New Acquaintances [Bella/Andraste~]

Hama Valon, the city around the Grey Tower.
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Welcome to Hama Valon! The aptly named 'mountain guard' is the city that has grown up at the gates of the Grey Tower at the western edge of the Two Rivers. Like all cities, there are quiet quarters with pleasant inns, such as Elman's Creek, which used to be the nearest village when the Tower was young, but was absorbed as the new city grew; its Band of Brothers Inn is still a favorite relaxation spot for many of the Tower's denizens. And again, like all cities the world over, there are less pleasant places--narrow, nameless streets that house hells and other houses of ill repute. Most of the city falls somewhere in between, with hawkers crying their wares in the streets, respectable shopkeepers ready to serve you, and petty cutpurses happy to follow you.

Novices, Soldiers, and drin'far'ji must be accompanied by a chaperon when outside Tower walls or they risk being picked up as runaways and duly punished.
Elan
"Lord of Chaos"
Posts: 450
Joined: December 6th, 2016, 10:29 am
PC: Jaren Marle, Asha'man
SC: Mael Akashi, Asha'man
TC: Delaine Taborwin, Novice
QC: Valentin Akashi, Soldier
Location: Finland
Contact:

New Acquaintances [Bella/Andraste~]

Post by Elan » September 11th, 2017, 9:12 pm

Mael 'Not an Extrovert' Akashi
It was a good idea, objectively speaking. Marle was right; he needed to get to know some people, at least those within his own Ajah; he couldn’t remain isolated from the rest of the Tower, with only Kosari and Marle to call friends. He couldn’t claim the excuse of being too busy to socialise, either; as much as there was work to be done, one did not just walk into the Black Tower and rushing ahead with half a plan would be suicide. This left Mael with sufficient time to follow Marle’s advice.

But standing in the hallway outside Andraste Alhandra’s quarters, he felt like a right idiot. He wasn’t trying to court her, for Light’s sake! Though that was probably what this would look like to an outsider. He wasn’t wearing the uniform — it had felt too formal for the occasion — instead opting for a dark blue coat cut in Andoran style and black trousers. Marle had given him the clothes, and when Mael had asked whose wardrobe he’d raided, as Marle himself was considerably smaller, the Healer had only flashed an enigmatic smile. Evidently, Mael didn’t need to know.

Alright, he could live with that.

He knocked on the door before he could change his mind about this whole thing… And from how quickly the door opened, he had to assume that she’d been expecting him. “Andraste Sedai, I presume?” He’d seen her before in passing, a short woman with dark hair and brown eyes, not one to immediately draw the eye but beautiful in a more subtle way, which her self-assured demeanour only accentuated. He smiled faintly. “I take it Marle spoke to you, too… He seems to think I should get out more, and who am I to argue with a Healer? Mael Akashi,” he added by way of introduction, unnecessary as it was; the Red Ajah was small enough that everybody would know of a new member.

“I was thinking of heading out to the city,” he went on, “for drinks or dinner or… something, doesn’t matter. And I’d be greatly obliged if you would care to join me?” A trip to the city would involve lots of walking — he wondered what the Aes Sedai would think if he suggested they Travel at least out of the Tower to skip most of the stairs — but he preferred to be out in what could be called neutral ground with someone he didn’t know. Not because he didn’t trust her, but because it was less awkward than being invited into her quarters while they were little more than complete strangers.

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Bella
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Joined: April 14th, 2015, 11:28 pm
PC: Miahala Darrow Sedai
SC: Lysira Viathene Gaidin
TC: Gareth Tomosan Asha'man
QC: Natlya Cade Gaidin
QC: Andraste Alhandra Sedai
Location: New England

Re: New Acquaintances [Bella/Andraste~]

Post by Bella » September 13th, 2017, 1:27 am

Andraste stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom, the one attached to her vanity. It was a small piece of furniture that sedately lived in the corner of her bedroom, with a mirror of just the height that if she stood back, she could see most of her body. She smoothed the neckline of her modest red dress and the skirts.

It wasn't that she cared for looking pretty, but she liked to look put-together. She had always been conscious of such, but being Aes Sedai had made her even more so.

She wondered how the day was going to go. It was good to meet others of the small Ajah she was part of, and Mael Akashi was the newest among them. Perhaps it should have been her idea to meet him, but it wasn't. It was Jaren's. As he was a friend and it had half sounded like a favor than suggestion, she had agreed.

When there was the knock at the door, she went to answer it...and then listened to a rather lengthy introduction.

Inwardly, she was somewhat amused. Was he nervous, or like this all the time? Well, she would find out. She smiled politely, though it was genuine in its muted, tranquil warmth. "Dinner sounds nice. There are some lovely venues in Hama Valon." Since the weather was mild, she didn't bring a shawl or cloak.

She stepped out into the hall with him, locking her door behind her and then turning back to him. "Shall we?" she asked, gesturing for them to start walking. She liked the walk, finding the Tower a lovely place--especially now that she no longer scrubbed the floors--and the path to the town relaxing.

"Have you had much chance to explore Hama Valon?" she asked lightly. "Jaren did not say much but that he thought it would be good for us to meet, being Red and all."

Elan
"Lord of Chaos"
Posts: 450
Joined: December 6th, 2016, 10:29 am
PC: Jaren Marle, Asha'man
SC: Mael Akashi, Asha'man
TC: Delaine Taborwin, Novice
QC: Valentin Akashi, Soldier
Location: Finland
Contact:

Re: New Acquaintances [Bella/Andraste~]

Post by Elan » September 14th, 2017, 12:58 pm

Mael
The Aes Sedai seemed very… well, Aes Sedai; whatever she thought of his perhaps less than smooth first impression, she kept it to herself, a picture of the fabled Aes Sedai serenity. Though unlike the image he had of the typical Aes Sedai, her smile seemed to hold genuine warmth — and if she was a friend of Marle’s, Mael was going to assume it really was genuine.

Glancing at the Aes Sedai walking by his side, Mael shook his head. “I’ve not left the Tower much since my arrival.” He flashed a slightly crooked smile. “At least in the waking world. And Tel’aran’rhiod may be good for learning the layout of a city, but not the best way to find good taverns or inns.”

He’d done a fair bit of scouting via Tel’aran’rhiod, trying to track down Alastair’s informants in hopes of redirecting their reports to the Grey Tower and the Red Ajah, or at least away from the Black Tower. That was more complicated than he’d expected, for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was that regular people generally tended to ignore instructions received while asleep. Contacting any of them in person, however, would have to be done with great care if they were still sending their reports to the Black Tower; Mael didn't necessarily want to reveal that he was alive, if he was assumed dead. Not yet at least.

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Bella
Female Channeller Representative
Posts: 5615
Joined: April 14th, 2015, 11:28 pm
PC: Miahala Darrow Sedai
SC: Lysira Viathene Gaidin
TC: Gareth Tomosan Asha'man
QC: Natlya Cade Gaidin
QC: Andraste Alhandra Sedai
Location: New England

Re: New Acquaintances [Bella/Andraste~]

Post by Bella » September 17th, 2017, 10:07 pm

Andraste gently led them where they needed to go, every bit at ease as she held her hands loosely in front of her and listened to her present companion's answer. She wondered why he hadn't been out much--if he was just shy or there was a specific reason. She wasn't going to ask, of course, unless he offered it. But she couldn't help but wonder.

She knew that as soon as she was allowed to leave the Tower proper, she did so often. Going from a life on the road to the jail cell of Novice whites had been...hard.

"I could imagine so," Andra said in response to his comment about the World of Dreams. "I can't speak from experience, however. That was never a gift I presented with nor one that I chose to pursue." She knew it could be access by ter'angreal but she still struggled emotionally with the idea of handling an Object of Power. She was a far cry from the phobia that first presented, but it was an effort.

Gesturing idly in the direction they were headed, she went on, "There are several good places to go, though you can narrow it down by which you prefer. Some allocate their funds to purchase the best drinks, while others to hiring the best chefs. So you decide based on what you wish to drink versus eat."

Elan
"Lord of Chaos"
Posts: 450
Joined: December 6th, 2016, 10:29 am
PC: Jaren Marle, Asha'man
SC: Mael Akashi, Asha'man
TC: Delaine Taborwin, Novice
QC: Valentin Akashi, Soldier
Location: Finland
Contact:

Re: New Acquaintances [Bella/Andraste~]

Post by Elan » September 18th, 2017, 7:12 pm

Mael
Well, there was little enough to say on the topic of the World of Dreams… or, rather, there was a lot but Andraste didn’t seem too interested, and what was he going to say to someone who wasn’t a Dreamer themselves? 'I could show you around if you’d like?' Not likely.

As the Aes Sedai went on about the range of taverns found in the city, Mael gave a slightly lopsided shrug. “I’ve lived on travel rations for most of the past seven years,” he said, a touch of humour to his voice. The past seven years, and often enough for decades before that, but there was no need to draw attention to just how old he was. Not that he knew his companion’s age, either; she might be a century old for all he knew… but he didn’t think so. “Anything made from fresh ingredients should be a feast. And,” he sketched up a small grin, “I’ll drink whatever you put in front of me.”

Not that he expected an Aes Sedai to get particularly creative about that. Or that there would be drinking, precisely, in the first place… which was likely for the best. He might not be trying to impress his companion, but he did want to make a reasonably good first impression.

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Bella
Female Channeller Representative
Posts: 5615
Joined: April 14th, 2015, 11:28 pm
PC: Miahala Darrow Sedai
SC: Lysira Viathene Gaidin
TC: Gareth Tomosan Asha'man
QC: Natlya Cade Gaidin
QC: Andraste Alhandra Sedai
Location: New England

Re: New Acquaintances [Bella/Andraste~]

Post by Bella » September 20th, 2017, 10:46 pm

"Then I suppose that places your fate in my hands if I'm to be the one choosing where we go," she said with an airy, amused tone. She considered him as they walked, idly analyzing. Not in any aggressive sort of way, but simply trying to understand what she saw and heard and sensed. It was a trait born of being a merchant, and now grown in being a Red.

It wasn't much longer before they exited the Tower building and made their way onto the path that would lead to the city. "I think I know a suiting place. Middling on the drinks, but good on the food. Tame ambiance and reasonable prices." Food in taverns and inns being one of the few things she did not haggle over the price of.

She glanced at him again with that same tranquil smile. "How are you finding the Grey Tower? It's a better place to live than I thought when I first arrived, I'll admit."

Elan
"Lord of Chaos"
Posts: 450
Joined: December 6th, 2016, 10:29 am
PC: Jaren Marle, Asha'man
SC: Mael Akashi, Asha'man
TC: Delaine Taborwin, Novice
QC: Valentin Akashi, Soldier
Location: Finland
Contact:

Re: New Acquaintances [Bella/Andraste~]

Post by Elan » September 22nd, 2017, 10:02 pm

Mael
“There’s entirely too many stairs,” he replied without thinking. He was feeling the descent from the Ajah quarters, and though he was well used to living with pain, he was grateful that his companion didn’t set a faster pace. He flashed a slightly wry smile. “That’s a common problem with towers, though; nothing personal.” Once he figured out a handful of key locations that were safe to Travel to — without the risk of slicing some unfortunate body in half — his life would be much easier. In the meanwhile, though… stairs.

He glanced at the Aes Sedai again; she’d implied that she hadn’t been impressed with the Grey Tower, initially, but was that a topic he should pursue? It had been a long time since he’d had to try to carry on a conversation with a stranger, or try to get to know anyone. He couldn’t recall ever being particularly good at it, and he felt a little sorry for Andraste for being stuck with him. Maybe that was something to bond over? The thought made him snort softly. ‘I’m not the biggest fan of my social skills, either’? Brilliant, Akashi.

“You’re from Kandor, aren’t you?” he asked instead. “I thought I recognised the name.” He didn’t expect her to recognise his; an old but fading family from the far north of the country was hardly something many people not from the area would know. “How did you come to study at the Grey Tower instead of the White? Tar Valon would have been closer, no?”

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Bella
Female Channeller Representative
Posts: 5615
Joined: April 14th, 2015, 11:28 pm
PC: Miahala Darrow Sedai
SC: Lysira Viathene Gaidin
TC: Gareth Tomosan Asha'man
QC: Natlya Cade Gaidin
QC: Andraste Alhandra Sedai
Location: New England

Re: New Acquaintances [Bella/Andraste~]

Post by Bella » September 23rd, 2017, 10:26 pm

In truth, she was actually surprised that he had recognized her name and nationality from it. Most people didn't. They were not exactly near to the borderlands here and while there were a great many borderlanders...well, there was just that. There were many. It was easy for people to blend them together in their minds.

His question, however, surprised her a little. She gave him another airy smile, although inwardly, there was a new emotion to it. That one quick tinge that then passed. After all these years, at least it passed more easily.

"As it happens," she said, contemplating how much depth she felt like going into with the story this time around, "I was a wilder, so I learned later. An event made this rather clear, a rather unfortunate event, and I channeled. There were two Aes Sedai of the Grey Tower, two Greens, who were close enough to sense it.

"They found me and thus brought me here. I was not the happiest person to be brought here, I'll admit," she said with a rueful, almost self-deprecating smile, "but I found a home here. I hope you will as well, despite the stairs. There are a great many of them! You are right about that."

Elan
"Lord of Chaos"
Posts: 450
Joined: December 6th, 2016, 10:29 am
PC: Jaren Marle, Asha'man
SC: Mael Akashi, Asha'man
TC: Delaine Taborwin, Novice
QC: Valentin Akashi, Soldier
Location: Finland
Contact:

Re: New Acquaintances [Bella/Andraste~]

Post by Elan » September 25th, 2017, 9:21 pm

Mael
An unfortunate event. Those were a common way of finding out you could channel, and while there was a wide range of events that could be described as 'unfortunate'… No, Mael wasn’t going to pursue that topic, either. For one, it was none of his business if she chose not to elaborate, and for another, though related to point one, he didn’t want to poke at a topic that might be painful.

As for finding a home in the Grey Tower… “Home is a strange concept,” he said quietly. “There are… places you stay, even for a long time, and yet they remain just that: a place you’re staying. I served the Black Tower for over sixty years—” if one counted the time as Soldier and Dedicated “—yet it was never home. My family home in Kandor ceased to be home the moment I knew I wasn’t going to return.” He glanced sideways at his companion. Probably not the kind of answer she’d been looking for.

He shook his head with a faint smile. “…But I hope so, too.” And if he never did, well, there was always his work. The Red Ajah’s work. If he survived the Black Tower investigation — which he wasn’t counting on; he was expendable — there would be something else. There always was. Having a purpose was more important than having a home.

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Bella
Female Channeller Representative
Posts: 5615
Joined: April 14th, 2015, 11:28 pm
PC: Miahala Darrow Sedai
SC: Lysira Viathene Gaidin
TC: Gareth Tomosan Asha'man
QC: Natlya Cade Gaidin
QC: Andraste Alhandra Sedai
Location: New England

Re: New Acquaintances [Bella/Andraste~]

Post by Bella » September 26th, 2017, 1:21 am

Channelers... Sixty years? Even a fellow channeler could not guess the age of another, and so this pronouncement surprised her, but she kept it to herself. He was speaking and so she was listening. She nodded a little as she did so, showing that she heard him and understood his words.

"Home is what we make of it," she said, "or so it is said. Before I came here, I was a traveling merchant. My home had wheels, and so it was never in a place. But it was still home. It and...the people within it."

Her smile took on that bittersweet edge as she looked forward again, watching her steps as they moved.

"My home is still in Kandor as well, but my home is here too. But that is for how I see it. We all see it differently. So, maybe you'll find this a home, or maybe it will just be a good place to stay. I hope you find what you wish," she said simply, with that serene edge that said she was not judging his answer. Simply offering goodwill.

They moved along the path that brought them from the grounds of the Tower itself and crossed them into Hama Valon.

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