06/06/2001

Well Neelkan, I hope you don't mind having your room usurped. Why isn't
Zaidah pacing up and down her own room? Because she's waiting for him to
come back of course! Raeth is gone, and this Gaidin is not pleased at all.
She needs to talk to the Amyrlin, find out what's going on, and if
necessary go get him and drag his ass back to the Tower. Pace. Pace. Pace.
Talking to his mom might not be a bad idea either. Well then what are you
doing here? Oh shut up! Don't ask vulgar questions.

Well, normally he would mind, but right now he's kind of in one of those
mindless moods. Neelkan probably wouldn't even mind if it was a non-fluke
woman pacing around in his room right now. He walks in, his facial
expression a rare serious tone to it. He blinks at the sight of another
person present, "Zai? What're ya doin' 'ere?" He closes the door behind him
and pulls off his cloak, trying to get the serious look off his face. He
doesn't want to ruin her mental image of him, ya know.

Tee hee. Did he just call her a fluke? That's so sweety. Zaidah barely
gives him a chance to get the words out before she throws a hug his way,
wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. "Neelkan!" After a moment she
grumbles, "what took you so long?" Despite her apparent disgruntlement she
doesn't let him go though, no matter how much he might protest. Muahahah!
Evil woman. Ok, not really. "It's Raeth." She pulls back and looks up at
him. "He's disappeared..."

Well, she kinda gained fluke status during that whole 'care about each
other' deal that they went through soon after he was bonded to Kaomi.
"Raeth's disappeared?" He says as he tries to pry her arms off him
unsucessfully. "Well, Zai, he's Kaomi's o'er Gaidin. She might've sent 'im
on a secret mission 'r somethin'. I don't know anythin' though." He really
doesn't know anything, but Kaomi's been kinda withdrawl for a while. "'n
could ya let go'a m' a'ready?"

Zaidah frowns and lets her arms drop. "You're so insensitive!" Oh, and
Zaidah is going ti win the caring, loving person of the year award? I don't
think so. "You could at least pretend to care." She drops into a chair
sideways, swinging one leg over the arm and letting the other rest on the
ground. Um... Zai... if you're so upset, why are you sticking arou-
Nevermind, I'd rather not get my face punched in if it's all the same to
you. Really.

Reaching up to scratch at his hair, Neelkan watches her sit down... ahem...
the way she does. That's hardly the way a proper lady should sit, and...
he's a guy, and... and she's a woman he rather likes. A lot. And is very
attracted to. And she's sitting like that... He looks away and clears his
throat, "I care! I just... Kaomi hasn't said anythin' t' m' yet, so I'm not
gonna panic 'til she does. 'n.. Anyway, why ya so worried 'bout 'im?" He
looks back at her, curious. (And is that a tinge of jealous in his
blue-green eyes? No... not at all...)

Oh I see! Hugging is a no no but he has no problem with exploiting her sex
kittenishness. Typical. Men. Zaidah doesn't seem to notice his discomfort
though one has to wonder if she can really be unconscious of it considering
how well she knows men in general. She could just be ignoring it because
she's mad at him. She looks at her fingernails in boredom "Fine... fine. I
guess I'm just going to have to go ask her myself." She glances up at him,
furrowing her brow slightly. "Huh? Why shouldn't I be worried about him?
You know how much he means to me." Oh? Does he? Zaidah... for someone who
is so worldly wise... sometimes you're a big dunce.

Hey! He looked away! What's he supposed to say 'Don't sit like that.'? Like
she'd ever listen to him. She only let go of him because she wanted to.
Stubborn women. "Ya d' 'at." Neelkan answers in response to her saying she
will go speak to Kaomi herself. He listens to what she has to say next,
then immediately turns around and goes over to his bed and plops down on
it, with his back to her. "Well, ye'h, I guess ya guys're... close 'n all.
Just..." He leans forward, resting his arms on his knees. He's not jealous
or anything. Really. He's not.

Zaidah blinks and watches him quietly, tilting her head to the side
slightly. "Neelkan? Just what?" Now what's his pro- No... no way! Suddenly
the female Gaidin is extremely... amused. "Why Neelkan..." She stands up
and slinks over to him, plopping down behind him and whispering softly in
his ear. "I do believe you're jealous." Heh. She's been there, and done
that before. It's kind of gratifying in a way... Maybe he really does care.
She toys with the idea of tormenting him a while longer... and decides
better of it. "Well don't be, pumpkin. Raeth is practically my big
brother." She reaches over and tousles his white streaked hair.

"I am not." Neelkan protests thickly, pulling away from her breath against
his ear. But if she looks close enough, she might see that goosebumps rose
on his neck when she did that. "Big brother, 'eh? It's just... I could
understand if ya... I mean... Raeth's a cool guy, 'n ya two did have... ya
know... had time t'gether. I just..." Arg. He's not good at this. He kinda
pulls away again, then adds, "So ya... get this worried o'er everyone ya...
care 'bout?"

Zaidah rolls up onto her knees and drapes her arms around his neck from
behind. Nope, she's not gonna let you keep pulling away pumpkin. "You big
idiot. Yes, Raeth is a cool guy but he's also 10 years older than I am,
hopelessly in love with Kaomi and far too straight laced for my tastes." If
he lets her she nips lightly at his earlobe. "I prefer guys who aren't
about as emotional as a rock, and who know how to have fun. Even if he is
really fun to torment." In fact that's what she was doing the last time she
saw him. She stops and peers at him from the side at his question and
grins. "Mmmmm hmmm. If it was you," she whispers, "I'd already be out the
door. I know I already told you you'd better not go on any secret missions
without me."

"He is a lil' stiff, ain't he?" Neelkan says with a small grin appearing.
"'n I'm not 'n idiot." He's just a little thick in the head. He does watch
her as she says the last part, trying to keep a straight face. Sometimes he
can be such a baby, but he's going to do his best to keep from blushing, or
giving a silly grin or anything that would be taken as too kidish. He's
almost twenty now, he should start acting like it. Definately. "I won't go
anywhere," he adds softly, then looks away and stands up.

Zaidah lets go of him so he doesn't end up giving her a piggy back ride or
something when he stands up. Not that that wouldn't be fun, but probably
isn't what he wants right now. "Just a little? He's as stiff as a..."
well... you probably don't want to know what Zaidah would compare him to...
c.c She grabs one of his pillows and hugs it to her chest. "So... then
where are you going?" Runnin away eh? "If you keep running too much you
know I'm going to have to start taking some drastic measures..." She grins
evilly. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

"I'm not runnin'. I just.. Ya came 'ere t' find out 'bout Raeth. Guess we
should go.. see Kaomi. She'll know what's goin' on." Neelkan runs hands
through his hair, then turns to face her. This... feeling thing is just so
insane. Zai may not be the only woman he loves (that whole love every woman
of the Tower wasn't a lie), but she's the only one who he's... been close
to. When not drunk. "'at is the only reason ya came t' see m' right?"

"Right... Yes! Of course! What was I thinking?" Heh. Well... I'll give you
one guess. Ahem! Anyway, she tosses the pillow aside and hops up. "Well?
What are you waiting for?" Women! She bursts out of the room and storms up
to the Amyrlin's Study.


Amyrlin's Study, White Tower, Tar Valon

A simple office, matching the temprament of the woman who works here. A
carving of a man balanced on one leg about to throw a javelin, done in
polished wood, is present on a small table. An old desk, battered and
comfortable rather than polished majesty, is present as well, along with a
few simple chairs. What need for externals when the woman herself is able
to provoke so much awe? Papers are kept in neat arrays across the desk, and
a few boxes, warded, hold sensative material.

Dominating the wall is a huge map with push pins within it, detailing the
movements of armies across the world. A supply of pins hangs from a bag
from the frame of the map. Black is for Dark armies, white for Light
armies, some with little flags detailing where each army originates: red
for Manetheran, etc. A soft blue rug covers the floor.


Is there a knock at the door? No, not really. Zaidah (and come to think of
it Neelkan as well) is one of those impulsive people who doesn't believe in
knocking. She she bursts into Kaomi's office without even really thinking
about it. "Mom...? Where's Raeth?" She doesn't beat around the bush eithe
does she? And did she just call Kaomi 'mom'? Why yes... yes she did.

Miss Gaidin doesn't believe in knocking, but Neelkan's approach could have
been felt fairly easily. He hangs in the doorway, looking at Zaidah oddly
as she calls Kaomi mom. He offers a small smile of apology, then steps
inside and closes the door behind him.

Wow. Neelkan could give her a lesson in manners? That's just scary.

Kaomi looks at them both for the longest time. Finally she turns from them,
shortly, and begins filing papers. Not with any particular vehemance. She
chooses her words carefully, so that all words are true: "That is
classified information, children." Because anything that has gone so
horribly wrong ought to be.

Well. That wasn't quite the answer Zaidah was hoping for. She frowns and
crosses her arms over her chest, tapping her foot slightly. "What could be
so classified that you have to hide it from your own Gaidin?" She gestures
to Neelkan. "I could understand if you didn't want to tell me... but..."
She glances at him, and then back to Kaomi. "Look. People are worried about
him. The least you can do is say you know where he is and that he's ok."

Neelkan for one isn't surprised by the answer, but when Zai gestures to
him, he scratches at his hair. He's more than a little insecure about this
sorta thing. He bonded during that whole love thing after all. "Ye'h.
People're worried." is his only comment. He's not really one of them. Raeth
seems like a guy who can totally take care of himself.

Kaomi says to her hands, "Denn'ryiel would like your bond, Neelkan. Would
you like that?" Her veneer is totally unconcerned, but her body language is
giving things away. Something has her totally upset, that's for sure, and
its not really the question.

Zaidah blinks. Don't panic. Don't panic. Don't- well since that plan isn't
going to work she might as well panic. "Wha-?!" She chokes off the last
syllabel and snaps her head back to look at Kaomi. It's his decision.
She'll... try to... be... mature abou- like hell she will. Instead of being
mature she narrows her eyes at Kaomi slightly, more in scruitiny, though
irritation is there as well. "You're dodging the issue. Do you even -know-
where he is??"

Talk about changing the subject. If Kaomi is totally upset, than Neelkan
has just joined her, and he's actually fairly good at hiding it, at least
from visual. He fidgets, and Zai having a panic moment doesn't help. He
looks from one woman to the next, trying to keep calm, then says, "'at
isn't really somethin' I can answer right now, Kaomi. 'n it's not.. the..
important thin' right now."

"I know where he is." The papers slam down on the desk, hard. But she's not
angry at either at you. "He's to the North. He's shut off his bond so I
can't really tell you more than that. We had a fight."

Neelkan's noncommitallness wounds Zaidah more than she would admit. But
then.. she knew what she was getting into when she started this. She on the
other hand doesn't do too good of a job of hiding it. All she can do is try
to push it away and think about something else. So instead she softens her
gaze slightly as she looks at Kaomi. "I'm... sorry. I didn't... I guess...
that would be a pretty good reason for him to make himself scarce.." Having
one's foot in one's mouth is such a pleasant experience. Of course it's not
difficult to know what she's thinking. That maybe someone should go after
him... North is the Blight right? But.. surely the fight wouldn't have been
so bad as to drive him there...

And Neelkan either has the same brain wavelength as Zai, or this is a
whicked coincidence, because he asks, "Would ya like m' t' go look f'r 'im?
I know, 'at I should stay 'ere 'n protect ya 'til he gets back 'n all,
but... whate'er 'is fight was... well... yer upset. 'n right now I think
it'd b' more in yer best.. uh.. interests 'n all if ya have some.. uh..
resolution?" He sounds like he's not even sure he's speaking the right
language. "I mean, with the war 'n stuff... headin' North can't b' safe. 'n
if I d' find 'em, I can always.. contact ya. 'at's not really somethin' a
lotta Gaidin can d'. Unless ya give 'em a ter'angreal... Uh..." He's
shutting up now. Really.

Kawaii!

Jaramide? Zaidah doesn't think about what she's saying. Words just start
coming out of her mouth. "Jaramide?? And you're not worried about this?!
What if Graendal is forcing him to unspeakable sex acts at this very mome-"
Oh wait.. that's probably not what Kaomi wanted to hear...

And that isn't what /Neelkan/ wanted to hear either! Thank you for that
mental picture Zai. "Uh..." He's just going to... stay very quite now. He
just offered to go into a place ruled by a psycho powerful woman evil
Forsaken wench. And he's the guy who has problems with regular powerless
women who aren't evil, aren't Foresaken and aren't always completely
psycho.

Kaomi gives Zaidah a look that could freeze trees. The look continues. Not
a blink. As if she's trying to coldly burn every ounce of skin off Zaidah's
face. Not worried? She's heartbroken. She's furious. She's hoping it isn't
true.

Well... that's one way to kill a conversation. Zaidah... fidgets. "But...
I'm sure she isn't." Can she dig a hole in the ground and stick her head in
it now? No? Well then she'll just have to take it like a... Gaidin. And
then it hits her that Neelkan just offered to go into a place ruled by a
psycho powerful woman evil Forsaken wench. "I'm going with you." Maybe that
will apease Kaomi before she eats her or something. Besides, there's no way
she's going to let Neel go alone.

During his silence, Neelkan started to draw together all his courage or
willpower, or whatever it is that keeps him running into danger to help
other people. And those other people are usually women. He's not doing this
for Raeth. He's doing this for Kaomi and Zai. "No, you're not." No accent.
Serious here. He turns to look at Zai, "I need you to stay here and protect
Kaomi, for me and Raeth both. I need to do this alone and I can't do it if
I have to worry about..." He cuts off. She'll kill him if he says he
doesn't want her going into danger. So he changes what he was going to say,
"Kaomi." Then he goes a little less serious and adds, (with accent),
"'sides, ya have a tendancy t'... distract m'."

Kaomi folds her hands in front of her. "There is a strong possibility he
has been compulsed. Though that may be wishful thinking on my part: that
compulsion is the only reason he would...act as he has acted. If he
has...he's not exactly hoping on a rescue attempt." She speaks calmly, as
if she didn't just try to stare Zaidah dead.

Damn skippy she'd kill him. Well... ok, not kill. But she'd hurt him, a
-lot-. Or at least make him sleep on the couch. As it is when he says she
isn't she glares at him furiously, but... well... she really can't argue
with his logic. She... really does have a tendency to distract... and the
Amyrlin can hardly be left without anyone to guard her. She listens to the
compulsion bit and then looks at Neelkan. "Burn it burn it burn it." She
walks over to him and roughly cups his face in her hands planting a kiss on
his lips before she says, "if you don't come back, I'm coming after you."
Then she lets him go and walks over to lean up against Kaomi's desk. "Looks
like you've got a new shadow, Amyrlin." No, she's not happy at all, but she
doesn't know what else to do about it.

Ack! She had to kiss him in front of Kaomi! The whole 'cool' demenor fades
and his cheeks get flushed. Neelkan's blue-green eyes move towards his ward
and he clears his throat, "Yes, well... I wouldn't 'xpect anythin' else."
He says to Zai's threat to come after him. Guess Kaomi knows why he's
reluctent to get his bond changed over. Or, one of the reasons at least. "I
should.. go get ready. Ya can come up with whate'er reason ya want f'r m'
absense. Just 'long as ya don't say I went t' check on m' family." His sis
would see right through that. "I'm gonna.. uh... go get ready. Yeah." He
said that already. And with it repeated again, he straightens his coat and
starts towards the door.

Kaomi scratches her head, confused. She nearly stops Neelkan. She doesn't
want to loose two Gaidin...And then..."Wait." The voice is quiet command,
though he could tell through the bond that she actually /does/ care what
happens to him. Just...in that sort of good friend way. But that's okay.
Neelkan's got plenty of people kissing him!

Zaidah grins at his blushing. But she keeps quiet. She's too worried to
tease him about it right now. So she'll just be a good Gaidin and hush and
let the Aes Sedai talk.

Hey, not that many right now! Really! Neelkan stops immediately, and a few
years ago he would have probably kicked himself for following a woman's
command so quickly... He turns around and looks at her. "Waitin'." He
responds, trying to make himself sound light hearted for a few moments. No
use making Kaomi more upset as he's going.

Kaomi fishes a small object out of her belt pouch. It looks like three
white interlocking bracelets. "If you're captured, make sure you try and
downplay that this is a ter'angreal. Make sure you fight for it. Make sure
they get it off of you. You want them to think this is so wonderful, so
powerful, so profound that Graendal will just /have/ to try it."

Woah! Woah wait a sec! He's -supposed- to get captured?? Zaidah's face
darkens but she bites down on her tongue to keep from saying (or shouting)
anything. This is important. He can take care of himself. Really. He can.
She's just... absolutely terrified for him. Can you blame a girl?

"A'right..." Neelkan walks over and takes the ter'angreal. He holds the
interlocking bracelets for a few minutes, then opens up a small pocket in
the inside of his coat and puts it in there nice and secure. "If it comes
t' 'at, ya can count on m'." He doesn't even ask what it does. He probably
doesn't want to know. He pauses for a long moment, then moves forward and
hugs his Amyrlin. "Don't worry. E'en if I did know how t' block myself from
ya, I wouldn't. Ya'll have t' suffer through e'ery blister." He winks,
joking. It may sounds cruel, but then at least she'll know if he /does/ get
captured or in a fight. He pulls away, trying not to make a big deal out of
the hug and looks to Zai one last time, "Ya can use m' room as a place t'
pace anytime ya want while I'm gone, but I better find e'erythin' in the
same place."

Kaomi hugs Neelkan tightly, looking...well.../old/. "Good. I'd want to,"
she says softly. "Though I apologize in advance for the flash-headaches."
As if you haven't felt the first hundred, and the throwing up that goes
with them.

Zaidah doesn't look at them as they hug. She doesn't want to think about
it, though it's probably a rather similar reaction to his when she went off
about being worried about Raeth. "Thanks," she mutters softly, looking out
the window. It's amazing that either of them gets any sleep what with
Neelkan's dreams and Kaomi's responsibilities. She'd prefer Kaomi to
Denn'ryiel as his bond any day though. Well... if she had a say it in that
is. "I'll try to clean up after any wild parties I have there." She's
joking. Really she is.

"Ya do 'at." Neelkan says to Zai, then goes towards the door again. Since
it's unlikely there will be any protests this time, he heads out, leaving
the two women to... be women. They better not talk about him while he's out
of the room.