11/01/2000

Guest Room,White Tower, Tar Valon

A bed, small but soft, rests beneath a large window. Fluffy blue and white
quilts are tossed over it, meant to provide a measure of comfort and
hominess. A oaken dresser and wardrobe are also present, as are a washbasin
and pitcher full of water. A single lantern rests on the bedside table.
Saferan carpets in purple and blue cover the floor, giving an interesting
mix between luxury and simplicity.

There are a few paintings on the wall, the bland sort of still-life scenes
one expects from a room that belongs to nobody at all. Daisies and
sailboats, painted in soft colors and left small, to hang over the various
pieces of furniture. There, mostly, an afterthought to be looked at and
forgotten, by some nameless artist who likely never went far.


There's some very /loud/ snickers coming from outside the room. Namely from
the guards set out there. There's a thump a few seconds later, and the
snickering stops, followed by a few coughs and basically someone suggesting
that another person go to the infirmary and be more careful in how he leans
against the wall. That voice sounds... a lot like a certain "woman-hating"
trainee... A second later the door is getting unlocked and from the hall
you'd be able to see a trainee sporting a broken nose, and moving to head
off, while the other one stands there silently. No more snickers... Now...
what /were/ they snickering at? Well, standing in the doorway is...
Neelkan. Sort of... Instead of his normal attire though, he's dressed
quite... differently. Either the guy let someone else dress him, or he's
getting punished for something. Or more likely, he had to take a class on
ettiquette of some kind. A true Gaidin has to fit in everywhere, ya know?
Anyway, he's dress rather... nicely. Not quite noble, but at least very
well off merchant. Dark red, with white. He's even taken off his necklaces
and one of his earrings! Though the second one is worn around his neck.
He's not letting /those/ out of his sight ever. Now why is he /really/
wearing nice clothing? Because he knows it'll give Zai a laugh (and
everyone else too). But she needs cheering up, and he's willing to suffer a
/little/ humilation to cheer her up. He knocks on the doorframe before
stepping in, "'ey 'ere." Well, fine clothes or not, he needs to work on the
accent...

Well since it seems a day of doing the unexected... Zaidah is sitting in a
chair (in a very unlady-like fashion) with one leg slung over an arm, and a
book (gasp) of all things resting on it. Hey, when you're this bored,
you'll do just about anything to take your mind off things. At least it's a
tale of adventures from the Age of Legends, instead of something stuffy.
Even she's not bored enough to go -that- far. She arches an eyebrow at the
snickering outside and peers curiously at the door as it opens. Woah! Who
is tha-?? The book slips from her lap and lands with a thud on the floor,
in synch to the dropping open of her mouth. Snap out of it girl. "Uh...
hey! Pu-... Neelkan." She swoops down on the book and scoops it up, sliding
to her feet and quickly carrying it over to it's shelf, which just happens
to give her the advantage of turning her gaze somewhere else for a minute
to she can.. uh.. recover. ;) When she turns around she has a false smirk
firmly planted on her lips. "You got all dressed up just to come see me?
I'm touched." She's joking... or at least trying to. She doesn't really
know that's exactly why he did it. "Serious though, what's with the fancy
clothes?"

No snickering? No outright laughing? Blood 'n ashes. He got all dressed up
and even made an attempt to comb his hair back for just a smirk? Well, she
dropped her book, and stared at him for a few seconds, so that's not too
bad. Wait... she's asking him what's with the fancy clothes. Burn it!
Neelkan seems to have to think for a second, and all prettied up as he is
that just adds to the picture, making him look distant-eyed and confused.
Then he snaps back and grins, "Ya know how the bloody in--." No!! No!!
Don't mentioning training! Idiot! You're here to cheer her up, not kick her
while she's down! Sigh. He corrects himself after a sudden pause, "Wyntere.
She once told m' I should dress up sometime, 'n I figured I'd give it a go.
What d' ya think?" He turns around to close the door, but for a moment it
might seem as if he's giving her a full view, which is not his intention at
all!! He turns back and shrugs his shoulders now that the door is closed,
"I don't think it suits m' 'at much, but 'en I'm not plannin' t' wear it
all the time anyway."

Zaidah has to clamp a hand over her mouth to keep from bursting out
laughing. Yeah, he looks gorgeous, but he's also being very silly, and
clearly has no idea how... tempting he's being. She promised herself she
wouldn't go through with that evil plan she had though. Regaining her
composure she lowers her hand and walks over. "No, it's not you, but I
think you look very nice, all the same." Very nice? He's dead sexy, but
she's not going to let herself think about that right now. Even though it
doesn't really need it she reaches up and fixes his collar. Realizing what
she's doing she clears her throat and gently slugs him in the shoulder
instead. At least she seems to be in a better mood than she was last time.
"In fact," she says, flopping back down in the chair, "if I didn't know
better I'd say you could easily pass for a gentleman wearing something like
that." Which isn't really a compliment at all, but if he's going to come
torment her like this the least she can do is tease him a little in return.

Torment? Some guys are just dumb, aren't they? Neelkan doesn't seem to
notice what effect he's having, because he's consentrating too much on not
saying anything stupid that might hurt her feelings. She's in a better
mood, and he isn't going to ruin it if he can help it. "Ye'h, must b' my
good twin 'r somethin'." he comments on the bit about not being him, but
looking good despite that. He blinks as she starts to straighten his
collar, but takes it has a big sisterly type thing. He had to dress up for
his sister's weddings and they'd /always/ straighten his clothes every few
minutes. It annoyed him. Somehow, this doesn't annoy him as much. Maybe
because she /isn't/ his sister. He shrugs when she lets him go, and looks
around a little bit as she sits and compliments him. He snickers softly and
shakes his head, "Well, we can't have people thinkin' /'at/ 'bout m'! It
would ruin m' image." Hehehehe. Ahem. Is he really tormenting her?

Ok, that makes her laugh, and she doesn't bother trying to hide it this
time. Some guys -are- just dumb, in fact most of them! But Neelkan is
particularly clueless. She starts to reach over for her half drunk glass of
red wine (they wouldn't let her have her whiskey, give a girl a break will
ya?) but pauses, as if reconsidering, but finally she decides she's just
being silly and picks it up. "No, no, that would definately be a travesty."
She peers at him over the rim of her glass while she takes a small sip
(she's not trying to get anyone, including herself, drunk here after all).
She can't help it. Try as she might to look elsewhere... her brown gaze is
inevitably drawn back to him. In fact, one might even describe it as
staring. Yes, he really is tormenting her. She gives her head a quick jerk
to snap herself out of it... again... and smiles, "I'm sorry. I'm being
rude again aren't I? Sit, sit. Would you like to play dice this time? Or
cards again? Or... something else entirely?" I'm not going to suggest
drinking games. I'm not going to suggest drinking games. I'm not going to
suggest drinking games. Much as she might want to.

Actually, he was going to suggest a drinking game, but then decided
differently considering what happened the first time they got smashed
together. Neelkan may not like that they kicked her out, but he isn't
planning to get thrown out on his butt right beside her for getting drunk
and spending the night in here with her. That would be bad. Very, very bad.
Plus Denn would probably be pissed at him, not to mention Espiria, and
Aidou, and everyone else probably! Let's just say it's a good idea for him
not to suggest such a game. He moves to slouch down into another chair and
shrugs his shoulders. "I dunno. I just came t' visit really." While she's
still here. "A card game wouldn't hurt, 'r... maybe we could sing. I
haven't sung in a while, but m' sisters used t' say I was good." Bwah!?
Well, this is his other plan. The clothes seemed to work to amuse her. Now
he's planning to sing in front of her if she wats him to. Yup. He's gone
crazy and been replaced by his good twin...

Cough. Choke. Splutter. The sip of wine she was taking gets lodged,
permanently it seems, in Zaidah's throat, and she goes into a coughing fit
at his offer of singing. Pardon her while she regains respiratory
functions. It takes a while for her to be able to breath without coughing,
but finally she looks over at him incredulously. He wants to do what? No,
she'll say it, "You want to do what?" He wants to sing with her? She
glances down and shifts her gaze from side to side a little... not really
sure about this whole singing together thing. She almost extracted a
promise from him last time not to tella anyone about that.. but.. uh.. she
got a little distracted. It's one of the few 'girly' things she let her
mother talk her into, and at this point the last thing she needs is these
Gaidin thinking she's girly. "Um... uh... I... uh... well... alright, I
guess..."

Singing is only girly if you sing romantic boring songs. But even then it's
ok if men do it. As long as they can sing. Drinking songs are a lot more
popular amoung men, but believe it or not, Neelkan doesn't know all that
many drinking songs. He knows a few, but most of those are silly, and he
would only sing them when drunk. In fact, the only time he would really
sing is when drunk, though he has sung once since he came to the Tower,
because the little kid, Aed, was feeling awful and scared right after the
Parade which nearly killed them all. He's hummed a few times since, and
sang a little when he's alone, but that's the only time he offered to sing
in front of someone. And Espiria walked in and saw him. Sigh. He ponders
for a moment, then sits up in the chair a little bit and says, "A'right.
D'ya want 'n upbeat war song, 'r somethin' slow?" He'll steer away from
love songs. There's a guy outside the door still. x.x

Yes, steering away from love songs is a -good- idea. Oh Zaidah knows -lots-
of drinking songs. In fact that's most of what she knows, but (obviously)
that's not all she knows. "Um..." she reaches up and ruffles her hair a
little. "Uh- you pick!" There, then he won't be able to laugh at her. She's
actually wondering if this is all some kind of joke. If he's making fun of
her for singing she's going to take him up on those staff lessons, and give
him a thrashing he'll never forget, or at least that's what she tells
herself. She finishes off the glass and puts it down.

There's a thoughtful pause for a second, then then Neelkan sits up again
and clears his throat. "'is one should be sung with at least 'n instrument,
but it can be sung without." He takes a breath, and then starts to sing.
His voice is quite nice, a lot deeper then some might thing, and amazingly
enough his accent only /adds/ to it instead of making it worse. It's
obviously a war song. Soft, and slow, but with a slight edge to it besides
that. "Thoughts not conveyed into spoken word / A light slowly vanishing
from the sky / Only one person can walk this path. / Almost calling out
from a dream, / Never to be a lenient one..." Yes. It's not really a happy
tune, is it? This is downright depressing. Who wrote this song? Someone who
knew he would die?! Geez! Neelkan, you're here to cheer her up, not make
her sob! Gah! Men! "The heart is trembling in the wind's song --- / Now, I
close my eyes, / I try to forget time... / A flame is dyeing the dark sky
--- / Burning up everything, / Returning to peace..."

Uh.. uh.. she's not supposed to join in this one is she? Aside from the
fact that Zaidah doesn't know this song, she's a little too stunned to
think about singing right now. He can sing... O.O He can sing! The fact
that the song is depressing is only secondary to the sound of his voice.
Sniff. Sniffle... Under normal circumstances... she wouldn't cry. She
wouldn't even come close, but.. her world is crumbling around her ears,
she's emotionally distraught... burn it, burn it, burn it... I'm not... yes
she is. She starts to cry, very softly at first, trying to hide it as best
she can, but by the time the song gets to the 'returning to peace' line,
her shoulders are shaking, and she's hiding her eyes behind her hand.
Stupid, stupid... weak and stupid. You're better than this Zai. It's just a
song.

Not noticing the effect, Neelkan continues straight into the next part. The
same tune, and just as well sung, but different works this time, "Even a
strange flower's name / Is veiled in the red flames of war... / One justice
is always / Within a victor's hand... / Seeming to seek the future --- /
It's never been a pretty thing... / Even making someone cry --- / Not a
matter to be puzzled of..." Hmm... Too bad Neelkan doesn't realize he's
making /you/ cry, huh? Sigh... "The heart is being comforted by the wind's
song --- / The smile someday / Remembering... / The stars are shining in
the dark sky --- / Called to die out someday, / A soldier's legend..." This
time when the singing stops, it's over and he takes a breath and looks to
see if she's laughing at him...

Well, crying can often be mistaken for laughing, and vice versa, but after
a moment it's clear that she's not actually laughing, unless he's a
complete moron. "That..." sniffle "was" sob "beautiful" weep "Neelkan."
You've gotta get yourself under control Zaidah. Stop this right now. Whine!
I can't! She takes a deep breath and rubs her sleeve against her eyes.
There... that's a little better... but the dam could open up again at any
moment. "I... I didn't know you could sing like that," she whispers.

There's a bunch of rapid blinks from the young man who just finished
singing, and Neelkan quickly stands up and moves over, digging around in
his coat to search for something until he finally finds a kerchief, which
he offers forward sheepishly. "Um. Sorry. I should've picked a different
song." He thinks she's upset because it was about going off to battles and
she might have lost her chance to do that. /Idiot!/ "Most people don't know
I can sing like 'at. Don't tell on m', a'right? Last thing I need is Red's
requestin' m' t' sing f'r 'em just 'cause 'ey know it'll piss m' off." He
winks jokingly, kneeling down a little in front of her chair.

Zaidah starts to laugh softly, which just makes her start crying again, but
at least she has the handkerchief now to hide behind. "It's ok," she says a
little muffledly, sniffling and drying her eyes, and trying to stop being
so silly again. "Tell you what, you keep my secret safe, and I'll keep
yours." This seems to be a common theme with them doesn't it? "Ok?"
Sniffle. Sorry pumpkin, but she's gotta blow her nose on something or she's
going to drown in her own mucus. And it -is- a handkerchief, she'll just
make sure she washes it before she gives it back... "And it's nothing to
laugh at. You have a beautiful voice. You shouldn't be ashamed of it." (And
the hypocrisy meter says (__/) Full!

There's a soft chuckle, but Neelkan can't help but feel like a jerk. He
made her cry! He was supposed to cheer her up. Well, he did somewhat. Up
until he made her cry. He doesn't make any comment as she blows her nose.
He gave it to her for a reason after all. "I'll keep yer secret, sure. I
mean I did 'fore, didn't I?" He still hasn't told anyone he knew she was a
girl all along. And don't doubt that some people /thought/ he did!
Especially when he started visiting in peace! And no doubt they'll have
even more questions since someone /male/ was heard singing inside and he
went in dressed up /nicely/! "M' sisters a'ways said I had a nice voice.
One of the few compliments 'ey e'er gave." Which he didn't take as a
compliment because they came from them... "What? Ya think I should sing in
front of the whole Tower? Shock the bloody Light outta 'em?"

There's a knock at the door.

Part of her wants to laugh and say 'yes, I want to see all those jaws drop'
and another part... wants it to be a secret, and doesn't want to share it
with anyone in the whole world, even though it's already known to more
people than her. Zaidah is sitting in a chair, still sniffling a little,
though it's clear that she was crying more heavily not long ago. Neelkan is
half kneeling in front of the chair of all things, quite dressed up in a
red coat, with his hair combed and everything. Not long ago there was
singing coming from inside the room, a male voice, but other than that
there haven't been any more... interesting sounds. Zaidah looks up at the
knock and jumps to her feet. She knows that knock. There's no way in Shayol
Ghul she could ever forget that knock. She waits a moment, gesturing for
Neelkan to get up so it doesn't look like anything bad was going on (even
though nothing bad -was- going on) before saying in a voice far more
trembling than she would like, "come in..."

How can you know a knock? At the knock, the gesture isn't even needed to
make Neelkan stand up, self-consiously straightening his much more dressy
then normal clothing. Sigh. Please let this be someone that won't laugh at
him. He already broke the nose of one of the trainees on guard for laughing
at him... Something he's expecting to get scolded for later... but the guy
deserved it! Bah.

Raeth slips into the room, a brow inmediately raising at the sight of
Neelkan. Cold blue eyes slide onto Zaidah. Ok, he never said anything about
guests in her room. "I really didn't expect to see you here trainee, even
though I heard you were comming up here." He says to neelkan in a razor
edge voice. "You know what else I heard? I heard you broke a trainee's
nose." He pauses waiting for an explanation though he does turn back to
Zaidah. Has she been crying?

Oh good, his attention isn't immediately on her. That's good. It gives
Zaidah time to compose herself. One of the good things about Raeth
entering, is that he is one person she will never cry in front of, if she
can help it. So she calmly folds up the handkerchief and puts it in her
pocket. She glances over at Neel, sorry that she's brought this trouble on
him (she has from her point of view at least), but a little relieved that
she's not having to face Raeth along. She remains quiet for the moment.

There's a pause, then Neelkan nods, "Yes, I did break 'is nose. I'll
apologize to 'im later if ya want m' too. I told 'im t' go immediately to
the infirmary. But he was making crude comments 'bout how I was dressed up
t' visit Zai. 'til she's out of 'is room, she's a Guest of the Tower, and
she shouldn't be disrespected as she was bein'." Bwaaah!? Yup. He's
learning a little. Maybe not quite enough yet. Still needs to control his
anger for one thing. And... ok... most the insults were really directed at
him. But he didn't actually hit the guy until he mentioned Zai.

Raeth's eyes scan over Neelkan. Yup, he is dressed up. He shifts his gaze
from Neelkan to Zaidah then back, his granite face impassive, though you
know he's thinking hard on something. "Well, since you seem to be such good
friends with Zaidah, I guess you better stay here. After what I'm about to
tell her, she very well may need a friend." Raeth turns coldly towards
Zaidah letting his icy eyes penetrate her for a heartbeat before walking
over to a chair he sat in the last time he was here and sits down.

Someone hit me over the head with a club now, please? What with Neelkan
defending her 'honor' and Raeth saying he's got worse news (what could
possibly be worse than knowing she's getting kicked out? Are they going to
hang her for the infraction or something??) Zaidah's composure has gone
right out the window. She sits down, but it's not entirely a voluntary
thing. Her knees just kind of weaken until they refuse to hold her anymore,
and it's a good thing she was just sitting down, and the chair thankfully
hasn't wandered off or anything. She's still perfectly silent. She's not
going to open her mouth, because that always just makes things worse it
seems.

There's a moment of angry silence from Neelkan, his fists clenched a little
in slight anger, then he grumps and moves to lean against the wall, as far
away from Raeth as the room will allow him to get. Mainly because if he's
too close he might deck /him/ and he might not be able to get away with
hitting a Gaidin... "Whate'er. I'll stay 'n hear whate'er ya got t' say."
He glances at the firefly a moment, a little sympathetically, but only a
little. He hates women after all, remember? Why would he care if one got
thrown out? ... The question of the Age...

Raeth raises a brow at Zaidah's quietness, "Oh? No kicking, or shouting or
yelling at the door yet? Or perhaps you would like me to stand still and
let you have a go at me? I'm surprised you haven't shown _him_ up yet." He
says throwing a nod towards Neelkan. "Maybe you should break his nose...or
scream in his ear. That'll probably make you feel better." Why the heck is
he trying to get her all worked up?

Because he's a big meany! :P The most he's going to get out of her is a
smirk and a, "I don't need you to stand still to whip you." All she has to
do is flash- ahem. She looks away, and folds her arms across her chest.
"Did you come here just to egg me on, or is there a point to all this?" Oh
she's angry, but she's trying to keep it bubbling under the surface for
now.

Leaning heavily against the wall, Neelkan crosses his arms a little. He
snorts at the mention of her going after him to take out her anger, but he
didn't come here to egg on her anger. He came here to try and make her
forget about things (in a NON sick way! Geez! He's really not like that!
Honest!). "I don't really think beatin' people up is gonna make 'er feel
better." Though it made /him/ feel better. Until he felt bad about a second
later...

Raeth turns to Neelkan, "Oh, you should talk. You just broke a guys nose,
trainee." Raeth turns back to Zaidah. Hmmm, seems like she getting some
control on her anger. Good. Very good. "Tell me Zaidah, if I let you choose
between staying here or letting you get that scar healed, what would you
choose?"

Whine! Why does he have to ask her such hard questions? He's so mean!
Zaidah flicks a pained expression at the two men, glancing back and forth
between the both of them and then looks down at the floor. It's not like
she doesn't have other scars. There's the one on her face, but it's
actually... kinda cute, once you get used to it, and she used to like it
because it was from one of her first duels. The one on her chest... is not
at all cute. But on the other hand... if she forgoes the healing... she
gets to stay? That's not actually what he said, but of course she's going
to take it that way. "I..." She glances over at Neelkan again, then at the
door, then down at the floor. She whispers softly, "I would choose to
stay."

This of course makes Neelkan's eyes narrow, "Oh, 'at's bloody unfair ya
milk-drinking pi--." Shut up Neelkan. He closes his mouth and grumps
silently, listening to Zaidah give her answer. He saw some of the scar
(thanks to a low cut shirt, that's all! Really!) and it wasn't that
replusive. It's just a scar! He has a couple. Yeah, it detracts a little
from her physical beauty, but who really cares about that? Beauty doesn't
make a person. ... Yeah. Women are all evil. Beautiful or no. (Ahem. He's
not fooling anyone, is he?)

"Unfair? Oh you have no idea how 'unfair' I can be trainee. Not shut your
trap or this milk-drinking piece of whatever you were about to say will
have you milking cows on a farm for a month!" Raeth pulls his piercing gaze
away from Neelkan and settles it back on Zaidah. "So you would choose to
stay. Good. In that case...." He stands up. "You're having your scar healed
right now. In the infirmary." He opens the door and gestures for you to
exit the room and head for the infirmary.

Zaidah was about to warn Neelkan, or tell him to mind his own business and
not try and fight her battles for her, but Raeth's words cut through her
own and she turns her eyes on him, just staring. What did he just say? Is
he serious? He's making no sense! Yes, women are unfair, but at least they
don't make your head spin! She looks a little wary for a moment, afraid
that he's just waiting for her to react happily to tell her that he was
just kidding or something. Now -that- would be unfair. Slowly, she rises to
her feet, and just looks at both of them before she carefully walks out the
door, the first time she's done so in much longer than she would have
liked. Still... she eyes Raeth suspiciously as she passes him and steps out
into the hall (that is unless he stops her) but can you blame her for not
trusting him? She also glances back to see if Neel is coming. She wants him
to, but she doesn't want him to get in trouble either...

Cough! Neelkan actually choakes for a second at the meer /mention/ of
milking cows. He'd just die. Literally. He would probably suffocate by the
time he finished the first one. He has an intense fear of milk, believe it
or not. It's totally a reflex, and he has no control over it. He doesn't
even feel the fear, he just starts to choak up whenever he sees it. It's
weird. But he reaches up and runs fingers through his hair and then peers
at Raeth as he says she's going to get it healed. Grrr. He looks at Zaidah
for a moment, then nods and pushes off of the wall with his foot that was
resting against it and walks over to where he is. He might as well come
along. The Yellows dislike him with a passion, and he dislikes the infirm,
but he'll go. To make sure Zai get's healed. (He still hates women though,
honest.)


Infirmary, White Tower, Tar Valon

Square in shape, this room is most often abuzz with activity. It contains
the normal implements of a teaching infirmary, in fact, it is extremely
well stocked with all manner of things: cots, jars, bottles, syringes,
bandages, cloths, cabinets, shelves, books and tables along with plenty of
hot water. The air has that sterile smell associated with the constant use
of redwort, tinged with the unpleasant prickle of witchhazel. While most of
the Healing is done via the One Power at the Tower, there are many minor
medical situations that are dealt with the old fashioned way.

There are several areas curtained off, for patients' privacy as well as for
instructional usages. This is a teaching infirmary for the Yellow Ajah,
after all. Beds in cheerful colors are lined up in neat rows, providing a
comfortable place to sleep after a Healer's tender ministrations. Windows
are kept wide open to all for light and fresh air.


Raeth follows Neelkan and Zaidah into the infirmary after leaving the
dangerous staff he carries outside. As he walks towards a yellow, he walks
by Zaidah and says to her, "I do hope you have your things packed. After
all you choose to stay. Perhaps if you would have choosen to be Healed, you
would have stayed." Raeth doesn't let her answer back as he turns his
attention to a yellow, "Would you be so kind as to Heal this girl. She has
quite a nasty scar on her chest that she would like to have removed."

What?? That doesn't make any sense what so ever!! Yes, she's relieved to
have the scar Healed, even if she's giving the Yellow that comes over and
does it this horrified stare. It's the first time she's ever let anyone
channel on her, but she's not thinking about that at all. You pig sucker!
You flaming piece of ash! No... she knows now (or at least thinks she does)
what he's doing. He's just playing with her. No matter what she'd said, he
would have done this. He's a sadistic swallop eater is what he is. "Why are
you doing this to me," she asks. "Do you hate me that much?" She's trying
-really- hard to be as cold and emotionless as he is, but there's no way
she'd achieve that, likely even if she had 100 years, so it doesn't come
out well. She doesn't insult, or try to attack him though.

Grrrrrrr. Neelkan growls softly in the background under his breath at
Raeth, totally ignoring all the women in the infirmary and focusing his
worse glare at the Gaidin instead. Not that he's wanting to defend a woman,
honest. He just... bwah. He keeps his hands shoved into the pockets of his
fancy-ish coat so that he isn't tempted to do any punch throwing. He won't
say anything either. All the good that did before...

Raeth turns to look at Zaidah, but doesn't answer her question. The yellow
raises a brow, "A scar? Where?" She takes a couple of steps towards Zaidah,
her face a full smile. She seems kind though she does seem a bit confused
about her question to Raeth, though at that she simple smile even wider and
shakes her head.

Now... Zai is not the shy type... at all.. but after that little (ok, big)
incident in the practice yard, she understandably blanches a little as the
woman questions where the scar is. She crosses her arms over her chest and
takes a half a step back. "Um..." what, is the woman not in on the rumor
mill? Doesn't everyone know about her duel with the Gaidin by now? She
gestures from her left shoulder, down to her right hip, between her
breasts, outside her shirt! Hopefully that will clue the woman in, "here."
She glances over at Raeth again and furrows her brow. "Look, are you just
fiddling around with me or what?" If he'd really wanted to kick her out,
and nothing else, she would be out by now. So either he wants to torment
her a little longer for humiliating him, or he's got something else in
mind. While she's inclined to think the former, she hasn't totally ruled
out the later. "What do you want me to do? Please, just tell me and I'll do
it." She's not begging. She's not. Not I say!

Neelkan raises his eyebrows and has to keep from snicking or smirking at
all at the motion across her breasts. Well, at least she didn't open her
shirt and show, huh? Then... she starts to partly beg and his eyes widen a
little, he turns his glare back at Raeth. Grrr. He's a mean, mean, Gaidin.
She's just a woman! Poor, defenseless. She doesn't deserve to be... ahem.
Ok. So she's not poor and defenseless. And she doesn't need a defender
either. And in some ways she did deserve it. Sigh. He'll just look at his
feet and grumble.

The yellow smiles warmly, "Just stand still." She approaches you and lays a
hand between your breasts. Closing her eyes, the yellow let's herself flow
with the source, weaving all five powers into Healing, then directing them
into the scar. "You waiting to long to Heal this, child. But I
think...yes...." She falls silent and you can feel how your flesh begins to
reconstruct over the scar. "There." The yellow says after opening her eyes.
"Gaidin, you should really be more careful with that staff of yours, you
were quite close to killing her." Raeth remains impassive and doesn't
answer the yellow except for a quick nod and a thank you.

Oh hush Neel, we all know you wish she -had- opened her shirt. ;) Woman
hater my foot. Zaidah's eyes widen a little as well at the Yellow, but
she's not silly enough to blush at something as simple as that. Though she
is glad the cut was between them, and not across them or anything. She
shivers as she's healed... and.. uh... pardon her, she's just gotta have a
look see. No she doesn't unbutton her shirt, she just peeks down it. But
the healing has a bitter sweetness to it. "Thank you, Aes Sedai," she
whispers softly before looking back over to Raeth. Oh Neeeeelkaaaaan,
you're not going to like this idea any better than the rest of what's been
going on, but she's just gotta try something. "Raeth Gaidin... give me one
more chance." The proverbial candle is lit over her head. "How about a
deal? One more duel. If I win, I get to stay. If you win..." uh... burn it,
now she's a little stumped... just leaving isn't really comparable, 'cause
she'd have to do that anyway, but she has no idea what -would- be
comparable. "Swallop, I dunno."

Bleh! He wouldn't have wanted her to open her shirt! He really didn't! Is
that all she thinks of men? Geez. Neelkan grumps softly as he hears that
she was nearly killed and doesn't look one bit happy about that, then nods
as the healing is said to have been done. He looks over and then... bwah!?
She's asking for another chance? She really /does/ want to stay. Duel!?!?
His eyes widen and he has to force himself to keep his mouth shut, but it's
pretty obvious that he wants to run over there and keep them seperate. They
/can't/ fight again! He nearly killed her the last time!! Grr. Grr!

Raeth raises a brow, "So you want another duel?" Having finished her work,
the yellow walks back to other patients. Raeth takes a step foward and he's
almost in her face, "Are you sure about that, girl? You could be stark
naked for all I care." Raeth even eyes her up and down.

Zaidah has to keep herself from gasping. This was defiantely not something
she expected from the Amyrlin's Gaidin!! She doesn't though, she just
clenches her jaw a little, and narrows her eyes at him, looking him
straight in the eye no matter how much he's towering over her. She lets a
tiny little smirk brush her lips and says, "if that's what it takes, then
so be it." Without looking at the red and white haired trainee she puts a
halting hand out to him, knowing he might very well come over and try and
deck the Gaidin for that. And it's as much for his sake as for hers that
she tries to stop him at least a little. "What do you say? Too scared to
fight me a second time?"

Grrr. Grrr! Stop looking at her like that! Grrr. Neelkan is /not/ jealous,
he's just highly defensive of women (though he will never let anyone say
that without getting him mad) and expecially ones who are his friends,
which is what Zai is. Finally, after so long being silent he looks over at
Zai and says, "Zai, it's not worth it. Ya could a'ways petition t' join the
Amyrlin's Army." Yeah. Don't listen to the mean Gaidin.

Oddly, the gaidin smiles. Boy does he smile. He pulls away and chuckles,
"Do you really think that I care that you won Zaidah? I'm not invincible
and I never claimed it. I've been beaten on several occasions. It happens.
That fact that a girl, you, beats me in a spar doesn't bother me in the
least. I don't need to spar with you to know that I want you to stay. As a
matter of fact, " Raeth lowers his voice, "I never wanted to kick you out.
But I needed to be sure that my decision was a wise one. It seems you can
be disciplined after all." Raeth begins to walk out of the infirmary,
"You're staying. As for tower custom, we'll see what we can do. For now,
you're under my wing. You have a problem, you come to me. But you will get
punished and for the time being you are not to mention this to anyone." He
turns to Neelken and almost seems to smile, though the granite face is back
now. "Please, trainee. I'm surprised you didn't catch on sooner what I was
trying to do. If you even understand what I was trying to do." He shakes
his head at both of you.

"It's worth it to m-" Zaidah starts to shout at Neelkan, but Raeth's smile
stops her dead. "You... -want- me... to stay?" She stares at his back as he
starts to walk out, too shocked to be relieved or happy just yet. She gets
to stay?? She gets to stay!! No, must not show signs of elation. Must
remain calm. She has to keep it hidden for now? Does that mean- "Raeth
Gaidin," she calls after him, taking a step towards the door and the
exiting Gaidin. "Does that mean I still have to stay in the Guest Wing?" Oh
she hopes not.... but she will, if that's what it takes.

Huh? He had a plan? Color Neelkan stumped. He completely didn't notice, and
he'd be the first to admit to it. But when he turns on him and questions
him on it he just shrugs lightly and grumps. "I can ne'er tell with ya
Gaidin. I 'member getting dunked in a horse trough 'cause I was tryin' t'
protect a friend by one of ya. But ya made the right choice." He takes in a
breath and runs fingers through his hair, since he no longer has to force
himself to keep his fists in his pockets.

"Things are not always what they seems at first, trainee." Raeth says to
Neelkan. To Zaidah, "Yes, you'll have to stay in the guest wing, but you
are free to leave as you wish. No staying in the barracks of course. I'll
see you tomorrow morning in the practice yard. We a bit of training to do.
Let's see if I can train you to beat me. Also, I'll have nice and
unpleasant punishment for you by then."