06/26/2000 Practice Yard, White Tower, Tar Valon Hard packed earth is ringed in by a plain wooden fence. Daily the practice area is maintained by the pounding of young men's feet, as they are ran about the yard or set to forms. Towards the left hand side of the yard the thud of arrows hitting targets can be heard. The right is devoted to racks full of practice weapons and armor. Throughout the day the harsh voices of Gaidin urging the boys to work faster, stronger, harder can be heard. At night the silence is almost eerie as only the cicadas come out to play their nocturnal commentary. A three story building is at the end of the hall, providing a place for the trainees to live. A set of iron stairs up to the door is a favorite meeting spot for some of the boys, to sit and rest when such things are granted. Often they can be seen catching a meal there, to avoid wrinkled noses and sniffs from young ladies unaccustomed to the sweat and grime they daily generate. Savren comes out of the barracks with two trainees behind him, Redd and Sunan. He does not look happy, but then again, he doesn't look anything. He stops near the center of the yard, "You two have something to explain to me." He states, plainly, "I've heard something very disturbing about you two, and another Trainee whose name happens to elude me. Care to explain what happened in the bath this morning and give me the name of that third trainee?" Redd blinks and would turn red if he wasn't already still from the last joke made. He is at a loss for words at the moment, and is new so he doesn't know the third trainee's name. Savren looks over his shoulder, as he is facing away from the trainees, "What happens on Tower grounds is relevant to everything that concerns those who reside at the Tower. What happened could affect your training or any number of things. I need the whole story and the real story. I have heard many versions which I am sure are far from it. If nothing happened that would incriminate you, I'm sure you'll have no problem telling me." Incriminating? Of course not. It is just a bit embarrassing, moreso to Redd for some reason. "I slipped when climbing out of the bath, and Sunan tried to help me out, sir..." He pauses to take a breath there. Well, let's just put this as nicely as possible. Neelkan was given an errand in the early evening, about three hours ago. The errand was to go down to the docks and pick up something. The reason it took him so long? He's terrified of deep water and had a very difficult time getting himself to go on the dock itself. Then an even harder time getting on the boat to get the package. Well, let's just say a half hour trip took three hours. And now he's back with the little package in hand for Sevilian Gaidin and walking into the practice yard growling under his breath at himself for his -stupid- fear. Grumble. This is when he sees the trainees he knows at a Gaidin. Uh.. He stops a good many paces away and stands there hoping to be missed. Sunan has no need of taking his breath. Like an auctioneer, he explains emotionlessly, as always, "And then I slipped on water and fell backwards into the next tub and took Redd with me and my head went under and my elbow hit the other trainees genitals and Hi Neelkan!" He waves to him as he continues. "-and we splashed around trying to get up because Redd was on top of us and he moved and I got up and the other trainee whose name I don't know but he's in his twenties and has a lot of muscles and Redd got up and we all left." Inhale. ....... Um... Neelkan's eyes widen as he catches part of this story, then he gets spotted and grumbles under his breath again and kicks at the ground with his foot, cursing something rather softly. Thanks a lot, Sunan. He glares at the boy, then scrapes a half-bow towards the Gaidin, even if he isn't watching. Just so no one can say he didn't bow! Savren turns to see Neelkan bow just in time. He chooses to ignore him for now, "So I see...Nothing wrong with that, then. I just needed to know what really went on. I truly was scared some of the things I heard might be true." The youngest trainee has heard a few of those things, and the thought makes Redd turn more red, even though it seemed impossible a second ago. Sunan's clumsiness als extends to tying laces, as anyone who has seen his shirt will attest. In his haste to get out here, the laces on his breeches were not done up properly. Which is why they fall to his feet now. His smallclothes, at least appears secure, though asif tied by a 5-year-old. He seems completely u8nconcerned ith this as he bends to pick them up, asking innocently, ""What were some of those things? And why would it bother you?" Savren shakes his head, "Learn to tie a knot, Sunan, and go to bed. It's lights out and I have to check on the rest of the Trainees. Same goes for you, Redd, and you too." he says, gesturing towards Neelkan. Neelkan scrambles up from his half-bow and starts towards the Living Area. He doesn't give a response to the order though. His package will already be delievered very late. Going to get stuck doing a hundred laps around the yard or something probably already. But he should get the package to the Gaidin soon. Not that he really cares what the Gaidin think of him. Trainee Living Area, White Tower, Tar Valon Three stories worth of polished wooden hallways greet you, along with many doors. Behind these doors are sets of four bunk beds, shared by trainees. There is a wash-up area on the first floor, down the hall, a communal area of wooden tubs that must be hand-pumped to be used. Boys ranging from their early teens to their mid-twenties stroll down this hall, talking or running as the situation demands. There is quite a bit of noise as talk and rough housing are common events here. Redd looks at Sunan for a moment, reaching in to take Sunan's breeches out of the drawer he put them in and handing it to him before he sits himself. "Ready?" Sunan nods to Redd. He's sitting on Redd's bed in his smallclothes holding a pair of his breeches. Redd, also sitting on his bed in his smallclothes, is holding a pair of his own breeches. "Yes." He looks over at what Redd is doing, studying it carefully. Redd goes over it very slowly, talking each step out and repeating it, watching Sunan as he goes. He makes sure Sunan gets each step before moving on to the next... The first step is "Take each end and wrap them like this." And he demonstrates. Siiiigh. Grumble. The door opens and Neelkan walks in cursing under his breath. He nods towards the two in the room and then goes to get up on his bunk, cursing even more. He's not a happy little ex-bandit. But then what else is new? Sunan calls out, not looking up, "Hi Neelkan." As the young man opens the door. The task Rdd shows is performed quickly. He's got that downpat, even though he does it too tight. Redd nods. So far so good, almost. "Not as tight, Sunan, it could break them." He then moves on to the next step. "Take this end, and slide it through here, then wrap this end like this." He waits for Sunan, and while he waits, he looks up at his big brother. "What's wrong?" "Bloody Light-blinded Gaidin gave m' a bunch of chores f'r bein' late with his flamin' package!" Neelkan grumbles loudly and pulls himself up on his bunk to sulk. Stupid Gaidin. Then he finally looks to see what they're doing and raises his eyebrows, growling halting for a second, "What're ya doin'?" Sunan has trouble performing making the first loop. At least the laces are crossed. Then, he answers his little brother's big brother who isn't his big brother. "He's teaching me to tie laces." He tries again, and gets a loop too big to be used. Redd smiles to his other big brother who isn't his other big brother's little brother. "A little smaller." Then he takes Sunan's hands and moves, slowly, through the motion for that step. He then looks up at Neelkan. "A Gaidin could get him in trouble for not knowing... I'll help you with your chores." Shaking his head, Neelkan grumbles and says, "No, no. I can handle 'em. 'sides, the Gaidin prolly wouldn't want anyone helpin' m'." He frowns at all this tying stuff. The kid doesn't know how to tie things? Weird. Redd nods. "That's it." He then gets his strings back where Sunan is. "Now wrap the loop around like this, and slip the other end through from the middle, like this." He shows this step slowly, then watches Sunan, and speaks to Neelkan while waiting. "They don't have to know I helped... just let me know." Redd breaking rules? He sure is different than his first day in Tar Valon. Neelkan grins down at his lil' bro, "A'right." Then lays back and looks at the ceiling. Probably won't go to sleep, but he's going to lay here in silence. Sunan can't get the motions down. He tries over and over, but he doens't get it. He throws his breeches down in visible frustration. Redd isn't so easily frustrated. "Relax and try again." He hands Sunan the breeches again, and watches. Sunan takes the breeches, and exhales, calming down. He gets to where he was before, and says, "I wish we didn't have to wear clothes. Show me again." Redd laughs a little at Sunan's statement. He then takes Sunan's hands and takes him through the motion instead of just showing him. He undoes the step and redoes it five times before letting Sunan try on his own. Sunan studies Redd carefully and takes a deep breath, getting ready. He tries, and fails. And he tries again, and fails. And then he gives great credence to the saying "Third Time's Charm." But, it still looks incrediby sloppy, and he puilled the laces so wide there'sbarely any left. But, at least he left some there, unlike the other attempts, and put the right things through the right holes. Redd nods, looking at it. "Almost done. Now carefully pull those back, to give you more string, then pull the loops to tighten it." He watches Sunan carefully on this step, not the hardest, but the last, so any mess up means he starts over. Sunan obeys, and works very slowly. This time, he manages to do it. "Whoo." He exhales, "I did it. And now I think I'll sleep." Redd smiles, very happy for Sunan. He then adds as a last little tip. "Don't rush it, go slow until you can go fast without making mistakes. It will save more time than trying to rush." Long distance to Espiria: Neelkan glomps to his favorite Accepted. ;) Hey. There's still a chance Neel could end up with Denn... Once he gets past the fact she's older then his mother... Sunan nods, and puts his breeches away. Then, he climbs into bed and lays his head down Sunan speaks down to Redd, "I'm from Tear, in Essenia." Redd nods. "Neelkan?" The answer from Neelkan comes in a soft grumble from up in his bunk, "Eharon." Sunan calls over, "Eharon? Is that where men do everything women say? That's not logical." Redd blinks. What? "Is that true?" Neelkan grumbles, "Tell m' 'bout it. Why in the Light d'ya think I hate women so much?" Sunan calls over, "But why do they do it? Men are as good as women. The trainee said men act like dogs oiver there. His exact words were, "Men jump when a woman snaps her finers and go where she points." "Blood and ashes, that doesn't sound fair." Did those words come from innocent little Redd? No.. must be the wind... Growling up there on his bed, Neelkan sounds fit to tear something to peices. "It's not flamin' fair. But it's how it is. I ran 'way from home t' get 'way from it 'fore m' ma 'n five older sis's married m' off!" Sunan calls over to Neelkan, "You're right. What did the trainee mean when he said Eharoni men are always on the bottom and eager to please, too?" Redd listens with interest on this one. "What does that mean?" Oh Light. It's a good thing Neelkan's face isn't in sight or they would see the blush that crosses over his face. "Uh... ya... Blood 'n ashes. Ya two don't hafta worry 'bout 'at..." Sunan wonders, "Why not? He said the two go together whenI asked, and to ask a Gaidin. I haven't had the time yet. I was going to do it tomorrow." Redd sits up quietly. A quick flash. A suppressed memory? He isn't sure, but it seems odd, and painful though not physically so. Sighing, Neelkan rolls over on his side so he can look down at them. "You two -do- know.. uh.. 'bout what a man 'n a women... -do-... right?" ... It was explained to him when -he- was rather young. Had to get him prepared for his future wife. Grumble. He's never getting married! Sunan says, "What do you mean?" Redd says, "What do you mean?" At the exact same times Sunan does. "I'll take 'at as a no..." Neelkan sighs again and reaches up to scrub a hand through his hair. "A'right. Well, ya know how men 'n women look different body-wise, right? Well... um.. parts of us, 'n parts of.. 'em.. go together." Blush. Blood 'n ashes. Why is he stuck explaining this to them! Guess that's what big brothers are for... Sunan wonders, "Go together?" "How?" Redd asks, "Do they fit together?" Of course, he would have to ask that... Yes, of course he would. Neelkan sighs and rubs at his hair again for a moment. "Ye'h. We fit t'gether." Suddenly he gets a mean idea. "Why don'tcha ask one of the Yellows. I'm sure 'ey'll be glad t' explain it t' ya." Sunan nods, "Okay. I'll do that. I'm need to talk to one anyway. I think I'm sick." Neelkan has to force himself not to snicker. It would give away the fact that he probably doomed the boys to some horrible fate, but then... "Sick? Again?" Sunan calls from his bed, yawning. "Yeah. It's a very strange sickness, I think. Little hairs." Coughing, Neelkan tries not to look too odd. "Um... lil' hairs, 'eh?" Sunan affirms, "Yes. Little blonde hairs. And only in one place." He doens't seem the least bit bothered by the discussion. "Blond hairs?" Neelkan nods and lays back again, almost disappearing from sight as he continues, "Ask the Yellow's 'bout 'at if ya want t'." Sunan says, "I will." As Neelkan doens't seem to know what it is either.