Measure for Measure (Attn: Alianora)

A place for the Learning Ranks to socialize and mingle.
Jack
"Lord of Chaos"
Posts: 470
Joined: May 25th, 2015, 9:01 pm
PC: Malcym Ashe

Measure for Measure (Attn: Alianora)

Post by Jack » September 26th, 2020, 5:02 am

Ji'val Jessa Sember (NPC) The Grey Tower could be a place of solid secrets, wrapped up in iron and steel with no way to pierce their heart short of an Earthsinger. After all, the Hall of Sitters protected the learning ranks from certain truths, including the possibility of Darkfriends and Black Ajah in their midst, of certain actions committed in the name of the Light.

But the learning ranks -- that was a sieve of rumors and information swapped in circles of Soldiers and Novices and Drin, of the middle ranks. Such information mutated which each new telling, so warped that it barely reflected the truth.

And some of the rumors rippling through the learning ranks involved a certain Novice Catasina.

Eyes watched as the Novice passed one day, with many Soldiers cocking their heads slightly, a few Drin wondering and whispering and many a gaggle of Novices giggling. Even the middle ranks that occasionally passed her in the halls whispered quietly.

A few were a little too loud.

“ ... heard that Malcym Ashe called her a simpleton, set her up as a patsy ...” one Novice said in passing, blushing when she realized she spoke too loudly.

“... Master Ashe said she was a pretty face and nothing more, just a passing fancy ...” a Soldier said in passing one time.

“ ... a rubbish noble brat who whimpers at even the slightest misplacement of a strand of hair, too delicate to be a real Aes Sedai someday, that’s what Malcym Ashe said ...”

The rumors kept on going, as varied, as insulting ... all with the genesis: Malcym Ashe.

“ ... heard he was in a small courtyard near the Yards with a young woman, devising something devious ...”

And the Jessa appeared as if by sheer coincidence, her red hair drawn into a single braid as she saw her intended target. She walked quietly down the corridor, as if deep in thought while reading a ledger.

It’d been almost two weeks since the prank the Novice and bloody Drin had earned her a black mark with her master, had made her itch all over and at least nearly a week before she realized her own bedding had also been infected with the bloody itchweed in addition to her clothing.

And in that time, that bloody fool of a Drin had managed to land a successful series of blows during their spars together. Jessa had to resist the urge to beat him to death.

No, this plan worked better. It would be more effective and -- well drive a wedge between any developing friendship the Novice and the Drin before it had even formed. And the information her friend Kass had pulled up from old connections had yielded one interesting tidbit of information ... one Jessa could subvert to her own needs.

And so she bumped into the Novice and frowned at first, looking her up and down ... before her look softened as passersby snickered.

“Novice Catasina, aren’t you? Your Malcym Ashe’s ‘friend’ aren’t you?” she asked, stressing the irony in the word friend. “You poor dear, but that man is just awful. He spreads the worst rumors ... he even started ones about me harming animals.”

Jessa was by nature a good actor, and could feign sympathy with the best of them. She added irritation to her voice, mixed in with actual loathing and contempt for the bloody Drin.

“Not surprising, given what his past is full of,” she said. She glanced at the ledger in her hand. “I was about to report information I was handed about the Drin.” She frowned. “Maybe you don’t want to know, it would be for the best ...”

All the while, learning ranks went by the pair, whispering as they glanced at the Novice.
Jerid Walker Asha'man
"We all suffer. It's how we move past it that defines us."

Alianora
"The Path of Daggers"
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Joined: May 2nd, 2016, 8:32 pm
PC: Liaran Sedai, Blue Ajah
SC: Amaranie Sedai, Indigo Ajah
TC: Kalyan Rihera, Yellow Ajah

Re: Measure for Measure (Attn: Alianora)

Post by Alianora » October 4th, 2020, 8:22 pm

Catasina do Moerin a'Mathira, Novice
Catasina held her head high as she walked to class, heedless of the whispers, giggles and stares. She rather enjoyed being seen as important enough for gossip about her to be spreading through the novice halls, even if most of the talk wasn't exactly positive. What did occupy Catasina's thoughts as she moved, however, was the person reputed to have been responsible for the rumors, the Drin who called himself Mal. They weren't friends, at least not as far as Catasina was concerned. At most, she thought of the man as a convenient ally, and couldn't understand why he felt the need to talk about her in such a way. Many times, she'd considered going to the Warder Yards to confront him about it, but life as a novice just didn't allow her much free time.

She sighed in annoyance, feet moving faster, and raised a hand to tuck a stray hair back into the braided crown she wore today. That brought another round of the laughter and the whispering, both of which Catasina ignored. She moved through the Tower with only half her attention on the path she took, which was why she didn't notice the redheaded Ji before bumping into the other woman. The novice made a quick apology, then looked up. When she recognized the Ji, Catasina wanted to hurry away. Seeing her, she could practically smell the stables all over again, and it took her a great deal of effort not to wrinkle her nose at the memory. Since then, she'd overheard the woman being called Jessa, and had done her best to avoid her, until right now.

The Ji frowned, and Catasina bobbed the smallest curtsy she could manage. When she rose, Jessa's expression had changed to one that almost looked like pity. Catasina wouldn't have thought someone so quick with a shovel of manure would have any familiarity with that emotion. She arched an eyebrow as Jessa spoke to her. She wasn't Malcym Ashe's anything, but she did trust his word further than she trusted Jessa's, if not by very much. Still, Catasina listened with interest to the Ji's claims, her expression one of wide-eyed curiosity that wasn't entirely feigned.

When Jessa spoke of information she'd learned about the Drin, Catasina immediately wanted to find out what it was, if only because she almost always preferred knowing something to not knowing. The novice tilted her head slightly, raising a hand to check that she hadn't lost any pins from her hair. "Malcym Ashe isn't my friend," she informed the Ji. She felt no guilt about saying so, since it was true. Certainly, what he'd been saying about her suggested strongly that he felt the same. Catasina shrugged a shoulder and asked lightly, "What do you know?"

Jack
"Lord of Chaos"
Posts: 470
Joined: May 25th, 2015, 9:01 pm
PC: Malcym Ashe

Re: Measure for Measure (Attn: Alianora)

Post by Jack » October 6th, 2020, 1:08 am

Jessa squashed the impulse to smile as her seeds began to bear fruit. The Novice was indeed now hooked, given the curious expression she had painted on her pretty face.

The Ji also knew better than to tip her hand too much. The girl might be impressionable, but she had also proven devious enough to pull her little stunt with Malcym Ashe.

Instead of simply divulging the information upon asking, Jessa pursed her lips, as if weighing whether the Novice should be privy to such information.

All the while, the tittering and chuckling continued around them, little comments designed to further aggravate this child. Of course, such comments had to be placed and spoken carefully so that Malcym Ashe would not catch wind of them. It was fortuitous that the man had been kept in the Yards in training.

The drin had a self-righteous streak a mile wide and there would be havoc to pay if he caught wind of the rumors being spread about this Novice, especially if his name was attached to that wave of falsehoods.

That one little possible hitch aside, rumors were easy to spread in the Tower’s underclass of trainees. It was a proverbial henhouse, and every rooster and hen seemed bent on pecking others into submission in order to rise to the top.

It’s how Jessa had to manage even before coming to the Grey Tower and after. If not for her patron, she might not have had the fortitude to survive.

After a moment the Ji looked like she had overcome a moral dilemma. She thumbed through the ledger’s pages and shook her head.

“Well, young Master Ashe was a soldier in Murandy’s royal army reported to be ‘efficient’ in carrying out orders handed down from the king’s court in Lugard,” she said. Anyone who knew anything about politics was astute enough to know the crown controlled much of anything beyond Lugard, but a royal army still had teeth, however small its presence.

“Turns out he and a small company he was assigned to was involved in some ... unpleasant business over many years. Most are only half-whispers, but some contacts I developed managed to track down one solid piece of evidence.” Her mouth twisted in disgust. “A unit of that company was responsible for an incident that involved the massacre of an entire Tuatha’an caravan, men, women and children all slaughtered before they could even run. A unit your young Master Ashe led.”

Oh, it was very easy to lie, but infinitely more rewarding to weave half-truths and omissions in among those lies. “I was on my way to deliver the report to my training Gaidin in the hopes that he might be discharged from this august place, but my fear is even that won’t be enough.”

Jessa shook her head and murmured, “Unless someone actually confronts him about this and all his other antics since arriving here, including rumormongering, the Yard leadership might not take action.”

The Ji’s provided convenient timing that a small gaggle of Novices and Soldiers came waddling by, with one Soldier throwing out a very profound and disparaging comment.

“.... poor silly Novice wouldn’t even be brave enough to call him out on these rumors. She should just return home and play with her dolls until she’s married off ...”

A Novice snickered and chirped in. “ ... saw him with a pretty young woman right now near the Warder Yards, overheard them chatting about what else is wrong with her ... and how to spread those.”

Jessa glared at the small group, who were only too quick to hasten their steps away. "I must beg your pardon, Novice, but the Gaidin really needs this report," she said with some sympathy. "I pray the Creator provides you the resolve you'll need in dealing with this malicious drin."
Jerid Walker Asha'man
"We all suffer. It's how we move past it that defines us."

Alianora
"The Path of Daggers"
Posts: 997
Joined: May 2nd, 2016, 8:32 pm
PC: Liaran Sedai, Blue Ajah
SC: Amaranie Sedai, Indigo Ajah
TC: Kalyan Rihera, Yellow Ajah

Re: Measure for Measure (Attn: Alianora)

Post by Alianora » October 19th, 2020, 8:06 pm

Catasina do Moerin a'Mathira, Novice
Though Catasina's expression didn't change, what Jessa claimed about Malcym Ashe's life before the Tower didn't bother the novice much. Who cares if a caravan of Tinkers got themselves killed? She tilted her head, looking at the Ji, and wondered why anyone would have a problem with a unit of the army following orders. She just didn't see anything wrong with that, and it bothered her, just a little, that Jessa wanted Mal removed from the Grey Tower over it. Catasina eyed the Ji warily, wishing she knew what the redhaired woman was thinking. She even considered whether she should tell Mal what Jessa was thinking, until she was distracted by the gossip of a group of passing learning ranks.

I don't owe that man anything, she decided, irritated by what she'd overheard. They thought she wasn't brave enough to confront the source of the rumors? Catasina instantly became determined to do just that. The class she had at this hour, a useless waste of time thinking about flowers and rivers, would just have to do without her. She smiled sweetly at Jessa as the Ji commented that she really needed to deliver her report. "Of course, I wouldn't wish to keep you," Catasina said.

She really had had no desire to keep talking to the woman, anyways, so she quickly moved on down the hallways, a singular goal in her mind. The stares and whispers of other learning ranks continued as she hurried through the halls, and Catasina did her best not to listen to them. Finally, she reached a door she knew well, one that would open to a pathway that was close enough to the Warder Yards for her to see them without actually being in the forbidden area.

Catasina stepped out onto the path and walked along it as far as she dared, holding up the edge of her white skirt to keep it out of the dust. When she stopped, she studied what she could see of the Warder Yards. She doubted she could view all of them from where she stood, but as she looked around, she found she could see enough. As she'd heard someone mention during her conversation with Jessa, she thought she spotted Mal in the company of a small, dark haired woman she didn't know. They were in the Warder Yards, of course, but Catasina didn't let that stop her from moving closer to the pair. She was already skipping class, so breaking another rule to deal with the rumor-spreading Drin right now was perfectly acceptable to her.

Jack
"Lord of Chaos"
Posts: 470
Joined: May 25th, 2015, 9:01 pm
PC: Malcym Ashe

Re: Measure for Measure (Attn: Alianora)

Post by Jack » October 19th, 2020, 11:34 pm

Malcym Ashe Mal’s eyes and ears were honed in on his companion, watching every movement of her hands, every facial expression ... every rare word she uttered.

It was a difficult task to maintain because the world wanted to rush in, overwhelm him. The last few days had been difficult enough, with every sensation wanting to assault the young soldier.

His little sister visiting, here and now, made it more bearable. Barely a year separated the two and they were extremely close.

The young woman, Amberlee Ashe, sitting across from him was so similar to him that they could be mistaken for twins, if not for her hazel eyes, black hair and the fact she was much shorter.

Amber had come to visit a brother she hadn’t seen in years.
Most of their “talk” had been about family: stepfather’s business, mother’s career as a teacher, their half-brother’s success in becoming a recognized person in Lugard society.

Much of their conversation was done in silence, signing back and forth questions, answers and news. Amber was nearly deft, with little ability to hear. She could speak, but her words were slightly disturbed given the inability to hear, and so preferred the language of hands.

And then she delivered the news about her looming marriage.

“Light, but you’re going to marry Alric a'Roihan?” he said, a bit too loud. “Light, but that pup couldn’t take two steps without tripping!”

Such words uttered in Lugard or other cities in Murandy might have earned him a stern look at best or a lashing at worst. The a’Roihan family was one of the nation’s most prolific and influential families, both within the lands they ruled and in Lugard. They had the king’s ear.

And were wealthy beyond note after their lands yielded rich alum deposits.

Amber punched his shoulder and then rapidly signed. He’s nice and he hasn’t tripped since he was twelve. His father employed a dancer and a fighter for him. And he’s cute.

And we eloped already, the marriage ceremony is just formality.

“You eloped?” he said again, too loudly, earning him another punch. “Alright, he’s nice and a good match. And you two have been friends since forever.”

Amber flushed and asked about him, more specifically about a Murandian Novice. You mentioned her in your last letter. A noble who was very detailed. Are you ...

Mal shook his head. “I could never ... Catasina is a noble Amberlee, and detailed in every way. She’s cute, yes, and it was nice to plot with her, she’s smart in her own way and the type who rise to Aes Sedai rapidly if she sees fit to apply herself ...”

You like her, Amber signed, a mischievous smirk on her lips.

“I respect her ...” His mouth clicked shut the second he caught the scent of a familiar person. He might have been so attuned to his sister in terms of sight and hearing, but that changed the second the breeze delivered the Novice’s scent.

He heard footfalls and with it the buzz of the nearby Yards, the sight of all the surrounding trainees ... and a very ... well there was no word to describe Catasina as she approached.

“Iz tat herr?” Amber said, her speech impediment by a life of near-silence. Mal nodded absently as he stood and moved to greet her.

“Lady Catasina, what brings you to the ... umm ... this is my sister, the Lady Amberlee nee’Ashe a’Roihan ...” In those brief moments that his hearing opened up, he picked up the snickering along with half a dozen mocking comments from nearby trainees and channelers. Rumors about her ... untrue ones that made his blood suddenly boil.

Mal opened his mouth as if to apologize, or even provide condolences ... when familiar scents assaulted his nose. One he honed in on, causing him to look past the Novice toward a very familiar Ji moving quickly, holding a bucket. The other scent ... was the bittersweet odor of a berry he was very familiar with and had no other purpose other than ...

Instinct kicked in and he launched himself at the Novice, enveloping her in a tight embrace as he spun the pair about. Mal quickly disentangled the pair and was about to push Catasina away from him as the bucket of sticky pink berry juice splashed over them both.

Sadly, a second, third and fourth bucketload splashed from either side or above them, covering both Tower trainees and the Drin’s sister in a heavy cascade of pink berry ooze. Mal fell to the earth with enough momentum to pull the Novice ...

“Hah! That’s for the itchweed and for my master’s discomfort and anger,” the Ji’s fleeting voice rang. “Too bad about all those rumors about your Novice!”
Jerid Walker Asha'man
"We all suffer. It's how we move past it that defines us."

Alianora
"The Path of Daggers"
Posts: 997
Joined: May 2nd, 2016, 8:32 pm
PC: Liaran Sedai, Blue Ajah
SC: Amaranie Sedai, Indigo Ajah
TC: Kalyan Rihera, Yellow Ajah

Re: Measure for Measure (Attn: Alianora)

Post by Alianora » October 23rd, 2020, 2:03 am

Catasina do Moerin a'Mathira, Novice
Bracing herself for the upcoming confrontation, Catasina moved quickly towards the target of her annoyance. She could still hear the quiet gossip that seemed to be following everywhere she went. Upon reaching the pair, Catasina had planned to demand that he stop spreading rumors about her immediately, but instead, Mal somehow managed to address her first. He spoke politely to her, even introducing his sister just as if she were there for nothing but socialization. The novice gripped her skirts tightly in both hands and glared at the Drin in frustration before turning away from him towards the small woman he'd named as his sister. The a'Roihan name was one she knew, a powerful and wealthy family far above her own, and if Mal's sister was married into that family, the woman deserved the respect due to a lady of her position. She let go of her skirts, meaning to acknowledge her politely, when she felt something grab hold of her.

Catasina shrieked a wordless objection when she realized that it was not something clinging to her, but someone. That someone was Mal, holding her close to him in a way that was extremely improper. She opened her mouth to demand that he let go of her right now, but instead of speaking words, she got a mouthful of something sweet, sticky.....and disgusting. She wasn't sure what it was, but it was cold, wet, and by the time she landed on her back on the ground, she was almost entirely covered in slimy pink stuff. Gagging, the novice turned her head to the side and spit out what had been in her mouth, raising a hand to try to stop anyone else from seeing her do so.

She sat up, shook her head, and immediately regretted the motion as drops fell from her hair and rolled down her back. It was then that she saw that her white dress was stained pink in places, some more vivid than others, and a look at her hands revealed that even her skin seemed to have acquired the color. She scowled, but not at Mal. Mere irritation with him had been replaced by true fury at a certain Ji who was entirely too well acquainted with nasty substances. It hit her then that Jessa had known they'd both be here from their conversation in the hallway, and Catasina sat still, silently fuming as she began to put the pieces together. From that encounter, to the aggravation that had led her here to deal with Mal, and now this mess.....she understood, then, that she'd been manipulated into coming here, exactly where Jessa had wanted her. Catasina couldn't decide whether she was more furious with the Ji or with herself for her own stupidity.

She sighed and reached for her skirt, pinching the wet material between finger and thumb to pull it away from her legs. A glance to the side told her that neither Mal nor his sister had managed to avoid the stuff either. The novice winced as something else occurred to her. She looked towards Mal and said quietly, "I've been hearing all these rumors about me, supposedly heard from you.....you never started any of them, did you?" It was very clear to her that she'd fallen right into the trap Jessa had set for them, and the red in Catasina's cheeks had nothing to do with the berry juice that covered her.

Jack
"Lord of Chaos"
Posts: 470
Joined: May 25th, 2015, 9:01 pm
PC: Malcym Ashe

Re: Measure for Measure (Attn: Alianora)

Post by Jack » October 23rd, 2020, 8:20 pm

The presence of the sticky substance that covered Malcym Ashe’s clothes and skin all but blinded him — somewhat literally — to common sense. A fury very he had endured only a handful of times in the past raged through him.

It was almost grounds for him to pursue that blasted Ji responsible for this predicament — for this whole mess — but a few things stopped him. The fact that he was covered in a pink berry --- ooze for want of a better word was one of them; pride wasn’t an issue so much as having to explain himself to any Gaidin he might run into in the course of strangling Jessa Sember.

The second was more immediate as he carefully tried to removed the substance partially blocking his vision. Silver-blue eyes peered from a pink-stained face, landing immediately on the young woman in front of him.

Mal knew from their last experience with Jessa the level of embarrassment and discomfort their current scenario had likely brought to Catasina. It was one of the reasons he had tried to spin her about so she would not bear the brunt of the blasted goop. He just hadn’t counted on three other sources coming from different directions.

“Are you okay,” he asked sincerely, not even hearing her question at first. Concern replaced fury and he leaned forward instinctively. “Are you hurt?”

The logical rationale for asking might be obvious for most: A warder in training had cause for concern over a channeler’s wellbeing. Only one might show much concern beyond that without first reporting to a superior after ensuring the channeler was safe.

Instead, Mal was kneeling beside the Novice, mere inches from her, making visual observations even as her question finally registered in his mind. A hundred other emotions remained buried - anger of having been caught unaware by Jessa, disappointment and humiliation for not being more vigilant about the Ji following his and Catasina’s prior caper, shame for either the Novice or his sister being caught in this most recent prank.

“What rumors ...” and his eyes flashed with ... an indescribable emotion similar as he recalled the last whispers from the strolling group prior to being doused by Jessa and her unknown accomplices.

“What rumors did they plant? I’ve been in training and drills the past few days,” he said simply, still observing her. “If I had found any cause or fault with you, Lady, you would be the first to know and it would have been done in private, out of earshot of any capable of rumormongering.”

Alone.

That was also another disconcerting matter: the small courtyard was now eerily absent of anyone but the trio of pranked victims. Perhaps the only saving grace was that Amberlee was a victim -- and the wrong one to boot. Aside from now carrying the a’Roihain name and influence, she had earned a reputation in Lugard’s middle class as being irredeemably honest and blunt.

“Oh light, Amberlee ...” his eyes flickered toward his sister, only to find that the small young woman was already standing, carefully and stoically observing her now stained gowns. The garments were cut for a high-class merchant’s family, but elegant nonetheless. And now what modest refinements they had were ruined.

Mal hesitated in standing, however, and a look from his sister stopped any such notion. It was a look often worn by their mother prior to launching into a lecture or issuing a punishment.

Instead, Amber came to them and carefully knelt beside the pair.

“Awr yoo okay,” she said, her voice a bit loud. She was looking more at the Novice than at her brother. Both were very familiar with ichoberry juice; both had pranked the other with it on occasion when they were children.

But this was a very different scenario. And without waiting for a response, she signed very deliberately at Mal. That’s the one who you doused with itchweed after that stable incident?

Yes he signed back. And then he instinctively responded verbally. He looked at Catasina and murmured, “Amberlee is mostly deaf. She can read lips and speak, but the language of hands is something she’s most comfortable with.”

The young noblewoman paid no heed to her brother’s explanation, instead turning toward the Novice and carefully pushing aside any plastered strands of hair. “You poor dear,” she said slowly, methodically and with genuine concern of that shown to a younger sister.”

Her hazel eyes landed back on Mal and she signed furiously. You have baths for the female trainees in this place? Are they nearby, empty of people at this time? Mal could only nod before she continued. Then take her there at once and then find some suitable clothes for her while she cleans herself in private. You can suffer until after because this is your fault.

“My fault?” he asked incredulously. “I wasn’t the one to throw ...” Amberlee shut him up with a sharp punch to the shoulder and a glaring look.

Mal didn’t argue further, instead looking back at Catasina. He offered a hand and murmured, “My sister bids me to escort you to the female training ranks baths and fetch you clean clothing while you wash in seclusion. It will be empty at this time of day, though the baths are kept prepared even though I understand the water is a bit tepid.
Jerid Walker Asha'man
"We all suffer. It's how we move past it that defines us."

Alianora
"The Path of Daggers"
Posts: 997
Joined: May 2nd, 2016, 8:32 pm
PC: Liaran Sedai, Blue Ajah
SC: Amaranie Sedai, Indigo Ajah
TC: Kalyan Rihera, Yellow Ajah

Re: Measure for Measure (Attn: Alianora)

Post by Alianora » October 29th, 2020, 1:47 am

Catasina do Moerin a'Mathira, Novice
Still seated on the ground, Catasina attempted to wipe the slimy stuff from her face onto the underside of one of her sleeves, one of the few parts of her dress that wasn't covered. Unfortunately for her, she accomplished nothing more than dirtying the fomerly white material, while somehow, her skin still felt sticky. The feeling was just as awful as the manure had been, if in a different way, and Catasina wasn't sure that even a good scrubbing would rid her of it. Looking down, the novice observed that while she rather preferred the pink of her dress over its usual white, none of the Aes Sedai were likely to agree.

She sighed, frustrated and angry with herself, only turning her head when she heard Mal's voice from somewhere beside her. His face was as pink as her hands were, and she guessed he wasn't any happier than she was. Instead of answering the question she'd asked, he surprised her by asking if she was all right. Catasina nodded. "I'm not hurt," she told him. She was disgusted by it, and still embarrassed at how she'd walked right into it, but the only damage done was to her pride.

The man beside her appeared to be thinking for a few moments, and when he spoke again, it was to ask her what rumors meant. Catasina didn't speak immediately, wondering how it was possible that he hadn't heard anything of them when they'd followed her on her way through the entire Tower. Blinking at him, she explained what had been said about her, and how it had all been attributed directly to him. She merely nodded at his response. She really didn't know him, had no idea whether Mal was the type to spread gossip or not, yet, Catasina felt a kind of relief at his claim that it wasn't something he would do.

When he turned towards his sister, whose presence Catasina had nearly forgotten, the novice also turned to the other woman. Catasina let out a gasp at the sight of the Lady a'Roihan's obviously ruined dress. She fully expected the woman to be upset over it, but without complaint, she joined the two of them and surprised Catasina by addressing her. The lady had a strange way of speaking, her words not quite pronounced correctly, and it took Catasina some time to understand her meaning. Once she did, of course, she answered. "I'm fine," she said, unsure why the other woman was asking.

Then the woman turned away from her, moving her hands in a way that appeared deliberate, though Catasina had no clue what she was doing. The novice blinked, her confusion increasing when Mal did something similar with his own hands. She must have looked as confused as she felt, because Mal then looked at her and explained that his sister was deaf, and that she used her hands to speak. Catasina had never heard of such a thing before, and watched the pair with interest.

When Amberlee moved towards her and reached for her hair, Catasina stared up at her, shocked. She froze, sitting completely still while the woman pushed loose strands of her wet hair back into her braid. She wasn't offended, but simply unused to being cared for this way, and Catasina had no idea how to respond.

Eventually, the other two went back to talking with their hands, leaving Catasina clueless about what they were saying. They seemed to genuinely enjoy each other's company, and the novice wondered what it was like to actually get along with a sibling. When Mal offered his hand, she took it and stood, then let go, nodding her agreement with what he said. She definitely needed a bath, and so did they, but Catasina decided it would have to wait for a while longer.

She looked up, fixing her grey eyes on Mal's bluer ones. "You should know that I was talking to Jessa earlier." she said. Catasina was sure her cheeks were turning even redder with her embarrassment. "Since it was her, I don't know how much truth there is to anything she said, but she told me she was going to try to get you dismissed from the Warders." Catasina looked down then, mentally cursing herself for ever being fool enough to believe anything the Ji said.

Jack
"Lord of Chaos"
Posts: 470
Joined: May 25th, 2015, 9:01 pm
PC: Malcym Ashe

Re: Measure for Measure (Attn: Alianora)

Post by Jack » October 29th, 2020, 7:49 pm

Malcym tilted his head briefly as Catasina stood, his silver-blue eyes curious about the Novice’s ... surprise when his sister had fussed over her.

Social niceties and hierarchy was one thing, especially if Amberlee now belonged to a prominent family in Murandy’s noble families, one that obviously ranked higher than Catasina’s. But Mal briefly suspected that it was something more than that.

But then again he could be wrong and his experience with noble families ranged from passing respect to people and even families he downright disliked. A perk of being a soldier was that he only had to deal with nobles only if they were his commanding officer or if his battalion was ordered to patrol their lands.

Mal kept such suspicions regarding Catasina’s reticence to himself. Assumptions, he learned, could be dangerous things when unchecked or voiced.

The young soldier cast a glance toward his younger sister, but the small woman was now fretting over her gown, her hazel eyes flashing and the corners of her mouth slightly tightened. Likely wondering how she was going to explain it to her ladies-in-waiting no doubt, or to the few armsmen that accompanied her on the travel from Murandy.

Amberlee’s gaze snapped at the pair and she briefly considered shooing them when the Novice spoke.

Mal’s eyes were intently focused on Catasina then, meeting those grey eyes with such an intense focus.

The drin frowned slightly and murmured, “I would not put it past her, especially if she perceives it as one more thing she can do to avenge a slight.” He shook his head and added, “But I fear that she would need to possess some pretty condemning evidence to move the needle in that direction, over the fact that I’ve stepped on toes of the likes of the Captain-General and survived intact.”

Not his finest moment and something that earned him an annoyed smack on the shoulder from his sister, who had been reading his lips.

“Idiot,” Amberlee said. Her pink-stained hands flashed fast, with orders to translate.

Mal cringed and murmured, “She says ‘Rushing into things and shoving your boot in your mouth is what gets you into trouble every time, Malcym Ashe, so be methodical before you act after this incident.’”

The young woman placed a hand on his shoulder and spared the Novice a kind look before signing again briefly. See you at dinner tonight, brother. She then headed toward a set of doors, where her ladies would be waiting.

Mal’s mind barely registered the silent comment, his mind already on Catasina’s words. He saw the look that flushed an already pink set of cheeks, and the embarrassment in her voice.

His silver-blue eyes softened and he quietly lifted a stained finger to her pinkish chin, lifting it so he could meet her eyes.

“We both are victims to such actions on that Ji’s part, so do not feel blame or embarrassment,” he said softly. “In my first few weeks here, Jessa played nice and acted the ‘welcoming new friend’ type -- and then I kinda of came out top on an training exercise to track down a hunter, a slight because her Gaidin mentor was the one to arrange the exercise.”

“She found out my weakness -- being a soldier trying to prove himself in a new army -- and she became ruthless whenever we were assigned to spar one another. For every rare blow I might have landed, she returned savagely.”

His eyes lingered on the Novice’s grey gaze and he smiled briefly. “She knows how to target what makes us insecure and she preys on it — lets it fester until it becomes infected and then goes for the kill, like she did just now,” he murmured. “And with you ... she made one grievous error: She sees you as just another noble concerned about her own public image. I see a young, intelligent woman with a singular focus and attention to detail -- and a determination to see things done to the end.”

Mal stepped away then, putting a few paces between them. “Which is why you’ll likely here things about me given her nature and given what you told me of her intent. She would not air them without purpose and she does not lie when she can subvert the truth, and I can imagine what she will likely circulate, including something about a Tinker caravan ...”

Mal’s gaze ... didn’t harden, but steeled itself for whatever reaction the Novice might provide.

“It was nearly four years ago, when I was a young corporal. I served in the king’s army of Murandy ... THE army, sworn to the throne and not some major lord who could maintain his or her own force,” he said. “Most nobles scoff at the notion, but it was said the king wanted to consolidate power -- turn Murandy into a true nation that could rebuff the influences of Andor, Illian or Tear ... and possibly rule with the nobles instead of trying to counter their petty infighting.”

Mal knew his own nation’s reputation. While he may have born in Mayene, he was raised a Murandian since he was only a year old. Mayene was much like Altara, the throne did not control much beyond the capital and noble families only paid lip service.

“As a courtesy to a middling noble family with wide reach and international connections, my company was assigned to patrol his lands,” he murmured. “The High Seat saw himself a benefactor of the ‘downtrodden’ and allowed a caravan of the Tuatha’an’ to settle on unused land. In return, children from surrounding villages and hamlets were provided education — letters, numbers, history and healing, the natural arts.”

Mal clasped his hands behind his back ... more to hind the fact that he was clenching them into fists than anything else as memories came flooding back. “We were to maintain a respectable distance in accordance with the Tuatha’an’s policy of nonviolence, the Way of the Leaf as they called it. But as my sister mentioned, I tend to act before I think ... and my impulses led me to visit their camp unarmed several times ... within two months, I was involved with a young woman ...”

“They’re beautiful people, so rich in history and belief, so respectful of the lands they travel,” he murmured. “The dances ... the music, the knowledge they could bring to so many ... they preach nonvilonece but they don’t force it on others ... it’s a life to live, if not for their Way.”

He smiled faintly. “In the 18 months we were patrolling that noble’s lands, I fell in love and we had a daughter. I had a reason to care for the future my king wanted to build for Murandy.”

Mal’s smile vanished. “Around the same time a new commander came in, some third son of some third son belonging to an important family. He wanted to earn his mark as a hero. He heard unconfirmed reports of a brigand force on the other side of the land we were dutybound to protect.”

He dug his nails into his palms and did his best to present a calm facade. “Against the advice of more seasoned soldiers, some who were of station with him, our new commander marched our entire company a day’s march to confront and eradicate the rumored threat, without notification to the lord of the land, in the hopes that it would gain him honor, glory and respect.”

“We found nothing and word returned as we neared return to our camp that the brigand force had attacked the Tuatha’an caravan,” he murmured. “I was among the first and ... “

Tears fell from his silver-blue eyes. No words could compare to holding a dead wife and daughter in his arms.

“The commander wanted it hushed, not to ‘make a commotion over dead Tinkers and commoners’ but I rode out with 15 men,” he said calmly, as if talking about the weather. “There were 150 Tuatha’an under Murandian protection slaughtered, nearly fifty more children from surrounding villages dead as well, all clinging to their instructors’ skirts .. Fifteen men against forty ... it was shortlived and I only lost two ... the brigands that still lived ... we did things that only Whitecloak Questioners could imagine before we slit their throats.”

Mal lowered his eyes from Catasina, shame flooding him. More for himself than what she might perceive of him. Part of him dare not ponder what she might think ... either for concern over Tuatha’an or for the fact that he could be capable of such detailed ... torture.

He took two steps further back from Catasina, providing a gap for her to flee through the same doors his sister had departed. He didn’t want pity. He wanted understanding ... and a silent offer his sister would provide a safe escort away from an embarraisng situation.

Where Amberlee Ashe went, a small contingent of ladies-in-waiting and armsmen surely followed.

“My sister bid me to ensure you are bathed and as a Murandian soldier, I cannot disobey,” he murmured, head still lowered. “My sister’s rentiue will wait briefly ... and they will wait for you to ferry you away to her assigned apartments and see you cleaned, new Novice gowns procured and the ones you wear burned... or the trainee’s baths await with my orders to find you clean trainee clothes until you reach your quarters ...”

Amberlee had always been smarter than he was, Mal knew. Also more prone to reading people ... and in this case left things open. It was was much to test him as it was ... well him.

Amber and he grew up with nobles ... House a’Roihan was the house their stepfather served and later sponsored funds for a moneylending business -- one that blossomed into a very influential network of merchants and minor lords. But while Amber paid respect to the bluebloods, Mal chafed against such things. His loyalty was to his family and to the throne of Murandy, despite whatever oath he had sworn when he signed his name in the Warder rolls.

The first offer, to have her sister’s retinue foster her away briefly could provide connections to a powerful family ... the other was simply a drin’s promise that she would be discretely seen to a bath, clean clothes and an escort back to her quarters.

On instinct, more than anything else, he crossed the brief bridge between the two of them and leaned his head against the Novice’s.

“My Lady, on this oath I swear, this slight will be avenged, for you are drawn into a revenge when it should be me ...”

Mal lowered his eyes as he murmured this words to Catasina. While he might be defiant of most nobles, in this one instance he might respect tradition of deference.

“I swear, measure for measure, to ensure your honor against what the Ji has wrought in defaming you as a Novice will not go without punishment.” For the first time in a long while he knelt, and his eyes were still bent. “Just ... be careful. Whatever comes, I will be happy to discuss such punishment. And if you so would accept, I am yours frond this day until either your or I are Raised and bonded.”

A moment later, he stood and provided smal distance with hand offered ... to the doors where his sister lie beyond or toward to the near-immediate relief of the Warder learning ranks baths.

He could hear the footfalls from dozens of yards away and he looked at her pleadingly to choose one or the other. “Please choose, before this area is filled,” he said quietly.
Jerid Walker Asha'man
"We all suffer. It's how we move past it that defines us."

Alianora
"The Path of Daggers"
Posts: 997
Joined: May 2nd, 2016, 8:32 pm
PC: Liaran Sedai, Blue Ajah
SC: Amaranie Sedai, Indigo Ajah
TC: Kalyan Rihera, Yellow Ajah

Re: Measure for Measure (Attn: Alianora)

Post by Alianora » November 3rd, 2020, 3:05 am

Catasina do Moerin a'Mathira, Novice
Catasina blinked when Mal touched her, and her gaze flickered towards the ground, but she didn't pull away from him. "I still should have known better than to listen to anything she said." the novice muttered. "My sisters, when they could be bothered to notice me, were much like her. I learned, eventually, that neither could be trusted..it seems so obvious now that Jessa would be the same." Still frustrated with her failure to see through the woman, Catasina kept her eyes on the ground until Mal spoke of what he saw in her. Then she jerked her head up, startled by what he said. His description of her was quite accurate: she knew herself to be intelligent and capable, but she'd never known anyone else to think so.

She raised a hand to her shoulder to wipe away a string of pink goo that had dripped from her hair, remaining quiet while Mal spoke of the incident that Jessa had described to her earlier. It was not at all surprising to her that his explanation of the events was far more detailed, and, Catasina suspected, much more honest. Some of what he told her seemed awfully personal, and she wondered why he was sharing such details with her. Not at all used to anyone being so open with her, Catasina wasn't sure what to do. She wiped her hand on her skirt, since it was already ruined, and settled for simply listening, watching, and doing her best to understand.

When he finished explaining, Catasina felt an obligation to say something, but hadn't the slightest clue how to respond. She tilted her head, considering it, as berry juice trickled from her hair towards the ground. "I'm sorry that happened," she finally managed. The words sounded ridiculously inadequate to her ears, but, she simply didn't know what else to say.

Finally, he moved on to a safer subject; Catasina couldn't deny she did need a bath. She looked down at herself, the formerly white dress she wore and that pink that stained her skin, and shook her head, wondering how she'd ever get clean enough to be presentable for her upcoming chores in the kitchen. She was supposed to be in class right now, not taking time to bathe regardless of how necessary it was, and couldn't think of a way to accomplish the task while staying out of the way of Saxa Sedai and her slipper.

It was a relief when Mal suggested another idea than rushing back to her quarters while hoping not to be seen. She stared at him, grey eyes wide. What would the lady a'Roihan want with someone like me? The lady's kindness to her had not been what Catasina would have expected from someone so far above her own station. She was still questioning this when Mal stepped closer and leaned against her. Not having expected that, Catasina first flinched away from him , but once her initial surprise passed, the novice hesitantly moved forward and returned the gesture. She smiled when he spoke, though she doubted he could see it, and was still smiling when he backed away and knelt.

Looking down at him, she said, "We'll get revenge together." After a moment of thought, she added, "We'll both have to be more careful to stay out of her sight, and maybe come up with something more subtle than the itchweed." When he stood, Catasina shot a doubtful glance towards the doors. "Are you sure your sister won't mind having me in her apartments? I'm such a mess, and I don't want to dirty her things."

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