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.


Coming out of the Tower, Neelkan has his brow furrowed in confusion, and
his hair is in it's usual state of disarry, almost completely obscuring one
eye as it spikes downward. He has his thumbs hooked in the dark red sash
around his waist, and he's frowning in thought as he wanders down into the
courtyard.

Vorsha is sitting on a bench about half-way through the courtyard, calmly
reading a book. As Neelkan approaches she looks up and smiles. "Well, hello
there handsom." she greets.

The greeting pops Neelkan out of his thought and his eyes narrow as he
grumbles a little bit, "Ye'h ye'h... Nice t' see ya too." He seems in a
rather bitter mood right now. He would normally just storm off at this
point, but he pauses and continues to look at the Accepted there, as if
considering something.

Vorsha smiles sweetly, and sits sllightly sideways, allowing her dress to
pull just a little tighter across the chest. "Yes?" she asks. She can
always tell when a man wants something. Not necessarly what that something
is, but that he wants /something./

There's another long pause, then Neelkan grumbles loudly before unhooking
his thumbs and playing with his hair a second. He always seems to be
fingering his hair. It's just something he tends to do. "Light. Ya.. blood
'n ashes." He looks as if he wants to pound something for a moment then he
settles down and looks back at her, lowering his hand, "'meber what ya were
buggin' m' 'bout a while 'go?"

Vorsha nods slowly. "Mmmm-mmm." she says softly. "Though, I can't be sure
which one you are talking about." she winks. "BUt seriously, Neelkan, what
do you need?"

Neelkan sighs and moves to sit (though it looks more like falling then
sitting) onto the bench she's on, resting his arms on his legs as he leans
forward in the seat. "I just.. ya kept tellin' m' how.. ya know.. I
might.." He grumbles for a moment. "'like' Denn. More 'en a friend, right?
Well.. she.. arg. She told m' she thinks she likes m'. As more 'en a
friend." Overall, he seems frustrated and confused.

Vorsha smiles softly. Go Denn! She doesn't say it outloud, but she's glad
her friend is managing to get in good with a boy. "And you need to figure
yourself out?"

Neelkan grumbles some more for a few seconds, glaring at some woman off a
distance away randomly. Women are so easy for him to glare at. When he
finally tries to respond it's at least in the affirmative, though...
confused affirmative. "Ye'h, I guess. I mean... grrrr." Confused and
frustrated.

Vorsha puts a gentle hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Neelkan. Sometimes
when we do care about someone, we are afraid to admit it for fear of
loosing that person. Or even that we are not good enough for that person?"

"What the bloody Light're ya talkin' 'bout?" Neelkan frowns, looking up
with narrowed eyes before shrugging his shoulder away from the hand. "I'm
/not/ 'fraid! I just don't know if I like 'er, like 'at, a'right?"

Vorsha stands up. She doesn't much care for this particular mans attitude.
"Oh really?" she says softly. "Let me tell you something, young man." she
doesn't look older than Neelkan, but she is, and by quite an amazing number
as well. "I've seen more men in your posistion right now than you would
think possible. I do know how you feel about her. If you didn't care, it
wouldn't be a problem."

And Neelkan wouldn't be at all suprised to hear how old she happens to be
either. But that's another story... "Well good f'r ya, but /I/ don't. Ya
may think ya know, 'r whate'er, but I /don't/. So... blood 'n ashes,
just... Arg!" He really would like to kick something right about now. "I
just don't know!" He's spent most of his life saying he hates woman. Kind
of hard to admit, especially to himself, that he might like one. As more
then a friend.

Vorsha crosses her arms and raises an eyebrow at him. Obviously trying to
turn him to see it isn't working. She'll go for the other approach. Wait
until he sees it for himself.

That might take a while. Neelkan glares at some poor passerby fit to kill
them with a look, then finally sighs and glances over after noting that
she's being all silent. ... He frowns, and his glare actually lessens a
little. "Well if ya know so much, 'en tell m'. How'm I supposed t' know?"

Vorsha smiles softly at him. At least he's /started/ to come around.
"Alright, how does she make you feel?"

"Mostly?" Neelkan looks away with a laugh as he thinks about it, "Confused,
mostly. but... I dunno... I like bein' 'round 'er if 'at's what ya mean."

Vorsha nods slowly. "That's a good start." she says. "But more than that,
Neelkan. How does she make you react? And by the way, for men, it often
seems that confused is a good thing."

"React?" Neelkan doesn't seem to completely understand the question for a
few moments and tries to think on it. Yes, she makes him confused indeed.
"I dunno. I guess I want t'... protect 'er 'n stuff, 'n I don't like it
when she gets all upset or worried..."

Vorsha keeps right on nodding. "Is this forming a pattern in your mind,
Neelkan?" she asks softly.

"Um... I..." Neelkan frowns somemore and sighs, sitting up a little and
looking towards one of the gardens. "I.. I guess so."

Vorsha puts another hand on Neelkan's shoudler. "Neelkan, I think you do
care about her. And you've always got the option of just trying it out. If
it doens't work, it doesn't work."

"...I guess." Neelkan says after another small pause. It's followed by a
sigh and he pushes himself up from the bench, "...I'll figure somethin'
out. I'll let ya get back t' yer book now." with that he starts to move
away.

Vorsha smiles and gives Neelkan a soft pat on the shoulder. "Take care."
she says softly as she sits back down.

Neelkan shrugs away from the pat, as usual, and heads towards the pratice
yard, and likely his room.