07/17/2000

Dining Hall, White Tower, Tar Valon

One may see, here, a huge buffet table full of every type of food
imaginable, from nearly every part of the known world. Occasionally empty
plates are removed and replaced, for there is no common eating time for any
but the students. Most eat when they remember to, or find the time. Other
tables are present. Some have broad cloths thrown over them, in the color
of the Ajah that normally sits there. Others are left plain, indicating a
table at which anyone may sit.

Bobbing lights, produced by the One Power, emit a soft glow, replacing the
need for candles and lamp oil, whose supplies are growing short each day
and which are getting quite expensive. Occasionally as some fade an
Accepted will walk in and replace them. The floor, white, is kept
meticulously clean and scrubbed. No sooner does some morsel find its
accidental way to the ground than someone is along to sweep it up and throw
it away.


Espi has left the table where she was sitting and stands way over by the
bins. She places her plate inside, deliberately taking her time as she
listens to Verbena give 'what 4' to Sunan. Ouch. That's gotta hurt. She
bites her lip, sighing softly as she finishes off her glass too and sets it
inside. Hmm, should she hang around? To see what if any way that Sunan can
get out of this fix? Sure... why not. She turns back around and watches
Verb, who sits across from Sunan and Sunan who seems at a loss. Imagine
that....

Lisia grins at Verbena and writes a few notes in her notepad, a bit out of
reach of the conversation, yet enjoying what she's hearing.

Verbena returns the grin, a bit of a wry one. Yes, even cool calm collected
logical Whites can have a sense of humor, and there is /nothing/ more
amusing, darling, than a young pup who is far too big for his breeches.

Sunan repeats, "I do not believe you understood what I stated. Even if I
could read, I am still incapable of writing such an essay." He continues to
stare at her, equal parts puzzlement and calm.

Verbena lifts an eyebrow. "Then you should not be a trainee," she says
cooly. "Logically, a Gaidin should have the simple skills of reading,
writing, and research. If you cannot manage that go find a mercenary
company to join and train you. We've no use for you here." She pops a bite
of crab into her mouth, completely unforgiving.

What an interesting time for Neelkan to wander back into the Dining Hall.
He's finished what he left to do and dropped in to see if Espi was still
around, because he needed to talk with her. He looks around the hall, then
spots the Accepted and starts towards her. Then he spots Sunan having a...
thing with an Aes Sedai. Hrm... Well, he might as well see what's going on.
He moves up behind Espi and leans in to whisper close to her ear, "'ey,
Espi. What's goin' on?"

Sunan replies in an equally emotionless tone, "That is not your decision to
make. Even if you were correct, it would mean the dismissal of many, many
trainees. I have direct knowledge of severasl who are illiterate, and I
knew of very few people who could read unlessthey were nobility back in
Tear. Your logic is flawed." He delivers this message and calmly eats some
more crab, taking a bite of his fresh bread.

Verbena looks at Sunan. "Well, I will tell you what is my decision. My
decision is for you to put up your plate and go find a stable to muck out,
and my decision is for you to do it quickly."

Espiria glances over to Neel as he moves over to the side to join her. She
sighs softly, lowering her voice so she can tell him basiclly what went on.
"Umm..well Sunan was being his usually pushy self and keep squishing right
next to me. The Aes Sedai walked in and saw this and tried to tell him that
he shouldn't do it. Oh..then he went into this long thing about she could
tell him that and he insisted that I tell him why I acted that way... Well,
it just from bad to worse from there. That it..in a nutshell." She glances
over to Sunan at the pronouncement that he must muck out stables.
"Hmm..well it could be worse." She lowers her voice a bit more. "That
is..if he says something else to tick her off."

Lisia packs up her books, having finished eating and finding no use for
being in this conversation. She stands and exits as quietly as she enters,
smiling at all involved, and nodding at Verbena.

Squishing right next to her? Maybe Neelkan shouldn't ask what she means
like that. He shakes his head at the story, moving to reach up and ruffle
his spikey white streaked red hair (white streaks in the hair of a
teenager?), "Well, I prolly would've done the same, but 'en ya know me." He
winks at his Accepted friend, then looks towards the Aes Sedai and 'Mr
Question Boy' himself to see what happens next. Step in and help? Hehehehe.
Nope. He's just going to watch. And laugh. And mock. He's already in enough
trouble with Aes Sedai lately.

Sunan calmly continues eating his food, and then pipesup, "May I suggest
you find an alternative punishment? I'm afraid of sickness, and fecal
matter can carry it. Piss can't though, if you're not sick. I've always
found that interesting." He seems fascinated by the concept. "In fact, you
can drink your piss. Its mostly water, it's good for you. But if you ate
one of your stools you'd get very sick. Or if you touched them and didn't
wash your hands with soap before you ate."

Espiria sighs and rolls her eyes and gets a bit green around the gills. She
glances over to Neel, sighing softly as she drops her voice again. "Does he
always have to be so...umm..crude?" She sighs, shaking her head. "You
wanted to talk with me Neel...and I've about had enough. Let's go talk."
She looks at Neel again for a moment before she moves away from the spot
and takes a wide trip around the pair having the 'discussion' in the
middle.

Shaking his head at the boy's choice of topics, but he doesn't seem
bothered by it. Neelkan spent two years amoung a bunch of bandits. He's
heard it all. He nods to Espi, face going into a frown for a moment at the
idea of having that talk, even if that was why he came back here in the
first place. He looks back at Sunan, and silently wishes the boy luck, then
follows after his Accepted friend.

Verbena embraces the source. Enough is enough. A weave she picked up as a
Novice, Earth and Spirit, ensures that every last bit of food on Sunan's
plate tastes like soap. "The Master Gaidin will hear of this. And if he
cannot control his students any better than what I have seen tonight, then
perhaps the Amyrlin can be persuaded to find someone more suitable for the
job. Thank you, for ruining my appetite." She stands, then, gliding out of
the room.

Espiria sighs softly, heading for the door as well.

Sunan seems baffled by her actions, but continues to eat his food.
Frowning, he takes Verbena's tray instead.


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.


Espiria heads out of the Tower with a scowl on her face. She sighs softly,
glancing over to Neel for a moment before she throws her hands up. "I
swear..that Sunan will just never learn. What does he think he's here for
anyway." She sighs in exaspiration, shrugging again before heading over to
a bench to take a seat. "Now..what was it you needed to talk to me about,
Neel?"

Verbena ,for her part, sits beneath a tree, meditating and trying to forget
the entire disgusting encounter.

Moving beside Espi, Neelkan shrugs after his friend gets the events in the
Dining Hall off her chest, "E'en I know 'ere're some thin's ya just don't
talk 'bout. But I'm startin' t' wonder if the kid's missin' a few dice in
'is cup." He is (or at least was) a bandit, and talking about things like
that with his bandit buddies while fallen down drunk is ok, but when
there's a bunch of women around eating dinner...? Nope. He was raised a
little better then that. "'n.. uh.. I just wanted t'..uh.." He's kinda
nervous now that he has to say why he wanted to talk, isn't he?

Espiria sighs softly, hands reaching out to smooth her skirts for a moment.
"Neel...you needed to speak to me, so please won't you just say it? You
know you can tell me anything, friend. You should know that by now.." She
chuckles, glancing up to him with a grin. "Come on now...spill it."

Oh sure. Neelkan can tell her anything, can he? Well, he glances off
towards one of the gardens in the Courtyard for a moment, eyes narrowing at
it under cover of bangs, which get pushed back by fingers after a few
moments before he says, "I dunno. I just wanted t' tell ya.. 'at I'm glad
'at ya found.. uh.. 'im 'gain." She knows what he's talking about. Him.
"I'm just not 'xactly sure what t' think 'bout all the ... things goin'
on... Ya know... things..."

Kaomi glides through, nodding to all, but strides out apparently on urgent
business.

Espiria smiles gently, lifting a shoulder to shrug. She lowers her voice a
bit more so that anyone around shouldn't be able to hear if they walk by.
"Neel...you know that I'll always care about you. Don't you? You've come to
be a very good friend of mine. Varcel is a good friend too. So is Redd. I
care about all of you. The...well, the fact that I knew
someone..before..makes no difference in my caring about the others. I will
still care for the..um..others in the same way. And I cherish your
friendships even more so." She tips her head to one side, sighing softly.
She glances up seeing Mother go thru and blinks. "My..she was in a
hurry..." She glances back over to Neel, smiling as she pats the seat next
to her. "Come on..sit down with me."

Neelkan's eyes follow the Amyrlin as she zips into and out of the Courtyard
quickly, even though he is listening to Espi's every whispered word. He
nods and moves over to sit down on the bench that she's sat down on and
leans forward to rest his arms on his knees, glancing off ahead of him, at
least one eye obscured by his long spikey hair. "Light, I still dunno
'xactly what t' think 'bout 'is whole 'ing, but I'm glad t' 'ear 'at..
ya... uh.. 'at I'm yer friend." he responds in the same lowered volume
level of a voice. And considering that his normal speaking level is fairly
loud, it's something he's not used to.

Espiria sighs softly, grinning as she reaches over and ruffles your hair.
"Neel...What's wrong...Won't you tell me?" She frowns gently, placing a
gentle hand on your arm. "You know you can tell me, Neel..." She sighs
softly, hanging her head. "What..have I done to upset you, Neel. I know you
are..you never talk this quiet unless your really upset about something."
She tips her head to look at your face, "Won't you tell me?"

Sigh. No doubt the happenings out here in the Courtyard are going to start
even more rumors up and around about the Tower's so-called Woman Hater.
Neelkan ducks away from the ruffling hand, but not quite fast enough as he
ends up with spikes of hair falling every which way, though they tend to do
that anyway... "Ya haven't done nothin' t' upset m', so don't worry 'bout
it. I'm just glad t' be yer friend is all." He glances over and flashes a
small grin, straightening up a little.

Espiria grins shakily for just a moment. "I...hope that never changes,
Neel. I value your friendship very much. I..look at you as the older
brother I never had." She giggles softly, "But..I'll never..at least I hope
I'll never...be as big a chore as..umm..well as some other are." She
smiles, placing her hand back in her lap. She knows something changed, but
she won't push it. She's already lost one friendship because of things
happening. She's not going to loose another if she can help it.

"Older brothers are far safer relationships between Accepted and Trainee
than anything else I can think of," comes Verbena's clipped tones, though
she does not open her eyes or cease in her deep breathing.

The big brother thing? What is going on with that? Everywhere Neelkan goes
here he ends up being someone's big brother. "Well 'at's.. nice.. I guess.
Though I dunno if I can 'ink of ya like a sister. I got too many back home,
'n I don't care f'r any of 'em." He shrugs and runs a hand through his
hair, flattening it back for a second before it poofs back up, then he
jumps up as that voice joins into the conversation and quickly glances
around to find the meditating Aes Sedai down there that Sunan was fighting
with. "Um... safer?" Oh. Probably that silly rule about relationships. Not
that he's interested in relationships! He hates women! Really! Hrmpt.

Espiria chuckles softly, tipping her head to one side to see Neel's face as
he talks. She really likes to see someone's face..to see the reaction and
how they feel about what she says. "Well...then at least to me then.
I..never had brothers or sisters back home. Always wondered about what it
would be like to have one. I think you make a very good brother, Neel.
Regardless if you dislike women or not..." She giggles softly, eyes
flashing brightly for a moment before she shakes her head. "Umm....You..got
to know that I will always like you, Neel. Because you got a good heart.
You have...courage and you have kindness inside you that you hardly ever
let out. When you do...well, it's just a marvel to behold." She giggles,
knowing that it will probably make him blush, but she'd be happy to see
something other than what he's showing right now. She grins, "And..I figure
one day when you finally settle with someone...if you ever do, that she'll
be the luckier person in the world."

Blush he does indeed. Neelkan's cheeks flush slightly at the kindness talk,
then rest he was nodding in agreement too. He likes compliments, except the
ones about caring and being nice and stuff. He can live without those! He
ducks his head down, hair falling to obscure the blush a little, before he
reaches up and brushes the bangs back, going into an immediate protest,
"I'm settlin' with no body, not in 'at kinda way 'least. Might bond t' 'n
Aes Sedai, not sure yet." That is if he makes it through training... "But,
no. No 'lucky' woman out 'ere gettin' m' like 'at." And he'll insist that
forever, up until he finds himself getting married or something. Grump.

Espiria chuckles softly, nodding as she watches the special blush cross his
cheeks. He can be so adorable when he does that. Most guys loose that
ability and she's just glad to see Neel's not 'most guys'. "Oh..I know,
Neel. I'm just saying...that whomever you end up with...regardless of
bonded or not, they will be very lucky to have you." She smiles, looking
down as she blushes at herself for saying that. Well..it's true and she
certainly can't lie to herself or anyone else. It's just not in her. She
giggles softly, shaking her head. "Tho..I would say you'd be keeping them
on thier toes more often that it being the other way around."

Grumble. Neelkan doesn't like being thought of as cute, especially in terms
of when he's blushing. He finally shrugs off the blush and then lets out a
faked gasp at the last talk, almost as if he's shocked she would think
that. "Who me?! Cause trouble? Ne'er!" Hehhehheh. He snickers a few times
afterwards, then reaches over to slug her lightly in the shoulder, "'n...
he's lucky too, ya know." Time to embarass her a little...

Espiria widens her eyes and does blush brightly at that. "I..umm..." She
giggles nervously, eyes darting up and down from a place on the ground.
"Umm...Thanks.." She grins, taking the punch and smirking playfully before
she shakes her head. "I'm not sure which of us is worse though. I think the
verdict is still out..." She smirks, giggling softly before she can't help
but sigh. "I think we will both be..umm..interesting to have to deal with.
But..there is plenty of time for that..." She shrugs, "We still have alot
of work to get done before we can even think of anything remotly close to
it."

"Ah, yer not 'at bad. Talk t' yerself too much, but..." Neelkan says with a
wink, picking a delicate subject to joke about, but it's all in a teasing
way. He's not meaning to hurt her feelings or tease her to hurt or
anything. He's just being himself. "'n I don't plan t' be thinkin' 'bout it
e'en when it ain't 'gainst the rules!" Or that's what he's going to insist.
He's not thinking about it now. Honest.

Espiria chuckles, holding up her hands. "Okay..Okay..I give." She smirks,
"I won't mention it again..really I won't." She smirks, acting perfectly
innocent. Well not far off, but in this case she didn't say how long she
would wait /till/ she mentioned it again, just that she wouldn't mention it
immediately. "Hmm...So..how goes you're training, Neel? Umm..I know you got
stuck doing all that stuff, but I was wondering how it went otherwise?"

"It's goin' a'right. I mean 'ey still won't let m' fight with real weapons,
'n I a'ready know most the sword forms 'ey're teachin' 'n stuff..." Neelkan
shrugs his shoulders lightly, glad she won't mention that again. Even if
she didn't say how long she wouldn't... "But 'at just means it don't take
so long t' learn 'em, 'n I got more time t' finish up 'ose tasks I gotta
do... E'en if I'm only doin' now cause I want t'..." Pause... "I didn't
tell ya 'at Michael Gaidin was gonna let m' off of doin' all of that
punishment, did I?"

Espiria raises her brows and shakes her head, "No...you didn't. Is he? That
was very kind of him. Did he happen to say why he was going to?" She
adjusts her dress a bit, smoothing the fabric a bit as she glances over to
you again. She smiles, "It's..suprising sometimes how nice he can truely
be, when all anyone ever sees is that gruff exterior. He even helped me out
alot when he came to visit me when I get hurt. I was in so much pain..and
he taught me something so that I could get the pain to go away. It was
really nice of him to do that.."

"He thought the punishment was too harsh f'r what I did 'n 'at he would
lemme off 'a it with a push up 'n what I'd a'ready done." Neelkan admits,
glancing off towards the gardens silently. "I told 'em 'at I'd rather
finish 'em..." So perhaps that why he's been taking breaks, only doing them
when he feels like it, and things of that nature. "I just didn't want t'
take the easy way out, 'cause I want t' prove t' the Gaidin 'n the Aes
Sedai 'at I can do 'is..."

Espiria smiles and nods as she leans back a bit to relax. "Well...if
nothing else it will prove to them that you have strength of character. To
do all those things anyway..even when you were told you didn't have to
takes that. I'm sure everyone will see it eventually...even those who
generally have problems with you." She chuckles, lifting a shoulder to
shrug, "I know for myself that what you are doing will prove that...and
prove that you have a stubborn streak that just won't quit." She giggles,
scrunching her nose a bit. "So..what has everyone been asking you to do
anyway. Have..they been going out of their way to ask you to do
anything...umm...really bad? I know some who might..." She giggles and
really hopes that he's managed to avoid those types. "I..well, I just wish
I could get everyone to loosen up a bit. I...know we are in the middle of a
war, but if..life is so horrible to live that you need to be...umm...crass
to everyone around you, then why do you bother anyway. There is always
/something/ worth seeing that makes life alittle better..even if it's just
the sun rising and setting."

Verbena listens rather approvingly to this little speech as she stands and
stretches. "It is people like you that we will need after the war,
Accepted. For everyone will need to remember how to act like human beings
again."

"Mostly 'ey've just been askin' m' 'ings like normal errands." Neelkan
responds, thinking up a few examples, "Kirra Sedai told m' t' apologize t'
all the women of the Tower f'r insultin' 'em. She also told m' t' ne'er do
it 'gain, but I said I couldn't promise 'at, so I wouldn't. One of the Reds
made m' clean 'er entire room, walls, ceilings, floors, all of it, with a
brush this big." He holds up his hand and sticks out his pinky finger to
show how big, "'n Kaomi gave m' the best task of all! She told m' t' go lay
in a pile of leaves 'til someone told m' t' move." He was very grateful for
that break, and gained more respect for the Amyrlin. And he does really
call her Kaomi. He glances over at the Aes Sedai, one he knows he hasn't
done a task for yet, and nods at her, "Ye'h. Light send 'at its o'er soon."
Maybe he'll actually be able to sleep once it's over.

Espiria listens to the Aes Sedai, who she rises off the bench for and bobs
a neat curtsey too before she smiles and retakes her seat. "I...just act as
my Ma and Da taught me, Aes Sedai. I honor them by being the best person I
can be. I can do no less for them.." She looks upwards a moment, then tips
her head over to Neel with a strong nod. "Yes...Light keep us all safe till
then and bring us out the other side." She never said anything about being
changed. She knows that change is most of the time good..especially if it's
Light doing the changing, but to just make it out. That is the real trick
to it. She glances over to Verb again, smiling. "I don't think I've met you
yet, Aes Sedai. I'm Espiria and this next to me is Neelkan." She smiles
brightly, "It's a pleasure to meet a new face."

"Verbena of the White," the willowy Aes Sedai replies. "And tis no surprise
that you have not met me...I've been on a sabbatical." On a sabbatical can
mean any number of things, actually, but Verbena isn't going to elaborate
on that.

The White, hmm? Neelkan ponders for a moment trying to think of what some
of the White's made him do for them. He doesn't remember any specific
examples though, and starts slightly as he realizes he was supposed to bow
to the woman. He pushes himself up and finally bows slightly, then plops
back down slouchedly. He isn't going to ask what the long word is, which is
good. He just dismisses it as something women do or some such. "'n Ye'h.
I'm Neelkan."

Espiria smiles gently, "Well..then it's very good to have you back with
us." She chuckles softly as she looks over to Neel, blushing just a hair a
she thinks of something. "I'm happy to meet another White, Verbena Sedai.
I've always found them to be very pleasant to me in general. I like the way
you think too." She giggles softly, shaking her head. "Maybe..we might take
a class together sometime? I'd like to hear your views on some of the
weaves I've come up with..." She scowls, "Though I think a few of them
aren't good for much really...Maybe you can help me improve them?"

Verbena inclines her head and says, "Our primary responsibility is the
fostering of the next generation, for they carry the torch when we are but
gone." Her slight smile includes Neelkan and Espiria both. "But I
interrupted your conversation."

Shrugging his shoulders, for once Neelkan doesn't seem to mind the
conversation being ruined by a woman. "No pro'lem, lady. So yer like
teachers 'n stuff I take it?" He still doesn't know much about the Ajahs on
a whole. He just knows that Yellows tend to get on his nerves, from all the
time he spent in the Infirmary. And Greens kinda make him nervous. And
Reds... He doesn't like Reds. The rest he doesn't know that much about...

Espiria smiles and nods to Neel's words. "We were finished Aes Sedai.
Really..we were just chatting about idle topics." She lifts her shoulders,
"Umm...I know Whites are the more logical thinkers...aren't they Aes Sedai?
I..think they work in the armies though..most of the time." She grins
brighting adding, "But I for one think they make great teachers. Umm..I
think it's because they put things together so simply. Right to the
point..instead of going all the way around it first." She shrugs, hoping
that it makes sense.

"Our primary goal is philosophy, the use of logic to find truth," Verbena
replies, a little sadly. "But yes, our talents have been put to work in the
army. And we do enjoy teaching, because we live in the world of ideas, and
the world of ideas is best expressed between teachers and students. You are
welcome to show me some of your weaves now, Accepted, I can carry on a
conversation and look at weaves too."

Logic? What's that? Neelkan thinks with his emotions, unfortunately, which
usually gets him into trouble. He listens to the two women, looking from
one to the other, and for a few moments seems to slip into the background
of the conversation. It's an unfortunate old habit from growing up in
Eharon... Then he realizes he's doing that and shakes his head furiously
and says, "I can see how'd ya make good teachers 'en, 'n in the army too, I
guess."

Espiria tips her head to one side, listening to Neel for a moment before
she turns to answer the AS. "Umm..Well..I..I'm not sure, Aes Sedai.
My..umm..things tend to be rather odd. Is it alright if we do them out
here?" She pauses for a moment, thinking. "I could always do one of the
smaller things that I came up with." She smiles at Neel, giving him a
gentle punch in the arm. "Neel...You want to help me show her one that I
made? Umm..It's simple really..and I promise that it won't hurt you at
all." She grins, glancing over to Verbena a moment before she chuckles.
"Umm..It's something to help move things. I..have two ways of using it and
well one of them is lifting things. The other one is digging."

Verbena simply tilts her head, waving a hand at Espiria to continue.
"Currently I am not in the army," she answers Neelkan. At least, she thinks
he does. That accent is thick enough to drown in. "I am...uncertain how to
view this decree from the Amyrlin about having to act as a commissioned
officer."

Eharon, and a bandit at that. Neelkan does have an annoyingly thick accent.
Hopefully the Gaidin will try to get him to work on it, though he'll
probably fight it all the way. "Um.. I guess so? 'long as ya don't hurt m'
'r nothin'." Though it if was anyone but Espi he probably would have said
no. Last time someone channeled at him it wasn't ideal.

Espiria smiles gently, rising from her seat and stepping alittle away from
Neel. She takes a nice cleansing breath, the kind to clear her head of all
the excess clutter and get her idea back to the front of her mind. She
embraces easily, flowing into like she rides on a stream and then look over
to Neel for a moment. There are a couple of differnet flows that wrap
together. Earth and Air to be specific, with just a touch of spirit to give
it body and alter it enough to do as she wants. It slips under Neel and he
might even feel that. Like some..material of a slippery kind...was just
slipping under him. She moves her hands palms up as though lifting
something and Neel lifts off the seat where he is. He even gets a foot or
so above his seat in fact and stays there. Espi glances over to Verbena
smiling gently and seeming to have no trouble keeping it right there
without the use of her hands. "Umm..That one is the first kind. I..haven't
found out exactly what I can lift yet, but whatever I've tried so far
doesn't seem to be that hard for me to hold." She glances back over to Neel
to see how he is doing, "Umm...How much to do you weight, Neel...any idea?"
She's hoping he's okay with this. Not like she picked him up and sppun him
around..is it?

Verbena looks at that. "Interesting. Rather impressive, though for the task
of lifting someone simple Air will do. Still, you could alter that to make
people slip rather easily, and that basket configuration may be used to
make it stretch for great distances, perhaps even the length of a room or
so." She looks at poor Neelkan. "Though I would not suggest trying it on
human subjects."

It's a good thing he's afraid of water and not hieghts... Neelkan starts
slightly at the... weird feeling thing below him, then even more as he
starts to rise into the air. He looks around as if searching for something
to hold on to. He doesn't seem scared, just... not used to this sort of
thing. When it doesn't seem like he's going to fall he stops fidging. He
has no idea what they're talking about, and he can't see any of these
weaves, obviously, so he's just going to try to answer Espi, "I dunno. More
'en ya though!" His wieght isn't exactly something he thinks about very
often.

Espiria smiles and nods, hands going back up and motioning for Neel to come
back down. He does in a very fluid manner indeed. No hiccups there. She
drops the weave once he is back in place and then stops her embracing. She
turns around, heading back over to her seat and taking a moment to relax.
"Umm...I see your point, but Air tends to be rather unstable in most cases.
Earth I used to make it /very/ stable and able to lift from flat ground
level. That way..if Air can't get to something..Earth is there to help with
the lifting so that Air can get to it. The..umm..Spririt I put in because
if felt right..tho''I'm not sure exactly why." She glances over to Neel,
looking a bit tired from that, but happily so that she got to try one of
her ideas out. "It's okay, Neel...you did good anyway. I don't think I've
lifted anything your size before. Just..rocks and things like that." She
glances back to Verb again, smiling. "I was thinking..that if something
ground level had to be moved..like..a flat stone that was flat on the
ground, that it might prove useful to know. The mesh just makes it good for
cupping things so that the weight is evenly distributed."

Verbena pushes her hair back behind her ear. "A series of excellent
points," she muses. "That weave looks just fine to me, once you explained
it."

"No pro'lem. It was kinda interestin' being up 'ere in the air with nothin'
under m'." Nothing Neelkan could see at least. He doesn't know anything
about any of thise weave talk, so it's just going in one ear and out the
other. He moves to fully stand up, stretching now that he's back on the
ground, kinda just enjoying having his feet touching something for a
moment. Or perhaps he just wants to be taller again! Like he was when he
was up in the air.

Espiria giggles softly, nodding to Neel. "Umm..Could you go into the
stables, Neel and get me a nice thin piece of straw?" She grins over to
Verb, tipping her head to one side before she thinks a moment. Now..what
was that other one? Oh..Yes...that was it. She glances at Neel again,
"Umm..Doesn't matter how long it is..so long as it's really thin." She
smiles, looking at the ground in front of her for a moment before she
embraces again. Now then...this one is tricky. She was never that good with
Earth, but she happened upon the right combination that time and she thinks
to get it back.

Verbena stands still, watching, an ebony eyebrow lifting. A slight smile
creases her features as well...this is one of the most creative times of
anyone's life, Acceptedhood.

Eh? Neelkan frowns at Espi's request for a moment, then sighs and nods,
waving a hand slightly, "Don't 'ink 'is means ya can just tell m' what t'
do all the time!" Just so she knows she can't go and order him around all
the time just because he listened this once! Though he'd probably do it
anyway. He heads off to the stables to find a really thin straw.

Espiria lifts a brow as she thinks of what she is doing, then she starts
talking. "I was asked when I was in Talents Testing if I could find
minerals...or different ores in the ground. Which I can't. Now..Perhaps
digging by hand was always the way to go..and perhaps not. I'm not sure how
much digging is done now by the One Power." She glances over to Verbena for
a moment. There is a small swirl of wind that's begun in a certain spot on
the ground. Very compact and very stable. It spins right on one place and
doesn't seem to swirl around like most small wind funnels do. Espi is
looking still over to Verbena to see her answer before she goes on.

"I'm not certain, myself." Verbena replies, watching with a rather
impressed eye. This one /will/ go far.

After searching a few moments for a good thin straw, Neelkan comes back
with one about as long as his arm from his fingertips to his elbow, and
holds it out in front of Espi after coming up behind her, "'ere ya go."

Espiria glances over to Neel, smiling. "Thank you, Neel." She holds it for
a moment before she nods to herself and gazes back to the ground again. The
funnel seems to be a bit redder now as she adds alittle more fire to the
mix. "What I think this one will do....is heat the ground just a bit,
making it easier for the air and earth mix to enter." She smiles as she
funnel moves down a bit into the ground, neatly cutting a round hole as it
goes in. It seems to cut into it like butter. It's stays then, not going
any futher. "I..think that samples could be easily taken from these smaller
holes that we make..and that if noone is around to actually detect the
metal around in the land, that these samples could be an easier way to test
the ground to see what is inside of it." She looks back at the funnel and
it moves quickly into that small place of ground, till it is nearly out of
sight. Once it has, Espi disperses it and the wind stops. She walks over to
it and sticks the pieces of straw into the hole. "If someone were strong
enough..we could check very deep for what we needed."

"Fascinating." Verbena replies, warmly. "A true innovation, Accepted. It is
well that you do not simply accept the way things are handed to you and
that you look for other solutions. You would make a fine White." Well,
everyone's got to try their own particular Ajah plug.

Neelkan just stands there unknowing of what is going on at all, watching
the little whirlwind. He is listening, but it's not exactly something he
has any clues about. So he's just going to take the White's word for it.
"Does sound like a cool idea..."

Espiria smiles and releases the source gently as she bobs a neat curtsey to
Verbena. "Thank you Aes Sedai. I..just have all sorts of idea floating
around in my head and I thought those two would be interesting and..the
safer of the ones I've come up with." She glances over to Neel, yawning
after a moment. "Umm..I could show you the others sometimes, Aes Sedai..if
you'd like, but maybe in a more..umm..secure location?" She seems a bit
worried that they will go haywire or something and that's plain on her face
as she turns back to Verb. She does smile though, seeming more than alittle
tired from having done two in one sitting.

"That would be wise," Verbena confirms. Poor Neelkan. She smiles at him.
"You'll get more and more used to talk of weaves and such as you continue
here, child. Eventually it will seem old hat to you.

Neelkan only says one thing at all, that is after catching Espi's yawn and
yawning himself. What he says is, "I'm not a child." Though he probably is
to her, and he knows it, he just doesn't like being called or thought of as
a child.

Espiria chuckles softly, reaching over to give Neel a punch in the arm. She
glances back over to Verb, smiling sleepily. "Might I be excused, Aes
Sedai? Umm..I have much to get done tommorrow and I'm really feeling tired
at the moment." She tips her head to one side, darting a glance over to
Neel and knowing he's probably tired also. "Umm..When you have time
from..the things you get done during the day, I can be found in the
Infirmary studying..or probably in the Library checking books." She
chuckles softly, knowing those are the two places anyone is sure to find
her. Well, that and the stables.

Verbena inclines her head. "I have a dissertation to finish reading
through, so I myself must duck out." She just clucks her tongue at Neelkan.
So eager to grow up, are children. With that she leaves with dancer's
grace.