asks. "Well, maybe you're not as drunk as I thought. I'd recommend dunking your head in that tub though." She'd do it herself, but that's not really Denn-like. Oh, he's drunk. But only -slightly- drunk. Neelkan stopped himself before he had too much. Mainly because he suddenly felt like he was going to pass out from tiredness, but that had nothing to do with the ale. He nods at her mentioning he dunk his head and he bends down in front of one of the buckets of water. He stares at it for a long moment... then gives his head a shake and ducks it in, coming up shaking his head again and spraying water off of his hair a little. Sorry, Denn. Denn'ryiel raises her hand to shelter herself from the water, but refrains from crying out. "Feel better?" she asks, even though there are several more buckets available? Neelkan blinks a few times as he sits there on his knees in front of the bucket. He raises his hands and slicks back his hair a little. The water makes his hair look even more odd then usual. The red part becomes even darker, and the white streaks become even more defined. But this is probably the first time he's been without his hair sticking every which direction. "Um... ye'h. Feel a lil' better." Lot less fuzzy in the head to start. Denn'ryiel chuckles as she watches the water drip from Neelkan. "You look a little more awake... and ths is the first time I've seen you without your hair going every-which-way. There are more buckets though, if you need them." "Now yer startin' t' sound like a woman!" Neelkan yells out, but still rather happily. "M' sisters always used t' make fun'a m'hair." He had to be the weird one in the family. In more ways the one. He continues to sit there and splashes a little extra water in his face, rubbing his eyes a little. Ah. Much better. He can actually begin to think semi-straight. Denn'ryiel chuckles slightly. "Well, to each his own. If I knew it was a sore spot, I wouldn't have brought it up." To her credit, she still hasn't asked about the white streaks. "Do if you drink coffee?" she asks, knowing a few people that have mentioned that as a somewhat effective remedy. "I don't really mind 'at much... Ya get used t' it after a couple years!" Neelkan adds on, moving to stand up, running his hands over his slicked back hair again slightly. Coffee? "Uh, ye'h, sure. I could go f'r one." Might help finish clearing his head up. He's still a little fuzzy, but only to the point where he still has yet to put on his whole 'I hate women' thing. Denn'ryiel nods once. "I'll go see if Master Kilgan can make up a pot." She disappears out the door for a moment, no doubt to return soon. While she's gone, Neelkan stands there for a moment and then starts to untie the sash around his waist. After the red sash is removed the gray tunic follows after a moment until he's just wearing the red shirt and trousers that were under it. He's not taking anything else off, so no worries of him being indecent when she gets back. With that done he settles down to sit on the floor and wait. Denn'ryiel reenters, looking a bit surprised at the change. "I don't know how well Master Kilgan makes his coffee, but it's better than nothing, I'm sure," she says, handing a mug to Neelkan. Peeking to look at the coffee, Neelkan first makes sure it's just coffee. Nothing like *shudder* milk was placed in there. Then he nods and says, "I'm sure it's fine!" Not that he's really that picky about what he drinks. Unless of course it's milk... Then he's very picky. No milk for this boy. The coffee is milk-free, no fears there. "So have you decided what you will be doing once the Sedai release you?" Denn asks, resting against the wall as she waits for you to finish. Neelkan nods a little and sips on his coffee for a few moments (making a small face at the taste of the stuff, he so perfers ale to this) before responding, "I was thinkin' of goin' int' the Trainin' program. Though I kinda doubt I'll stay long. A'ready managed t' make a red haired Aes Sedai lady mad at m'!" Denn'ryiel chuckles and nods. "Well, there are a lot of Sedai that don't like trainees at all. Most at least believe they have their uses though, so I don't think you have too much to worry about." "Well I don't intend t' become a whatever 'ey're called again." Neelkan forgot the name for the Warders/Gaidin. He's got a short term memory sometimes. "But learnin' a lil from 'em won't kill me!" He hopes. Denn'ryiel chuckles and nods once. "Gaidin. no, it certainly wouldn't hurt at all, as long as you're able to keep the Greens from noticing you," she comments, with a slight smile that is somewhat serious. Huh? "Greens? What d'ya mean?" Neelkan hasn't had a briefing on what any of the colors stand for. Well, except of course Yellow meaning the people who hoard over him hour and hour and healed him and stuff. Denn'ryiel smiles, and points to the green bar on her vest. "The Sedai that wear the shawls of this color... They tend to convince a lot of men to bond with them. Most have more than one Gaidin at a time, and they often search the trainees for possible new ones." "I'll be sure t' avoid 'em 'en!" Neelkan declares, not that he would know a Green from a Bluw or anyone else likely. "Though 'ey prolly wouldn't want m' anyway." And he'd never agree to it... He sips on his coffee, then pauses and looks up, "They can't... uh... 'bond'? without askin' can 'ey!?" Please say no. Cause no other answer is acceptable. Denn'ryiel shakes her head. "I can't say I've ever heard of one doing so, and I've been here awhile. You're safe, I'd say," she grins. "'Kay..." Neelkan responds with a nod and a smirk, then takes another sip on the coffee, his face still contorting slightly in discust at the taste. Bleh. He so does not like the taste. Better then milk though.. "So d'ya got one'a those uh... Gaidin?" he asks, just making conversation. Denn'ryiel laughs softly, with warmth. "I'm afraid not... and I never will either. I'm not a Sedai, and I don't have what it takes to be one. I guess that doesn't rule out finding someone special someday though." "Ya don't?" Neelkan looks confused, not really understanding what she just said, but he shrugs, "Well, maybe it's better at way!" Not that he knows many Aes Sedai, he's just trying to make her not feel bad. Not that she looked like she did... oh nevermind. He doesn't understand people, and he understands women even less. It just felt like the right thing to say. Denn'ryiel smiles softly, and nods. "Perhaps. I can tell myself that anyways. There are a few advantages, I guess." Her smile then fades somewhat as she looks at Neelkan. "Um, sorry if I sound blunt, but, why does it look like you're always second guessing yourself?" Looking up from another sip on that awful tasting black stuff, Neelkan's eyes widen a little, then look back down and he shrugs, "I don't! I just..." Arg. His shoulders slump a little. Denn'ryiel shakes her head, looking concerned. "No, I didn't mean to... I just mean that you usually use more of your head than most when you speak. You shouldn't worry so much." "I'm not worried." Neelkan mutters softly. And isn't he the world's worst liar? "Anyway... uh..." He looks back over and quickly turns on a smile to change the awkward subject, "So d'ya help all the Tower patients 'at get allowed out f'r a few hours and spend it at a Tavern?" Denn'ryiel chuckles, and allows the subject to change without protest. "As far as I can remember, you're the first who chose a tavern as his first stop. So yes," she grins. This earns a small chuckle and Neelkan reaches up with the hand not holding the cup and rubs at his damp hair a little, still slicked back for the most part. At least until he moves his hand, then it's sticking up slightly in a few places. "Well, least ya found m' 'n not one'a the Yellows! 'ey never would've let m' out 'gain." Denn'ryiel laughs at that. "They might have good cause too... who knows what you might have done out there in the streets. Don't worry though... if you can keep them from suspecting, I won't tell anything." Frown. "Ya -sure- yer a woman!?" Neelkan says with narrowed eyes, like a woman never offered to cover for him before. Which probably is the truth. He shakes his head, "Not 'at I'm doubtin' ya really, just.. yer too nice." Must be Eharon women... Denn'ryiel frowns back. "Yes... I'm positive I'm a woman. Why is that difficult to believe?" she asks, confused. "I must look like a horse, or something." "Nono..." Neelkan says, waving a hand, "It's not yer looks! Honest. Just the women I grew up 'round... women in -general-... 'ey haven't been e'en slightly as nice t' me as yer being. Only time 'ey are is 'en 'ey want somethin' 'r are bein' paid." He means barmaids and stuff with the last one. Denn'ryiel ahs, and shakes her head. "Oh... I see. Well, I'm sorry to hear that. If it make you feel any better, I can pretend to be mean," she offers, with a light smile. "Nononononono!" Neelkan repeats himself a few extra times this time around. "It's nice t' meet someone who isn't knockin' m' 'r wantin' somethin' from m'." He gives a small shrug. "Added t' the fact 'at yer not a man, kinda makes it... well.. strange." Denn'ryiel chuckles once, nodding. "Well, the Tower is the place for oddities, though usually they're a little less general." She glances down at his mug. "Need more coffee?" Neelkan shakes his head, his slowly drying hair spiking out a little more. "No, the bloody stuff is a lil' too bitter f'r me! But 'anks f'r the offer." The Tower a place for oddities? "A place f'r oddities, huh? No wonder I ended up 'ere..." he mutters that last part really softly. Denn'ryiel smiles softly. "Well, with all the tricks that Sedai and... those like me can do, and with all the ter'angreal stored there, it's nickname is well earned. You're in good company at least." "Not all'a ya 'r nice. The few of ya 'at are won't change m' mind 'bout women in general." Sorry. Neelkan still dislikes women in general. And he likely will for a very, very long time. Just a -few- that he's met recently haven't been -all- bad. Denn'ryiel shakes her head. "Perhaps not, I just meant that if you consider yourself odd," She thought she heard that. "...there are a lot of others here that can be considered odd as well." "Oh." Neelkan responds softly bending his knees a little until they're closer to him. He's definately odd. And not just talking about his hair at this point either. "'r ya odd? I mean.. uh.. besides 'at ya can... ya know..." Denn'ryiel shrugs a little bit. "I guess so. This..." she says, tugging at her vest, "certainly makes me odd here, since no one else is in this position, so no one knows how to greet me at all. But personally, I guess I'm a little odd there too." "I think I'll just keep callin' ya Denn, m'self!" Neelkan says, looking at the vest for a moment. He has no idea about this above Accepted but not Aes Sedai thing. He knows she said she -wasn't- Aes Sedai and wouldn't be, but he doesn't understand the rest. He's not the brightest ant in the farm. Denn'ryiel chuckles and nods. "That's perfectly fine. All my friends... well my few friends call me Denn, and you certainly qualify, I guess." His blue-green eyes blink once and Neelkan looks away. Shesh. Get dragged to the Tower for healing and all of a sudden he has an adopted little brother (Redd) and now a friend who's a WOMAN! Not to even go into the other two women he doesn't think are -too- bad... "Uh... 'anks... I think." What? Has he never had a friend before? Denn'ryiel smiles once, and shrugs. "By the way, what time do you think the yellows will start looking around for you?" she asks Neelkan as she leans against the wall. "'ey told m' t' come back when I started gettin' tired. 'n 'fore dark..." Pause. Neelkan looks around for a window. Is it dark yet? "Um. Maybe we should start headin' back, just in case!" He doesn't want them finding out he spent the hours they finally let him out of the Tower in a Tavern and Denn had to help unfuzz his head with water dunking and coffee. Denn'ryiel nods, glancing out towards the store windows, and registering the time. "Maybe you're right. You look clear headed enough anyways; the coffee must have helped. I will need to pay Master Kilgan though." She walks over to the elderly man and sets a few more coins down on the counter, as well as the unused bucket. Standing up, Neelkan slips his tunic back on and ties the sash again around his waist, then heads out after her with spikey half-still wet hair. Least he can walk without support now, but the minute they get back he's going to need to drop into the bed and -sleep-. He's exhausted. Denn'ryiel tries not to support Neelkan, since that would look suspicious. She just walks beside him, or behind him, back through the gates. Trying not to look suspitions, Neelkan just goes back up the the Infirmary and instantly gives half-way respectful regarts to the Yellows on duty (meaning he doesn't snear at them or glare or anything, but he doesn't bow or call them Aes Sedai either) then lays down and almost instantly falls asleep. Zzzzzzzzz.