07/23/2000

Denn'ryiel's Room, White Tower, Tar Valon

        Denn'ryiel's room is rather large for a servant's. A feather bed is
against the west wall, facing the east window in order to catch the sun's
morning rays. Plants of all variety grow in pots throughout the room. Some
of them don't appear to be indoor plants, and a few flowers look completely
unique. They all combine to give a rather fragrant aroma, that becomes
apparent the moment anyone crosses the threshold into the room. A hearth
against the north wall provides warmth during the cold seasons. There's one
half-filled book shelf, but nothing else that would interest a Brown Sedai.
An oaken drawer with images of leaves carved into it sits next to the
window and holds her clothing. The only other furniture in the room are a
couple of birch chairs, a changing screen in one corner of the room, and a
well made Saferi rug covering the floor near the chairs and door.


Denn'ryiel is in her room, tending to the various plants scattered about
the room, singing softly to each of them.

To interupt the singing, a knock sounds on the door rather quickly, and
without even a moment's hesitation the door quickly opens, then almost
instantly closes, with someone new in the room. Namely Neelkan. He
instantly looks sheepish at barging in and mutters a soft, "Eh. Hi." It
almost seems as if he ducked into the room to hide from someone...

Denn'ryiel turns her head quickly at the sound. "Neelkan?" she asks,
curiously. "What's wrong?" Odd, not 'what are you doing here?' "You look
like you're being pursued by a Fade."

"Worse. A Red." Neelkan leads his ear against the door for a moment, then
seems to be satisfied and moves further in, running a hand through his
hair. He's just lucky he remembered where Denn's room was do he could duck
out of sight. "Sorry 'bout bargin' in."

Denn'ryiel shakes her head, not really thinking anything about it at all.
"It's alright. You surprised me a bit, but I've always told my students my
door is open. And I tend to rank my friends higher than my students."

"I'll keep 'at in mind next time I need a place t' duck int'." Neelkan says
with a grin as he moves around to plop down on one of the birch chairs and
lean back into it. Making himself at home isn't he? "So how ya doin'?
Haven't seen ya much in the last few days."

Denn'ryiel smiles and takes a seat. "I'm doing alright... I've been up and
about, but I guess we just keep passing each other. How have you been?"

"Me? Oh, I'm pretty good." Neelkan says, idly reaching over to rub his
shoulder without really thinking about it. "Haven't been sleepin' 'at well,
but 'at's nothin' new. Finally got t' start on some real trainin' down in
the Practice Yard. Stead of juest runnin' laps 'n errands. Finally got t'
spar 'n stuff. 'at's pretty cool."

Denn'ryiel grins and nods, chuckling a little bit. "Try not to do too well,
else the Green Sedai will start taking a shining to you. They can be very
persistant at times."

Neelkan snorts at that and mutters, "So can I." He shakes his head once
afterwards, hair falling in front of his eyes, "'n I'll tell 'em no. I'm
not bondin' t' any of 'em, unless 'course 'ey happen t' be m' friend 'r
somethin', but likely 'at ain't gonna happen either."

Denn'ryiel blinks and looks a little surprised. "I thought you had
foresworn Bonding all together. So you're telling me Espiria has a chance
then?" she asks, with a wider smile.

Erp. Neelkan's cheek flush slightly and he shifts around in his seat a
little bit, "Not really, I'm just sayin' 'at /if/ I did ... bond t'
someone, it'd have t' b' with a friend." His cheeks are still a little
flushed as his eyes dart to look at the plants for a while. Nice plants.
"'n 'sides, Espi's prolly wouldn't want t' bond t' m' anyway."

Denn'ryiel smiles, glancing at her plants, which seem to be growing nicely.
"Thanks... and you never know. Espiria might become Green herself. I just
mention her because... I think she might be good for you. The two of you
seem to like each other a lot, if not the same way she and Varcel do."

For a moment, the poor guy looks even more flustered, but he's trying to
hide it. Neelkan clears his throat and gives his head a good shake, saying,
"Nah, nah. Not sayin' 'at I don't like 'er, 'r 'at she wouldn't b'.. eh..
good f'r m' 'r whate'er, but I don't really think it would work out. 'n
like ya said, she's got Varcel. She don't need two people bonded t' 'er."

Denn'ryiel sighs, and looks apologetic for catching Neelkan on a sensitive
subject. "I'm sorry, I should have hought more before bringing it up. I
hope that you develop friendships with some of the other students then. I'm
jealous, since I don't have Bonding anywhere in my future."

Eh? Neelkan glances back and shakes his head a little, "Don't worry 'bout
it. 'n ya shouldn't be jealous." He chuckles and reaches up to run fingers
through his hair a few times before saying, "Too bad I can't become like
yer... 'Honorary Warder' 'r somethin'. Just t' keep the Green's at bay 'n
stuff."

Denn'ryiel chuckles a bit, though she blushes quite significantly, and
looks down. "I'm sorry that isn't possible either... Perhaps Mothe... no."
She lifts her head back up. "If it were possible, would it be something you
would, um, consider?"

"Eh..." Neelkan stops chuckling at the question and narrows his eyes to
think about it for a few moments. "Well, ye'h. 'Course I'd consider it." He
shrugs his shoulders a little, as if that's all he can really think of to
say. "I mean, Warders are supposed t' protect ya 'n stuff? 'n serve 'n
protect the Tower, which is basically what I a'ready d'. I'd protect ya
e'en if I wasn't a Warder, same as I'd protect Espi, 'n Wyn, 'n Light,
e'evn Kaomi." And the rest of the women in the Tower too. But he'd protect
the four he happens to consider friends (even 'Mother') above the others.

Denn'ryiel nods her head once, buttoning her lips slightly. "Thank you,"
she finally says. "I feel a little safer knowing you're looking out for
me." She straightens her skirt slightly and then her eyes widen slightly.
"Is there anything I can get you while you're here? A cup of tea perhaps?
I'm afraid I'm out of whiskey," she says, with a small grin.

"Tea'll b' fine, 'anks." After last time they went drinking together,
Neelkan isn't exactly in a hurry to repeat that happening. She thought
their friendship had been ruined after all! And he doesn't want something
to happen to make her think that again. ""'n I'm glad ya feel safer."

Denn'ryiel grins and walks over to pour a cup of tea. Perhaps it's just
imagination, but Denn seems to be taking a little more care with her
appearance, recently. She doesn't look or smell like she's just been
dragged from the garden nearly as much. "Thanks... though to be honest,
I've felt safe ever since that incident in the bleachers."

"Really?" Neelkan says as he takes the cup of tea, grinning lightly.
Unfortunately, for the most part, he's completely oblivious. Maybe if
someone smacks him over the head with it he'll notice. He's not very good
at reading or understanding people. "Ya 'ere hurt pretty bad 'ere. I was
real worried 'bout ya f'r a lil' bit. I'm just glad ya were able t' b'
healed." He continues to grin and takes a gulp of the tea.

Denn'ryiel smiles softly as Neelkan doesn't seem to choke over her tea.
It's rare that she makes any for anyone other than herself. She pours her
own cup, before walking back to her chair. "It's a good thing you were
worried, otherwise I might not have been noticed there. Thank you, for
that."

"Well, I invited ya t' sit with m', didn't I? Ya were kinda like m'
responsbility!" Neelkan beams a brief smile, not a smirk or a grin, a
smile, reaching all the way to crease his eyes for a second, then he takes
another gulp of the tea. No complaints on the taste. He doesn't often
complain unless he's wanting to annoy someone. And he doesn't need to annoy
Denn. She's a buddy!

Denn'ryiel grins slightly. "But you didn't have to invite me in the first
place. Everyone there was packed in like sardines. It was a nice gesture,"
she says, with a small smile, before sipping from her teacup again.

"'ere was plenty'a room next t' m', why wouldn't I offer?" Neelkan says
with a grin. "'sides, ya were lookin' all lost, 'n I knew ya 'n stuff. So
why not?" He shrugs and takes somemore tea down. Not sipping, but gulping.
"I'm sure someone else would've offered ya a seat if I hadn't!"

Denn'ryiel smiles and nods, shruging slightly. "Perhaps, but that doesn't
mean I can't be apprieciative. Besides, that other person may not have been
so observant." She sips her tea again. "Neelkan... can I ask a question?"
she says, suddenly looking much more nervous.

"Well, sure! Ya can b' appreciative if ya want." Neelkan finally says with
a shrug, grinning a little, then... um... question? He looks a little
confused for a moment, especially at the strange shift in the feeling of
the room. Not that he's good at reading things like that... But he's
working on it. "Sure... Ya can ask m' a question."

Denn'ryiel is quite flushed, and she can't bring her eyes out of her tea
cup as she almost mumbles her question. "When... when you kissed me in the
infirmary... it wasn't just to keep me from rambling, was it?"

Um... Alright, not exactly what he was expecting to be inquired on. What
was he expecting exactly? He wasn't expecting anything really. Just... A
question! Just not that though. Neelkan kinda furrows his forehead for a
few moments, then reaches up to run a hand through his hair. "Um...
Maybe... I mean I didn't... bah.. Blood 'n ashes, I dunno. It just... felt
like the right thin' t' do 'at the time." Um... "Why? Yer not... made at m'
'cause of it are ya?"

Denn'ryiel shakes her head, and looks twice as embarrassed. "No... no, I'm
not mad... I was curious if... it's nothing, really. Forgive me, I
shouldn't have asked." If she could melt into the chair, she would.

Um... Neelkan stands up and heads over, leaning down to peer at her more
closely, "Denn? What's goin' on? I don't need t' forgive ya, I mean... ya
have e'ery right t' ask 'bout it..." Pause... "Curious if what?" He frowns
a little, completely at a loss for what she means. He doesn't understand
women at all. (Or most men either...)

Denn'ryiel sighs and shakes her head. "I... I guess... I guess I was
curious if there was anything more to the kiss. I... I'm glad you kissed
me." There, the confession is out.

"Oh." Can this really be all that much of a shock to the young man? Why...
yes. But... Neelkan straights up and glances around the room for a moment.
"Well, I don't wanna take it back 'r nothin', so... guess I'm glad too?" He
still sounds overly confused over the whole thing. But then spending most
of his life "hating" women didn't exactly equipt him for this...

Denn'ryiel nods her head once, and finally looks up. She looks a lot more
frightened, but perhaps a little under control. "I was also curious... if
it was something that was over and done with, or something... that might
happen again."

Ahem! Neelkan quickly looks anywhere but Denn. His cheeks even flush
slightly, very slightly, but still, it's enough to be noticed at least. It
takes until he can clear his throat before he can look back, "Um. Do ya
want it t'? Happen 'gain I mean..." He could be smirking really cocky like
here, but he's not, he doesn't exactly look serious, though he still has
his brow creased in confusion.

Denn'ryiel bites the top of her lip. "W... Would you be mad if..." She
flushes violently and then nods. "Yes... Yes I do." Her embarrassment and
shyness are in full force as she lays out her feelings.

Tilting his face towards the ceiling, Neelkan closes his eyes and smirks
slightly at the words. Then he gives his head a small shake and straightens
to look back at her again, holding out a hand, "Stand up, Denn." He shifts
around slighly, a little awkward, but over all he's still the same. With a
little less confusion.

Denn'ryiel nods hesitantly, with wide eyes, and extends her hand to the
trainee. She stands up slowly, but gracefully. Fear is still in her face,
but it is fear mastered.

Neelkan pulls his friend to her feet and takes in a breath before leaning
in and lightly kissing her again on the lips. This one is very short
though, and he pulls back a few moments later, barely giving any time to
return it. "Um.. 'ere." 'There?' That's the best he can come up with to
say...?

Denn'ryiel blinks, and opens her eyes. A little... disappointment? is in
her eyes. "Oh... um... I... I'm sorry... I guess I imagined..."

"Eh? Denn? What'd I do? Arg! I don't understand!" Neelkan thought that's
what she wanted him to do! He narrows his eyes a little in frustration and
glares at something. He's doesn't really seem to be frustrated at anything
in the room except for himself though. Which is the truth.

Denn'ryiel looks further embarrassed as Neelkan gets exasperated. She
starts to lower her head, but then raises it again as a decision occurs
within her. Still the fear, but more control shows on her face. "I... I
guess I meant this," she says, leaning in to kiss him again. Only like the
first time, if she's allowed.

Neelkan gets exasperated rather easily. Especially when women are
concerned. Though that doesn't mean he considers Denn to be in the same
category as the rest of the female population. Nope. She and a very select
other few have carved themselves a new little place where women are still
confusing, but not hated. Even liked. He blinks a little at this kiss, then
closes his eyes and leans down a little to return it, seeming to understand
a little bit now..

Denn'ryiel's eyes close as well as her lips remain pressed to Neelkan's. It
is a very tenuous, unexperienced kiss, but it does not lack emotion. Her
breathing still slightly, for however long the moment lasts.

Ahem. Neelkan's kiss doesn't /exactly/ lack experience, but that's another
story all together. It does carry with it a strong sense of emotions as
well, though emotions he doesn't yet understand or truely recognize. While
the moment was nice, the white-streaked red haired boy has to break it,
pulling away with a soft intake of breath. Eh... His blue-green eyes open
and blink a few times, then he chuckles softly for some reason.

Denn'ryiel blushes once more as Neelkan pulls away, and her eyes drop down
almost instinctively. "I'm... I'm sorry, I should have asked..." Her cheeks
turn an even deeper shade at the chuckling. "Did... Was I silly?"

Sorry. This is even more funny to the guy. Neelkan shakes his head,
chuckling even more. His hands move up to pull her face up so that she's
looking at him, "Ya didn't do nothin' silly, 'n it's a'right. Ya don't have
t' ask. I didn't, did I?" He smirks, then pokes her on the nose lightly
with his thumb.

Denn'ryiel giggles slightly at that, and despite herself a smile forms on
her face, albeit a very confused, uncertain smile. "I guess not," she
admits, looking straight at him for a change. "I guess I wasn't imagining
things," she says, a little quietly.

Neelkan is just as confused as she is, if not a little more. The guy knows
he's just been kissing someone who's old enough to be his mom after all.
Not something he's that used to... He lowers his hand dow and rests it on
her arm lightly, grinning a little, "I guess not..."

Again, Denn tries to look away before she realizes it, and brings her eyes
back. "I... you must think I'm some sort of Saferi hussy... being forward
like this." Oddly, she doesn't show any sign of backing away.

"Ya call 'is forward?" Neelkan shakes his head a few times, chuckling even
more. "Denn, yer not doin' anythin' wrong. So don't worry. I still think of
ya as one of m' best friends 'ere in 'is place..." Maybe not exactly what
he should be saying here, but he doesn't know what else to say, or how to
say it...

Denn'ryiel blushes further. "You... are experienced in this then?" she
asks, curiously and with a little fear. "And I think of you as a friend as
well," she is quick to add. "I guess, w-what I am saying, is um,
sometimes... recently, I've been thinking of you as... more than a friend."

Looking off towards one of the many plants in the room, Neelkan reaches up
to scratch at his hair for a few moments, trying not to look flustered and
failing for the most part. "Um... Well..." He's... just going to skip over
the question and just move on. Probably safer that way. "I.. think I
understand what yer tryin' t' say. I think." Well, he doesn't exactly look
sure of himself... "Um.. I.. Arg. I dunno..." More scratching at his hair.

Denn'ryiel sighs softly and nods. "I... I didn't intend to put you in a
spot. You don't... don't have to say anything, Neelkan. Especially if
you're uncomfortable." Not that that stopped her. "I... I just had to get
that off my chest."

"Oh.. I'm.. not uncomfortable!" Neelkan complains in that voice of his that
always annoyed the Yellows, the one he'd use when he was tired and
instisting that he wasn't... "I just.. Don't worry. I'm.. uh.. glad 'at ya
got it.. uh.. 'off yer chest' 'en. Since ya needed t'." Um. He finally
takes a step back and looks around to find where he missplaced his tea. Oh
yeah, he's not uncomfortable at all...

Denn'ryiel turns away as Neelkan steps back, as if that step broke a spell
around her, freeing her again. She walks back to where she kept the tea
kettle warming. "I'm glad you're not uncomfortable... at least now one of
us won't be looking silly. Would... would you like some more tea?" she
asks, without turning around.

Taking a sip on what's left of his, Neelkan makes a face while she isn't
looking and quickly gulps the rest of it down. Not as good after it's sat
for a while... "Ye'h, a fresh cup would b' nice! 'n ya don't look silly,
Denn."

Denn'ryiel pours another cup, and then turns back around. "Of... of course
I do. You've obviously been through this before, while I make a Novice on
her first day in Whites look collected in comparison." She walks over to
hand him his cup.

"Denn..." Neelkan says, shaking his head a little and gulping on the tea
slightly. "Don't fret o'er.. uh.. 'is. Really." And he's trying hard not to
flush along the cheeks, but he does sit himself down.

Denn'ryiel nods her head slightly, looking a little timid still. She takes
the seat across from Neelkan. "Alright... I'll try not to worry then... Any
suggestion for what I should do instead?"

"Um.." Neelkan sits there, looking at his tea, then quickly shakes his
head, sending his hair around in all its spikey locks. "Just don't worry,
a'right? Nothin' t' worry 'bout. So 'at all ya have t' get off yer chest?
Nothin' else t' drop on m' right?" After the whole 'age' thing he's been
expecting there to be more.

Denn'ryiel nods her head weekly, and glance down at her teacup at the
question. She eventually shakes her head. "No, not really. A lot of things,
but it basicly boils down to what I said... I'm surprised I found the
courage to say that much."

"I'm glad ya did 'en." Neelkan says with a small smirk, determined not to
be embarassed about this whole thing anymore. "If it was botherin' ya, ya
should've said it. Light, kinda glad Sunan's necklace 'r whate'er made ya
tell m' 'at ya thought ya'd ruined 'ings in the first place 'r I might
not've e'er know." He does tend to be dense, he wouldn't have notices til
it go shoved in his face.

Denn'ryiel flushes, reminded of how silly she was acting. Really, what was
she thinking. "I guess... in a way I'm glad too. Though, I'm a bit nervous.
Where do we go from here?" she asks, almost naively.

She's asking him? Neelkan furrows his forehead a little in thought, then
shrugs and settles it out with a smirk, "Why don't we.. uh.. just continue
how things are f'r a bit?" He needs some time t'.. figure things out. He's
not exactly used to this whole 'feelings' thing yet...

Denn'ryiel nods her head, actually looking relieved by that answer. Status
quo is fine by her. "Alright... that sounds alright with me. If anything,
it will give me more practice with making tea." She chuckles slightly at
her own joke, to cover her nervousness.

Neelkan looks a little relieved that she isn't upset by the answer he gave.
He has so much trouble understanding women that he had no idea how she
would react. "Well, maybe ya could get some ale up 'ere sometime." He jokes
with a grin, leaning back into the chair and obviously getting more
comfortable. "I'm kiddin'. I'm prolly gonna have t' start gettin' used t'
tea. Now that I'm actually trainin' 'n all." He looks at the tea and sighs
a little before taking another gulp.

Denn'ryiel chuckles and nods, ruefully. "Well, I've heard of excursions by
trainees to the bars, so I don't think you'll be deprived completely. Um...
if the tea is kindof rotten, you don't have to drink it, if you don't want
to." She looks a little confused as to whether that is the case or not.

"Oh! Well, Light, 'at'll be good. 'long as I can get a few nights e'ery so
often." Neelkan gulps the tea again and shakes his head, "No, no. It's
fine. Not rotten at all." But he does look at what's left of it for a few
moments, pondering something. Then... "Denn? Um.. I.. kinda want t' tell ya
somethin'. Since ya've told m' all yer.. secrets 'n stuff.."

Denn'ryiel nods her head, leaning forward slightly with curiousity.
"Alright... Don't... Don't feel like you have to though, just because I
lost control earlier."

"It's not 'at I feel.. uh.. obligated 'r nothin'." Neelkan says, shaking
his head and still looking down into the tea cup. "Just.." Sigh. Maybe he
shouldn't explain himself. Better that way. "Ya know how I have trouble
sleepin' a lot, right?"

Denn'ryiel nods her head, letting the smile fall from her face. "Y-Yes... I
think I heard you talk about that, once." She did hear it somewhere.

Neelkan takes a deep breath for a moment, still looking down at his own
darkened reflection in the tea. "Well, I've a'ways had trouble with it.
Sleepin' I mean. E'er since I was real young. F'r a'most as long as I can
remember. 'cause I have... dreams. 'ey're... usually pretty bad, 'n lately
I've been... finded out 'at 'ey... come true." He takes another breath,
then rushes right on. "Like 'at the Parade. The attack 'ere, where ya got
hurt. I'd dreamt 'bout it..." There. It's said. He glances up through his
white-red streaked bangs now.

Denn'ryiel blinks, and nods slowly. "I've... I've heard of such things
before... Dreamers I think they're called. I've never met one before
though.

Neelkan seems a little relieved that she doesn't appear to be freaked out
about it. "Well, now ya have I think. Light, more trouble 'en it's worth
sometimes though." he grumbles under his breath and fingers at his hair
again for a moment.

Denn'ryiel grins a little sympatheticly and nods. "I can understand why.
Even... even if you didn't see any bad things, it would take much of the
surprise out of life." She flushes and chuckles a little bit. "You probably
knew I was going to say something too then."

Moving to stand up, putting down the tea, Neelkan shakes his head, "No,
no.. I don't seem t' dream 'bout 'ings like 'is. Mostly..." He shouldn't
say 'important'. That would be wrong of him. So for once he holds his
tongue and just lets it trail off, "Anyway, I need t' get t' some thin's,
f'r the Gaidin think I bailed completely 'n give 'way m' bed."

Denn'ryiel nods her head, looking disappointed for a moment before she
schools her face. "Alright... feel free to drop back in when you're free."

"I will. Next time I gotta duck outta a Red's sights." Neelkan says with a
small wink, joking, then pauses for a few seconds before moving towards the
door and heading out.

Denn'ryiel grins, and suppresses a desire to kiss him quickly once more. So
she waves farewell to him before he disappears through the doorway.