07/16/2000

Courtyard, The White Tower, Tar Valon

Marble tiles gleam from a straight path which leads from the Gates of the
Tower to the wide double doors which announce its entry point. Soft grass
and well planned patches of flowers can be found to either side, with the
occasional shady tree. Accepted and novices sit on stone benches, some
practicing their Power to the dismay of uneasy petitioners passing through.
To the side there is a stable, near the fenced entrance to the clearly
visible yard where shirtless boys go through sword forms through the day.

Guards take the weapons of those wanting to enter, though the Gaidin spread
about the courtyard, seemingly about their leisure, look ready to pounce on
any men who "forgot" a dagger at the gates. Aes Sedai pass through on
various errands, some nodding to acknowledge bows or curtsies. The
atmosphere is busy, but calm.


Vorsha is sitting on a bench in the courtyard, looking up at the sky with a
smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye. Another focus area....

It has been another long day for a certain white-streaked red head trainee,
namely Neelkan. And the day isn't even close to over. He's just finished up
another round of tasks between training and has decided to take a break
since he doesn't have any more training for a little while. So he wanders
down out of the Tower, rubbing hands through his damp hair, intent on
telling any Aes Sedai or Gaidin to shove off and leave him be. He's on a
break. They'll get their task later. Moving into the Courtyard he doesn't
spot the Accepted (well, not who the Accepted is) at first and plops down
to sit nearby the bench she is on, laying back to look up at the sky as
well. He's just going to lay here until someone tells him other wise.

Vorsha hears the plopping and lets her eyes fall down at the young man. She
smiles. Well... she clears her throat. Best to be kind to the boy. "I am
sorry for running you off the other day." she says warmly.

Eh? Neelkan props himself up a little bit to make sure his mind isn't
playing tricks on him. He just heard a voice, a woman's voice, that
/Accepted's/ voice, apologizing to him... What, he not used to women
apologizing? He kinda narrows his eyes for a few moments, squinting as if
to make sure she's who she sounds like, then when he's satisfied his mind
is not playing tricks on him he shrugs his shoulders and says, "Ya didn't.
I really needed t' get back t' doin' those flamin' tasks. Wanna finish
'fore all m' hair's white."

Vorsha smiles, a friendly, soft smile. Not her usual smile of a woman
working on a man, just a smile. "I've been doing this long enough to know
when a man is running because of me." she says. "It's quite all right, I'm
not angry with you, and you didn't do anything wrong. If it really bothers
you so, I suppose I can leave you be."

Neelkan nods, "'at would prolly b' the best idea. Only way ya'll get
anywhere with m' is if I'm drunk." He says truthfully with a small smirk
for a few moments, then shakes his head and the smirk is gone, "I just
aren't really interested, so ya might do best t' stick t' the other
trainees." He's trying not to be rude, which would likely shock some
people...

Vorsha gets up and comes to sit by him. "Now now, Neelkan, that's not what
people are saying. Word has it that you were quite in charge of yourself
when Denn stole that kiss from you."

"Ya heard the wrong side of the rumor," Neelkan says, reaching up to finger
at his hair for a few moments before sitting up fully so where he's not
just proped up, "I kissed 'er, 'n ye'h, I wasn't drunk 'r nothin', but...
'at's different. It just happened." He shrugs, glancing in another
direction for a few moments.

Vorsha smirks softly, then lets her face smooth out. "Yes I know, Neelkan.
Things often just happen. I'm just wondering if you care about her or not?"

If there's one thing Neelkan seems nervous about, it's all this feeling
talk. He shifts around a little where he sits, but is able to keep it from
being overly obviously. "Denn's m' friend if 'at's what ya mean..."

Vorsha raises a single eyebrow. It's a question all in itself, and there is
no need to voice it. Of course that's not what she ment she says with her
eyes alone.

Neelkan makes a grump sound and looks away from the girl again, obviously
not very happy with talk to someone he doesn't really know about things
like this. "I dunno..." he finally says with a shrug. "It just felt like
the right thin' t' do at the time."

Vorsha smiles and pats his arm. "I'm sure it did, Neelkan. It's okay, you
know. You don't have to be afraid of how you feel." she says softly. One
good thing about what she does... no man walks away without being better
off than before.

Turning to glare at the girl slightly, Neelkan says, "I'm not afraid." Then
shrugs off the patting hand.

Vorsha smirks. "Of course you're not." she says, then shakes her head. "YOu
really fight it too much, you know that?"

"I've no idea what yer talkin' 'bout." Neelkan say stubbornly, moving to
stand up from the ground so he isn't just sitting on it, dusting off the
clothing he's wearing absently. "If ya know so much 'bout m', 'en what d'ya
'ink?" That's said like he doesn't believe she knows him at all.

Vorsha raises an eyebrow at him. "If I wasn't able to find the truth with
such an innocent question, Neelkan, you wouldn't jump about like a cat on
hot sands." she declairs. "Nor would you protest as loudly as a High Lord
in a fisherman's house." she remarks.

There's a grumble from Neelkan as he reaches up to run hands over his hair
in frustration, until it's spiking up every which way. "Yer talkin' in
riddles woman, 'n I don't understand what yer sayin' 'at all."

Vorsha leans over and gives the boy a kiss on the cheek. It's soft and
warm, and though it could possibly be seen as a come on, it is not actually
such. "Of coures you do, Neelkan, you just do not want to admit it."

At the kiss on the cheek, Neelkan blinks and glances over quickly,
grumbling a few times about woman and some other choices phrases under his
breath before asking grumpedly, "Admit t' what?"

Vorsha giggles a sits back. "YOu like Denn, don't ya?" she says. "And I'm
not talking about friends here."

"I dunno!" Neelkan says loudly in some frustration, "I mean, ye'h, I know I
like 'er as a friend. But I've ne'er really had friends 'at're girls 'fore
I came 'ere, 'n..." He shakes his head and trails off in a grumble, adding
on a few mutters about women and hating them.

Vorsha tilts her head to the side. "It seems to me, Neelkan, that you don't
hate women at all, you just simply can't decide how you feel about
particular women."

"I had decided just bloody well fine... 'til I got 'ere." Neelkan says with
a grumble, folding his arms slightly over his chest and glaring at a bench
off into the distance. He finally shakes his head and glances back at the
woman, spikey bangs falling to partly obscure one of his eyes, "So ya 'ink
I like Denn? So does 'at mean I also like all the other women 'at I don't
hate 'round 'ere? Like Kaomi? 'n Espi? 'n Wyn?"

Vorsha smiles. "You don't have to find yourself caring deeply for someone
just because you don't hate them, Neelkan. I would hope you don't hate me,
though I can see how I do get on your nerves, but surely that doesn't mean
you like me a great deal. There are many levels, and you only need to find
which one applies to which person."

Neelkan opens his mouth to say something, then shakes his head in
frustration and just says, "I need t' go. I got a training thing in a few
minutes." Which means he gets to run off again and avoid this conversation
til later. Before she can stop him he trots off towards the Practice yard.