09/19/2000

Trainee Living Area, White Tower, Tar Valon

Three stories worth of polished wooden hallways greet you, along with many
doors. Behind these doors are sets of four bunk beds, shared by trainees.
There is a wash-up area on the first floor, down the hall, a communal area
of wooden tubs that must be hand-pumped to be used.

Boys ranging from their early teens to their mid-twenties stroll down this
hall, talking or running as the situation demands. There is quite a bit of
noise as talk and rough housing are common events here.


Night time in the stomping grounds of the Tower trainees. Snores can be
heard even out in the hallway with all the door to the rooms closed, but
that is not what's keeping a certain trainee awake tonight. Zaidah, better
known as Corain to the people of this place is in that forbidden place, the
bathhouse, but she's alone for the time being, so no worries about her
oggling the young men. Though for once she's too distracted even for that
tonight. A small light reflects off a tub filled with water, and the
trainee holds up her shirt, fingering ever so gently a cruel looking bump
under her skin, and an ugly purple and black bruise that's formed over it.
She winces at even the softest of touches, and tries to figure out what the
flaming ash she's going to do about this. Her special corset has been
discarded for the moment, because it hurt too much to wear. Moving hurts,
breathing hurts... it's bad.

Well, another trainee is not asleep, but that isn't really a surprise.
Neelkan always seems to have trouble sleeping, unless he drinks until he
passes out oddly enough. But then waking up isn't pleasent, so either way,
he's pretty much rarely going to be getting a good night's sleep. He
wanders the halls, glaring at the doors with snoring on the other side for
a moment, then walks into the bathhouse, planning to take a warm bath and
calm his nerves after yet another dream which left him sweaty and wishing
that he could live without sleep. His hair is matted to his head, the red
darker then usual and he's shirtless as he wanders in. It takes him a few
seconds (and a few steps inside) to notice there is someone else in the
bathhouse, and he almost immediately turns around when he sees who it is.
She must have to take baths in the evening since he gave her that warning.
He'll leave her to-- eh?! This is when he notices the bruising. His eyes
widen and he immediately moves over near her, kneeling down to look at the
wound without a word. When he does say a word he looks up and just asks,
"What happened?" And is he concerned? NO!!! Grrrrrr.

Zaidah's head jerks up, her nerves strung taunt by the thought of someone
walking in on her and finding out her secret. She relaxes a little when she
sees it's just Neelkan though and basically just expects him to turn around
and walk out again without even looking at her but.. he doesn't. Huh?
Blink! Oh ash! Zaidah quickly pulls her shirt down over the bump and glares
over at him. "Nothing. What are you doing up anyway?" She tries to scoot
away from him, and winces in the process, bringing an arm up to hover
protectively over the rib, without actually touching it. Change the
subject, change the subject. Yeah, but to what? Well.. for starters she
could 'notice' his lack of a shirt and probably scare him off with a few
choice sentences... but for the moment she'll hold off on that and hope he
has enough sense to just leave her alone in peace with her pain.

"Blood 'n ashes, Zai, ya should be in the flamin' infirmary, not down
'ere." Neelkan says with a growl, not backing away, but he does straighten
so. He looks around the room and waves his hand towards a place near her
where she can sit and says, "Sit down. Light, I know why yer not in the
infirmary, but blood 'n ashes, 'at looks bad. I'm not an expert 'r nothin',
but least I can do is help ya bandage it. Yer not doin' yerself any flamin'
favor by gettin' caught 'r keelin' o'er." He runs a hand through his hair,
grumbling a moment as if to remind himself that he doesn't care if she's in
pain or hurting. And as if to make it clear he does, he adds, "'n I may not
bloody like ya, but if 'ey find out I helped keep ya secret 'ey might toss
/me/ out too." And no, he didn't even make an attempt to answer her
question on why he's up.

Corain glares back at him, not having any intention of budging an inch on
this one. "What makes you think I need your help pumpkin? I have the
situation under control," she grumbles a little. She actually was about to
sit down, but now that he's told her to of course she won't, so she remains
kneeling by the tub. Then she turns on an evil little smile and purrs, "are
you sure bandaging it is all you want to do pumpkin? How do I know this
isn't just an attempt to get under my shirt?" She smirks and throws a
knowing look at the sky as he talks about the possibility of them tossing
him out. "Don't like me? Pumpkin I'm shocked! Maybe I should try -harder-
to get you to," she leans forward a little, looking at him with her best
suggestive grin. There, if that doesn't scare him off...

"What makes m' think ya need m' help? Blood 'n ashes, /Corain/, ya can't
e'en move without flinchin', now /sit down/ 'r I'll call a Gaidin in 'ere
t' look at ya." Neelkan says, eyes dark and narrowed. He isn't going to
budge either, and he sticks a hand out towards her and adds on, "Ya a'ready
got all from m' 'at ya are, so give m' yer hand 'n sit yer ass down, 'n let
m' look at yer side. If I wanted t' get in' yer flamin' shirt, all I'd have
t' do is ask, now /sit down/." Well, the asking part is probably pushing
it, but he doubts after all her flirting and stuff that she would deny him
if he admited wanting her. Which he /doesn't/! Grrr.

A normal girl would probably be highly offended! But... she kinda has to
admit that he's right, not that she's happy about admitting it. It manages
to shut her up though and she rolls off her knees and onto her bump, not
actually glaring, but definately looking -very- unhappy. "Careful pumpkin,
keep talking like that and I might start thinking you actually care," she
replies dryly. She's not going to lift up her shirt for him though. Nope,
nope. Even if she is cooperating she's going to be as difficult about it as
is humanly possible.

Nodding to himself when she sits down, Neelkan moves to sit down at her
side, facing her as well. He raises his eyebrow at the accusation of caring
and just says with a grump, "Yer not m' type." Then reaches forward to lift
up the shirt so he can see the damage, all the while ignoring any protests,
and actually managing to be gentle as he asks, "How long 'go did 'is
happen, 'n does anyone else know 'bout it?" He may not like her, but he
certainly isn't going to sit aside and watch her kill herself. She could be
hurt on the inside where he won't be able to help her. But he's going to
try.

Corain grumbles, resisting the urge to pull back and lick her wounds like
some kind of wounded animal. "Type?" she snaps back with a snort, which
looks like it hurt too. "Why limit yourself to one type? Oh, that's right,
I forgot. You hate women, that's why you're trying to 'help' me." There's
that bump again, and a very, very nasty bruise, along with a bit of
swelling around the area. It's gotta hurt like Shayol Ghul. "And if you
must know it happened today. That meshit Yasu decided putting all her
weight into an elbow to the gut wouldn't hurt too bad, and then proceeded
to tell me it was my fault for trying fighting while intoxicated." She was
spitting mad, but she actually seems rather amused about it now, and yes,
she's rambling. "I think she kinda likes me though." The fact that she
apparently makes a cute guy amuses her to -no- end. "And that Kelesh Gaidin
kept going on about how I shouldn't curse in front of a lady. I can't wait
to see the look on his face when he finds out he hit a..." uh.. lady? "me."

Looking over the bruise for a few moments, Neelkan grumbles and suddenly
wishes he would have taken up some of the healing classes that the Yellows
kept offering. He reaches forward to touch the area /around/ the bruise and
the swelling, to see if the pain is further around them what is visable on
the outside. Amazingly, he really is very gentle as he does this. "I do
hate women, now be quiet 'n let m' think." Which is /not/ his strong suit.
He continues to trace his fingers around slowly, waiting for any sign of
flinching, but doesn't stop until he's satisfied. He gives a small nod and
looks up and asks, "Ya said yer sisters 'n Aes Sedai, right? Does she know
how t' 'eal?" Guess that means she can talk now, if she hasn't already...

Zaidah fidgets just a little, which moves her torso under his circling
finger so that it goes towards the bruise, which makes her wince and take a
hissing breath through her teeth, so she decides to stop it and just watch
what he's doing with an arched eyebrow. "You know.. for not wanting to
start something you're doing a bleeding good job." Is she just trying to
make scare him off again? It's hard to tell, not that she's in -any-
condition for that even if she is serious. "And I don't know if Kate can
Heal..." Now why didn't she think of that? Maybe because she was too
focused on the pain? "I don't think so..." which basically leaves her up
the flaming creek, until the thing heals on it's own... which it won't, at
least not properly, unless the bone is set... and she doesn't do anything
to just make it worse.

Nodding slowly, Neelkan sighs as he continues to look over the wound,
shaking his head, "Well, if yer sis can't heal, 'en yer flamin' outta luck,
firefly." He says with a grumble as he sits there glaring at the wound as
if that would heal it. "'n I doubt yer in any condition t' 'start'
anythin', 'r have anythin' started on ya." Which is true. Why would he
start something that would just seriously hurt her even more then she
already is. "Only way I can see t' help is... t' find someone who can heal,
'n is willin' t' keep yer secret. I don't know many Aes Sedai who can heal
though. That like m' at least. Vorsh, 'n I think Denn can heal. If Espi
were here..." Something about that causes him to flinch a little.
Remembering his dream and all. "Blood 'n ashes, ya can't just leave 'is. Ya
could end up with a pain in yer side the rest of yer flamin' life."

Corain snorts. Ow. "Vorsha and Denn'ryiel both dislike me," not that she
cares. She meant to insult them, honest. It's probably just as well she
doesn't say she insulted Denn, since that would probably lose her all
sympathy. Not that she wants it... "..and I don't know this Espiria person,
but if she's a friend of your's no thanks." Ouch, ok that was a little
harsh, and she didn't really mean it, but she's not too trusting of these
Aes Sedai women, or novices and Accepted for that matter. In fact for the
most part she thinks the whole Tower is populated by insane people with
sticks up their asses. Either that or they're cheaters. She needs to sleep
though. That will help her ignore the pain for a time. Her eyes close and
she sighs a little. "I -know- alright? I know... I just... I can't just
give up now though. Not when I'm come this far. I could be a Gaidin, and I
-so- want to rub that all in their smug little noses. I want to see the
look on all those stony faces when they realize they've all been had, and
admitted a -girl- into their ranks." Sigh. "Don't worry about it pumpkin.
I'll figure something out." She reaches up towards the hem of her shirt,
planning on pulling it back down over the broken rib.

"'ey're must be healers in the city, e'en with the bloody weather as it is,
I'm sure I could get ya out t' see one. 'ey wouldn't care 'at yer a
trainee, 'r a girl, 'ey'll prolly just yell 'at ya f'r gettin' yerself
hurt." Neelkan says with effort, shrugging lightly. "'ey've let m' stay
outside the Tower 'fore. As long as ya tell 'em ya need t' have a few
nights t' yerself, 'ey'll let ya, I'm sure. Though blood 'n ashes, I don't
see why ya want t' be a Gaidin at all. But I can understand wantin' t' rub
it in 'ey're faces. They're all tight-asses, far as I'm concerned. Tight
asses on a woman's leash. Feh!" He offers his hands, "Let m' least get ya
back t' yer room f'r now though."

Corain chuckles softly. Well... at least they agree on something... "I
don't want to be a Gaidin. But I figure I might as well do something with
myself while I wait for Kate to get off her ass and stop mourning. I just
want what's rightfully mine." Huh? What does being a Gaidin have to do with
what's rightfully hers? His comment about helping her sparks the flame
again though and she starts to snap, "I can get back just fine on my own!
Snow (yes, that's a curse), you men! You think we're all helpless! I bet
you even think those.. channelers can't take care of themselves without you
to play nursemaid." She really should lower her voice, and she realizes
that a little after the fact and grits her teeth a little. Alright, she's
just going to have to show him that she can do this -by herself-. So she
grips the edge of the tub, and biting back a scream of pain she lurches to
her feet, clutching her stomach. She sways, but isn't about to let herself
pass out. No, no, no.

"I don't think yer flamin'... Blood 'n ashes!" Neelkan says with a grumble
and quickly moves forward to grab onto her upper arms and hold her up, even
as much as to pull her up against his bare chest and hold her there,
careful at least not to budge her stomach. He reaches up and idly smooths
her boyish hair and grumbles, "Ya all think yer so tough, 'at's why ya
/need/ someone t' watch yer flamin' back. 'specially the channelers. 'ey
think 'ey don't need nothin' 'sides 'ey're 'Power'. Feh! Ya need m' help,
'n ya know it, so just stop bein' a rock stubborn milk drinker 'n let m'
help ya, 'n if ya don't... if ya don't I'll have t' kiss ya 'r somethin'.
Women seem t' stop arguein' when I do 'at." Too bad he couldn't do that to
his sisters... Bleh!!

Corain gasps as he pulls her to him and starts to try to wriggle away but
it hurts too much so she just slumps a little. And then he's smoothing her
hair and... saying words that she never thought she'd hear come out of his
mouth. She blinks slowly in surprise, and lifts her head to stare up at
him, this contorted look of complete surprise on her face, stretching out,
as opposed to wrinkling up the scar on her cheek. What does he think he's
doing...? Neelkan, you are a very confusing person, you know that? For a
moment he has her convinced that keeping her mouth shut is the best thing,
but... but.. she can't just not argue. It's not in her nature... "I don't
-need- anyone. Especially not a man." She's not going to elaborate though,
but she has her reasons. She doesn't sleep around because she's entirely
emotionally stable though, and she doesn't do it because she's too immature
for a real relationship. She does it to avoid forming any real bonds. To
avoid getting hurt. It's hard to get your heart stolen when you can barely
remember the guy's face, much less his name. She can rant till she's blue
in the face about how she does it because it's fun, but the truth... the
truth is she's terrified of ending up alone, like her mother, pinning for a
man who's probably forgotten about her.

Neelkan glares down at the woman and doesn't let go of her either way. "Ya
d' too need m'! E'eryone needs someone at one time 'r 'nother, /Zaidah/.
'at's one of the things I've learned 'ere. 'n ya better get it through yer
thick, stone-filled head, 'r yer gonna end up /alone/ 'n dyin' sooner 'n ya
prolly would like." On the plus side, it doesn't seem as if he's following
through with his threat. Perhaps he was bluffing. He smooths the woman's
dark hair again and then secures both hands on her arms and says, "Now if
ya don't let m' help ya t' yer room, I'll carry ya o'er m' shoulder, 'n I
/doubt/ 'at's gonna feel very good at all."

Phew! Minor catastrophe averted. -Zaidah- winces, and not from the pain in
her side either. She does not! "I like my stone-filled head just the way it
is thank you very much," she grumbles. "No point in messing with a
perfectly good system." Her eye widen again at the new threat and she
murmurs, disbelieving, "You wouldn't..." No, it wouldn't feel very good,
and she'd probably have to scream and then her cover would pretty much be
blown. "Fine, fine." She's too tired to argue anymore. She just wants to go
to bed, and actually maybe she'll dredge up a bottle of whiskey to help
with the pain until she can get this thing taken care of. "Let's just get
this flaming over with." She's going to mutter under her breath all the way
back to her room though.

"Good girl." Neelkan says in a mocked voice that sounds almost like when
his mother would say 'Good boy' to him, and then he leans over and plants a
quick, light kiss on her cheek before carefully taking her arms again and
leanding her towards the door, as careful as possible to make sure she
/doesn't/ put too much wieght or strain on that rib. And he wouldn't mind
having some of that whiskey, but that might lead to... bad things... And
yes, he did give her a kiss on the cheek. While Zai isn't /quite/ on the
fluke of nature list as a woman worth dying for... she's on the list just
below it. And all because of one drunken mistake. Sucks to be her, doesn't
it?

No! It doesn't suck to be her! It's awesome being Zaidah! She loves
herself! Just... not right at the moment. She hmphs and smirks a little at
the 'Good girl' and the cheek kiss and mutters something about "better...
when... hated..." She has -enough- problems! Ane somewhere in her twisted
logic a plan that makes sense is forming, and it does involve alcohol.. and
it does involve Neelkan, and it may just involve those bad things.. but
it's -not- for the reason (or reasons as the case may be) some might think.
In her "Fuzzy logic" world it would prove something to her, and possibly
have the added effect of making him hate her again, but it will have to
wait. Uh... on the plus side it gives her an incentive to get that rib
taken care of? Is this really still a good thing? She's not going to wince
at the pain that shoots through her ribs at every step. She's going to
pretend it isn't there, and see if she can't beat those cheating Gaidin at
their own game.

Sadly, Neelkan never really /hated/ her. That's just the same as her one
night stands to him. He claims he hates women, and he does believe they are
unfair, and cruel, and cheaters, but rarely does he truely hate them.
Dislike, sure. But rarely hate. He continues to guide her towards her room,
muttering something about women. And calling her a milksop. Which to him is
a grave insult. He doesn't know about her plans for alcohol, but his plans
after getting her in her bed is to go to his own and then find a healer in
the city in the morning.