08/07/2000

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.



Espi's had a rather unusual day today. First of all, she wakes up with
green hair. And it that weren't odd enough her waeve lessons went wacky
today too. She's taking a moment or two off from her day to just sit and
reflect. At the moment, she sits under a tree staring at the green hair in
her hands. How did it happen? What caused it? And more importantly..will it
ever go away?

Probably the /only/ trainee with white streaks in his hair stumbles out of
the practice yard after a hard sparring session with one of the Gaidin. It
was actually a challange, unlike the sessions against those who are in his
level of Tower training. Neelkan runs a hand through his hair, which is
darkened with sweat, and starts to pull on his shirt a little, glad that it
isn't overly hot, though his skin wants to breathe, so he's letting air in
by lifting it up off his skin a little. He's heading towards the Tower,
planning to take up an offer that someone made and then stops as he sees...
green hair. Green... hair... On someone familar to him at that. His eyes
narrow, then he starts towards the green haired one (apparently someone
hasn't heard the rumors yet) until he's standing in front of her and
leaning down a little. "Espi? What in the bloody Light happened t' yer
hair?" He's got that look on his face that just /screams/ the fact that he
wants to burst into laughter but is holding it back.

Espiria glances up to you, giggling brightly as she shakes her head. "Noone
knows really. /All/ the Accepted woke up today with green hair." She
smirks, pulling some out to look at it thru the sunlight. "It looks
natural, but I have no idea what could have caused /all/ of our hair to go
green at one time." She smirks, heaving a sigh as she looks at Neelkan.
"It's just another wierd thing to happen..on a wierd day."

At the sound of the Accepted's giggles, Neelkan can't hold it back anymore
and just busts out laughing. It takes a moment or two to control himself,
and when he does he looks a lot less tired then he was when he stepped out
of the Practice Yard. He leans over more, and reaches a hand out to ruffle
the green hair Espiria has at the moment and says, "Well, I don't think
green's yer color, but it doesn't look too bad."

Salamas comes walking into the yard with his usual wandering look. He seems
to be, as always, contemplating something rather deep. He pauses to speak
softly with another Gaidin, then seeing Neelkan, he heads in that
direction. He hasn't had a chance to check up on the boy since he gave him
that punishment.

Espiria giggles softly, swatting at Neel's hand in a way to make one
believe that she's used to his teasing that way. "Oh...you...you.." She
laughs right along with him though, since the color change make her look
much like celery. "At least I'm not the only one. All of the Accepteds are
this way." She smirks, "I'd feel even stranger..if I were the only one."

Neelkan takes his hand away as she swats at it, then wrinkles his nose at
her slightly before saying, "Ye'h, well, I can see how ya'd be happy 'bout
'at. I know what it's like t' be the only one 'round with weird hair." As
if to prove his point he reaches up and pulls at the poofiness that is his
white streaked red hair. Though it's still rather sweaty from a sparring
session he just finished in the Practice yard.

Salamas walks right up to Neelkan, a small smile on his face. He nods first
to Espiria, always the polite Gaidin, before addressing the boy. "Good day
Neelkan. I trust you are having fewer problems showing proper respect to
Sedai? I have not at least heard of any problems."

From the tower comes a lady that normally you would pull out your
sunglasses to see because of her bright clothes. But today, this monster
wears the dress of a novice white. She pats the skirt as she walks and
seems to have a wrinkled nose most of the time. She sure hates dresses!
Wyntere spots Espiria and just grins. Oh.. the person got the Accepted too.
hmm...poor person is going to die!

Espiria blinks, rising to her feet to bob a curtsey to Salamas, smiling as
he inquires to Neel's state of affairs, but she glances away from the pair
and widens her eyes as Wynt heads out wearing a...Novice's dress? She
blinks several times, hand going to her mouth before she mutters, "Oh
dear...Looks like someone has done something to the Aes Sedai also." She
purses her lips, sighing as she fingers her green hair again. "I don't
think Wyntere Sedai looks at all happy..." She giggles softly, shaking her
head.

Straightening at the sound of the Gaidin's voice, Neelkan raises his
eyebrows at him, then drops into a bow that is deep for /him/ but probably
not as deep as those most the Trainees give. "I dunno if ya would say 'at,
Gaidin, but I'm tryin'." And he has been trying to show proper respect. At
times he... falters a little, and sometimes his stubborness gets in the
way.. but he's been trying. He follows Espi's eyes after a moment
and....... he's going to try very, very hard not to laugh. Very... very
hard... He has to literally bite down on his lips from the inside to keep
them closed, but... the sound of muffled laughing still comes out. Do...
not... laugh...

Salamas smiles down at Neelkan and nods. "That is good. Though I hope that
you continue to try until you get it right. Not for my sake, or for the
Sedai's sake, but for your own and for your friends." a soft reminder of
their previous conversation perhaps. As for Wyntere... he looks over as the
others do, and drops into a low respectfull bow. If he even notices that
she is wearing something different it doesn't show a bit on his face.
Public is not the place to remark on punishments. Esspecially those given
to Sedai.

This isn't a punishment! All Aes Sedai should be seen in the novice
dresses. The Gray looks to the group with a nod. She furrows her brow at
Espiria's hair. "New style, Espiria?" She tilts her head. Then glances over
to Neelkan. "Go ahead an laugh, Neelkan. Biting your tounge isn't worth it
later. That hurts quite a bit. SOme novice is going to get it when I get my
hands on her!" Wyntere just fusses up a storm. She could be worse than she
is though. "Now I remember why I quit wearing dresses. Bloody uncomfortable
things."

Espiria giggles a bit, shaking her head as she frowns. "No, Wyntere Sedai.
All the Accepted woke up this morning and our hair was green." She looks at
it thru the light again, "I'm still trying to figure out how it was done
though. It's not dye..that's for sure. It looks natural, but I..." She
sighs, frowning deeply before she giggles. "At least..if I want to hide in
trees or something I'll blend in..at least partly." She glances over to
Wynt again, looking at the dress. "Umm..at least whomever did it picked a
good size for you. Some of those dresses are quite cramped and would be
even more uncomfortable to wear." She glances over to Neel, "Someone must
think this is really funny...."

Oh! He can laugh! He has permission. Neelkan's eyes show his mirth before
he opens his mouth and laughs. Ha. Ha. Hahahahahahahaha! When he's finished
he wipes at his eyes a little with his fingers and then clears his throat.
"Heh. Think I needed 'at." Now that he's done laughing he drops into a
short bow before saying, "Ah, Wyn, don't be too hard on 'er. E'eryone needs
a good laugh e'ery so often." And Light knows that since the battle and the
escape, this young man certainly needed a good laugh. He's been spending
too much time sulking and taking his frustrations out in the Practice Yard.
He moves over next to Espi and slugs her lightly in the shoulder.

Shaking her head, Wyntere looks to Neelkan. "Well, a hard time sitting down
for a day will make up for it. If I let her off too easy, then I'll have
the Aes Sedai on my neck for not punishing well enough." She shrugs. "But I
agree, we all need a good laugh now days." Then the monster's blue eyes
twinkle. "It's good to see you laugh again, Neelkan."

A young novice runs up to Wyntere and curtseys her trying ever so hard not
to laugh. "Mother is awake, Wyntere Sedai. I was sent to get you." Ut-oh...
this is not good. With all that's gone on lately and now in a novice dress?
Wyntere just nods and heads inside. "See you later. I hope to have my
clothes back tomorrow."

Salamas doesn't laugh... he doesn't even smile. To him that would be the
most impolite thing to do right now. And impolitness is not in his blood.
He simply stands there as the MoN speaks, keeping his thoughts to himself
right now. As she leaves, he bows again, then simply stands there.. as if
thinking.

Espiria glances over to the Gaidin, smiling. "Umm...I haven't had the
chance to learn your name, Gaidin. I'm sorry that I haven't. I'm Espiria by
the way." She chuckles softly, "The..last time we met I think was a busy
time and I don't believe we ever got to xechange names." She glances over
to Neel, grinning for a moment. She knows that Neel will probably never
forget his name..not after what Salamas did the last time to him. her eyes
tip over to Sal again, chuckling. "It's good to meet another Gaidin though.
It seems like that I never run out of people to meet here. New faces."

With an irritated noise, Aliana looks rather angry as she comes out from
the Tower clad in Novice whites. No doub whatever she's muttering
underneath her breath is quite colourful. Eyes flicker over those assembled
in the Courtyard before she schools herself back yunder control for now at
least.

Yup. Neelkan remembers his name /all too well/. But then again he took the
punishment as a challange, and did his best to complete it, even after
Michael -- the Master Gaidin at the time -- told him that he didn't have to
fulfill the entire punishment. He stays silent though, letting the Gaidin
introduce himself and glances around until he sees... Aliana. He's a lot
better at controling his laughter this time.

Salamas nods to Espiria and smiles. "My name is Salamas, Espiria. And I am
very pleased to meet you. You must forgive me if I seem thoughtfull, I have
had much on my mind." He glances up as ALiana walks out and raises a brow,
but once more says nothing and shows no other sign that anything is out of
place.

Espiria smiles back to Salamas, nodding. "It's good to know you, Gaidin
Salamas." She glances a bit over to Neel, smile faltering at the mention of
alot on her mind. "Umm..I understand. Truely I do. No harm done at all,
Gaidin." She manages to make her smile brighter as she glances around the
courtyard. She stops on Aliana, widening her eyes a bit and covering a
chuckle that wants to come out. Nope...definately not someone in the mood
for mirth. Best to just leave it be if possible. She looks back over to
Salamas, "I..hope that it's nothing too bad? I mean..umm...I hope that it
all works out whatever is wrong..or whatever can be figured out the way you
hope."

Unfortunately Aliana doesn't find this too funny and looks at the goup
assembled and just looks at Espiria when she tries to cover the
chuckle,"I'd not be laughing considering your hair is green."

Neelkan decides now would be a good time to step out. He goes over to Espi
and gives her arm a gentle squeeze, "I'm gonna go get somethin' t' eat 'n
'en prolly sleep f'r a bit. The Gaidin've upped m' trainin' since I got
back, 'n I'm worn out." But then again, he's glad they did. Keeps his mind
off of Verbena. He reaches up and touches her hair lightly. "I hope 'is
goes 'way soon, Espi." He bows to the Gaidin, and to the Novice-clad Sedai,
then heads towards the Tower.

Espiria returns the hug, nodding to her good friend. "Then I'll see you
soon, Neel. Get that rest so you can get right back out there." She grins,
punching his arm gently as she leans back from him. "Upp'd it? Wow...well
I'm sure they have their reasons. maybe they just noticed how good a
fighter you are..and decided they want you as a Gaidin really quick?" She
giggles, puching Meel in the shoulder gently. "I hope it goes away too,
Neel. I..feel like a plant walking around looking like this."

"You mean you aren't a plant?" Wyntere says jokingly. She's trying hard to
stay in a good mood, but worry has crossed the monster's tired face. "Well,
I'm back. Mother needed a little bit of sleep. And I was more than happy to
let her have it." Oh, the lady will have more than enough excitement.