08/31/2000


Jedan sits on a bench, carfully polishing his morning stars to prevent
rust. He's good with the things, after all. He aught to pick up the sword.
The tower seems to really think it's important for some reason, and he
needs to teach the kids.

Moving out of the Trainee Quarters, Neelkan rubs at his eye and yawns a
little. He tends to have strange sleeping hours sometimes, but only when he
has the time of course. He moves into the practice yard, grimacing a little
at the boys training on swords and things. "Light, what I wouldn't give for
something besides fighting today..." he mumbles thoughtfully, not seeming
to realize he's even speaking outloud. ... Neelkan actually wishing not to
spar or learn how to fight? Gasp. Shock.

Jedan looks up and smirks. "Well. Ever thought of learning to dance?" He
asks with a twinkle in his eye. "You never know how that will capture a
woman's heart. Even an Aes Sedai's."

Neelkan's face whips over in the direction of the voice and his cheeks
color slightly before he shakes his head so his bangs fall down to
half-obscure his eyes and the heat on his cheeks. "Dance? Um..." What luck
this? That's actually one thing he does need to know, though he would never
admit to it. "I'm not interested in capturin' anyone's heart, thanks, but I
guess learnin' wouldn't hurt nothin'." He starts over.

Jedan nods and places the morning stars aside. He can leave those for
another time. "We'll start with a few simple steps then." he smiles. "Even
if you can just find a partner to enjoy the time, son, it will be well
worth the time. And there are plenty of times you can use it to disquise
your true purpose. Sometimes it's not a good idea to show yourself as Aes
Sedai and Gaidin, but as something else." he holds out a hand. "Name's
Jarlen."

Looking at the hand for a moment as if unsure, Neelkan reaches forward and
takes it before responding in kind, "Neelkan. Nice t' meet ya. 'n I
understand 'bout not wantin' t' appear what ya are." He pauses for a
second, then adds, "'n I don't think findin' a partener'll be all 'at
hard."

Jedan chuckles softly. "Be careful about that, Neelkan. It seems the Gaidin
have some rules over that." he shrugs. Like he cares. "Well... lets start a
few simple steps? The trick to dancing is keep in beat with the music."

Neelkan smirks a little as if to say the exact same thing. Like he cares.
He'll do what he wants to do, when he wishes to do it. Or he's going to
hold by that as long as he can. "Keep with the music... Kind of like...
unarmed combat. With music. 'n no hittin'." He's sort of kidding.

Jedan chuckles. "Let's get you dancing first, then I'll show you just how
close those two are." he holds his hands out. "Don't be shy, dancing's no
fun without a partner."

.... Neelkan glances around warrily. People think he's weird enough with his
'I hate women' philosphy. He doesn't want to hear what rumors will sprout
of this... Oh, it's just a lesson! He moves forward and takes the hands
awkwardly. "Don't get any ideas..." with that tone of 'or I'll beat you
silly' unadded at the end there.

Jedan chuckles softly. "It's how it's done, Neelkan." he says softly "Don't
worry, I'll get each and every man who laughs at you for it dancing
together in no time." he looks down at his feet. "Watch my feet, we'll
start with a simple two step." and he starts, steping side to side. It's
really not that hard.

Looking down, Neelkan grumbles furiously under his breath, but that's
nothing new with him, and there's little anger behind it other then the
sound. He watches the steps, and mimics them as best he can. Not that hard
after all.

Jedan nods and starts to keep the beat with simple, "one, two." over and
over again. Once Neelkan's used to it, he continues. "All other dancing is
based off of this step in some way or another. It might be a little
different, or faster, but it's always starts with this right here."

Mummuring softly, Neelkan shakes his head, eyes still on his feet as they
move. "Yer right, blo-- it is easy." He catches his language, remembering a
request to watch his language around Gaidin and Aes Sedai. A request he can
accept. If it had been an order his language likely would have gotten worse
just to spite them. He glances away from his feet now, not really looking
up at the Gaidin, but around the yard, daring someone to snicker as he
still moves to the steps.

Jedan looks around as well, his eyes turning hard just a bit. No one
snickers. It wouldn't be right. "You're doing good." he steps back. "Give
it a try without me leading you."

Looking down at his feet again, Neelkan mutters a soft oath that he can't
even soft, but it's said softly so not to be made out, then he pauses his
feet for a moment and takes the movements up again in an attempt to lead in
the dance this time. "'ere. 'at any better?"

Jedan nods. "You're doing well. Good on your feet, to say the least." he
says. He keeps an eye on the boy. He's doing well. "Keep it up for a bit."
he says as he sits back down, pulling back his morning stars.

Narrowing his eyes again, Neelkan keeps watching his feet as he... dances
around by himself. Though two stepping isn't really much of a dance. He
lets his arms drop after a bit, tired of leaving them up there and waits to
be told something. After a while the motions are so easy he just looks
around and glares while he does it.

Jedan chuckles. "Looks good, you can give it a rest." he says and smiles.
"Practice that about thrity minutes for the next three days, then we'll
move on." step by step. Best way to learn. "Once you know a few steps, I'll
show you how to blend it in with martial art moves."

Neelkan stops and looks down at his feet for a few moments. Hmmm. Well,
if... nevermind. He kills the thought as it starts, "I'd like t' learn how
t' make dancin' like fightin'. Though I know how t' fight, just..." Feh.
"It would be nice t' know is all." Women have nothing to do with it! "I'll
practice, as ya say."

Jedan laughs. "Are you always this tongue tied, son?" he asks. Really, it
just wouldn't do. "Really, you mustn't keep going like that."

"I am not tongue tied." Neelkan says with a grumble. "I just ne'er had any
reason t' want t' learn t' dance 'fore is all." Hrmpt.

Jedan raises his eyebrow. "And now you do?" he says. "And I take it that
is' more than simply a desire to be Gaidin."

Neelkan grumbles somemore to cover a flush, trying to make it look like
it's from anger as he says stiffly, "Why would I have any desire t' learn
how t' dance besides becomin' a Gaidin?" A little defensive, isn't he?

Jedan laughs again. It would seem the young man's prickliness simply
ammusses this Gaidin. "Because I've seen that reaction many a time,
Neelkan. I'm not a complete fool." he winks. "It's okay, I can leave you
alone about it, but don't be afraid to come to me if you need to talk."

"Talk?" Neelkan says in a balking sound, as if that's the last thing he
wanted to do. Right after drinking milk and swimming the river. Then he
pauses and adds a second later, "I'll keep 'at in mind."

Jedan chuckles softly. "Please do, Neelkan. Understand, I'm not here to get
you in trouble. I'ld rather you had a good grasp of yourself and your life.
It will make you a more solid Gaidin."

Neelkan opens his mouth, then gives his odd streaked hair a good shaking
before adding, "I said I'd keep it in mind, 'n I will. Light knows I could
use someone t' talk to who's a flamin' man." He doesn't correct himself, or
catch the swear.

Jedan chuckles softly as he hangs his morning stars on his waist. "You can
find me in Keay Sedai's Quarters if I'm not in her offices or out here,
Neelkan. Good day." he nods to him. "May beautry and happiness find you
this day."

Beauty and happiness? Neelkan's eyebrows raise, but he says nothing other
then, "G'day." And turns to go head towards the trainee area.