Some Kind of Blue (Attn: Bella)

[Percy]

Evening in the gardens was a slight to behold. The setting sun spilled prisms of light dancing throughout the greenery. Plants, carved or grown with the one power into fanciful beasts suddenly came to life with the shifting shadows and slight breeze, moving to and fro in the the forest that the Tower called the Gardens. Color seemed blazing in the mid-eve sun, and for the first time in a long time Asan saw the striking colors that reminded him, painfully, of the wagons that he once called home.

He hadn't been to the gardens for that reason, but it seemed he couldn't avoid the area forever. After all, it was a beautiful place, and he'd come to accept the Tower as his home more and more as time went on. Presently he sauntered through the gardens in silence, enjoying the show of near-live artistry. He was scheduled to meet an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah, who would tell him more about tower life as a blue. Asan was towing the line between excitement and apprehension- he still didn't know much of the "culture" here. He learned to hop when Aes Sedai said "toad" but not as high as when Asha'man said it. Otherwise, he knew nothing(or felt that way, at the least). Finding an empty bench, he sat, laying Hama'ghoba next to him and watched the gardens dance in the breeze. Waiting for the Aes Sedai shouldn't be that difficult, he'd never seen one late to an appointment in his short stay in the tower.

[Bella]

Sadira Rose Jolstraer Sedai And Sadi was no different.

The Blue did not like to be late to things, but neither did she like to be early. For over one hundred years of life, she had worked to perfect the art of being right on time to things and with rare exceptions--those that took place generally involving body counts--she had maintained it as such. Today it was just so. She walked down the garden path right when she had agreed to do so.

Becoming the Head of the Blue, the First Selector, was strange for her. She, and everyone else, knew that it was a temporary role, because she did not seek the power of it. She only agreed--as one of the Tower's eldest Blues--to step in after the...mysterious disappearance of the former holder of the role.

As such, she was the "face" of her Ajah now. Considering her age and very settled-in agelessness, she did suit.

Sadira Rose Jolstraer was reasonably tall for a woman, strongly built and not "man-ish" but not overly feminine either. Her face was more handsome than pretty, with a strong jaw-line and nose, black hair and piercing blue eyes. She wore what one would likely deem a customary blue dress but with sturdy boots rather than more "lady like" shoes.

As she came around a curve of the path, she found a young man sat upon a bench. "Soldier Asan?" she asked smoothly.

[Percy]

Even though he saw the woman coming, even though he knew this was a scheduled meeting, Asan had to work hard not to jump hearing his name called. It was as if reality began to press upon him, the future loomed, full of trials, of blood, of difficulty. Here, another step beckoned and for a moment he wanted to run. His eyes darted to the side, and he thought of abandoning this foolish dream of the One Power and being a Solider. All his doubts and fears began building, questions unanswered, his sister's smile crossed his mind and in that moment, he was near to breaking.

His voice did not waiver as he answered, however. "Here, Aes Sedai."

There was no going back. No running away. He would move forward- there was much honor in that- and without the Way, he had to honor something. Perhaps the pretty eyes of an Aielwoman was enough to give him courage. It had been so far. Asan jerked himself erect, knuckling his forehead, unaware as to how to show respect properly to one of her status. "Thank you for taking the time to meet with me."

His voice was as deep and smooth as the tone of his skin, a rich tone that accented his brown eyes well. He held himself well- though it was apparent his training had not settled his light feet- he looked ready to dance more than ready to attack. Handsome was a good word to describe the man, however there was a mischievous air to it. The carefree nature of the Tuatha'an had not left him entirely, as a matter of fact it was just the perfect guise to mask the anxiety that surrounded him now. Truly the Tinkers masked anxiety better than any: living in constant danger and fear, knowing that life can end as quickly as the leaf blows from tree, and yet celebrating each moment for that reason. Though he might not feel it now, the young many still embodied that- even in the black coat of a Soldier, it was plain to see he was once one of the Traveling People.

[Bella]

The ageless Blue took a long moment to assess the young man before her, and her steely blue eyes revealed nothing of what--if any--opinion she had formed within herself about him. A faint smile curved the edges of her mouth and she inclined her head very slightly to acknowledge his greeting, though her eyes never left his. She was a woman who obviously bowed to few, if any.

"I was glad to do so," she spoke, smooth and without accent. Born to the Grey Tower, her culture was the culture of many, although she looked the heritage of her Bordlerlander parents.

She waved at the bench just behind them in an invitation for him to sit. Sadira did not otherwise say or do anything explicitly to put him at ease, but unlike some Sisters and Brothers, neither did she do anything to explicitly make him uncomfortable. She simply sat and waited for him to join her. "So, I understand that you wish to learn more of the Blue Ajah." It was a statement, but she paused for his confirmation.

[Percy]

"Yes, Aes Sedai." He was afraid of her, though it would be more accurate to say he was afraid of moving forward- and she represented such a thing. She had influence beyond his dreams, could deftly wield the power, no doubt, but what truly frightened him is she represented a person who had delved into a way other than what he'd known. She lived without the stink of blood on her hands, she was not a madwoman (from what he'd seen so far) and the sun did not turn black at her arrival. Asan took in a deep breath and appeared to look natural. "I know little of any bit of life here, but from what I've been told, this Ajah may suit what I want.. or .. rather where I am to go." His voice faltered just a hair with uncertainty.. but he recovered well, and it was only after he spoke that he assumed his seat next to her.

A torrent of emotions were held back rather well.. Tuatha'an were always masters of anxiety, hiding it behind the carefree exterior of the Leaf. Asan had shed the ideology, but the mannerisms that went with them were buried far deeper than he thought. His lips quirked on the edge of a smile, his eyes, when they turned in her direction were warm and inviting. If there was any sign of his discomfort it would be in the set of his shoulders, his muscles were tense to put it mildly. Moving Hama'ghoba (his staff) beside him quietly, he awaited her response.

[Bella]

In the stillness and serenity that was common to, indeed expected of, Aes Sedai, she listened to his brief explanation. She wondered if he was nervous around her, considering the hitch in his statement, and it wouldn't have surprised her. By the time most channelers reached her age, that was the effect they had on the learning ranks.

"And what is it that you've heard?" she asked, speaking simply and smoothly. "And of what you've heard, tell me a bit about why it appeals to you so? I will then fill in what knowledge I can, and see if that helps your understanding."

[Percy]

"Err.. well I was told the Blue Ajah dedicates itself to the world. To causes, really. I assume from there it means Blues are out in the world, touching what can be touched, changing what can be changed. The Tower itself trains them, but the world presents them an education. I think.. well.."

Asan took a deep breath, the truth screamed so loudly in his head his ears rang. He fell to silence a moment, deciding on whether to let this woman in to his inner thoughts. Of all things he thought to let go, distrust of outsiders wasn't one he'd considered. However- if he wanted to advance.. to learn, he'd have to trust someone.

"Honesty is the best path to tread, Aes Sedai. To that end, I will expose my heart." A pause, those big, brown eyes turned away from her, and then swiveled back, holding a fervor not previously shone. "I believe the Blue Ajah will teach me, and let me go my own way, after a time. The only way I can repay those in my family's camp for leaving is by spreading what I can salvage of the Way to a world that does not understand it. I have learned a little of honor since I've come here," his thoughts strayed to Sinead, and unbeknownst to him, he smiled broadly, "and I believe this is a way to uphold what little I've earned. My cause, Aes Sedai, is peace. I do not wish to fight, though I will defend the downtrodden. I do not wish to parlay words, though I will speak my piece. I do not wish to drown in books, though I will learn what I must. I do not wish to create objects, but I wish to create change. Is this the right place for me?"

It was possibly the most he'd spoken (of his own devising) without singing in a long time. He touched his lips briefly as to remind himself that silence was needed, as well. As he spoke, a shrewd eye studied her for reactions: Tuatha'an survived on reading people, intuition and empathy. Though she was Aes Sedai, he did not stop himself from vainly hoping he would see the way she reacted to his words that his eyes would somehow penetrate her still calm, or read that calm for truth.

[Bella]

If he wished to read her, he was going to be disappointed. She listened, and she listened with attention. It was clear in those steely blue eyes that she was paying close attention and missed little, but of her thoughts? No. She was too old, had been through too much, and took too well after her mother for that. Her ageless face remained placidly impassive and she did not interrupt with word, gesture, or movement.

Once he was done, she paused for a long, thoughtful moment. Then she nodded, and offered the faintest of smiles. "It sounds like you have rather ruled out every other Ajah," she said with humor, although whether he could dictate it was open to debate. She could barely dictate it and it came from her own mind. That's what happens when you bury yourself too deep.

"The Blue is active. We speak when needed and act when needed. We do not begin fights, but we will end them. We seek to uphold those who have been beat down, and find justice for those who have been wronged. By the means best suited to us and to the situation. We are often advisers to those who seek the aid of our wisdom." She tilted her head, sun glinting off her shiny black hair. "Does this still sound like the path you desire?"

[Percy]

Asan let his mind wander a bit as the Aes Sedai's words washed over him. He had, in fact ruled out every other Ajah. Why not keep himself open for possibilities beyond his immediate choice? He found himself unconcerned with the other Ajahs, perhaps it was arrogance, perhaps caution that married him to the Ajah of Causes. Walking the world, plunging into dangers outside the tower to further what he thought was right, if he ever figured out exactly what that was. However, one could not force such things- bringing the "Way" to the world was as lofty a goal as he'd ever heard- something that was truly unrealistic. Perhaps he would change the way people thought about the Aes Sedai- an example to the unchanneling man, but moreover an example to those in the tower as to how to deal with the outside world. At least this goal had steps.

As she began to speak more of the Blue, he found himself nodding. "Yes, Aes Sedai. It sounds exactly what I wish to do." Asan took in a deep breath before continuing. "I am afraid more and more these days. Afraid of myself, of channeling.. of violence. But I will not be afraid of further walking down this path. My whole life I've been taught the world is a dangerous place, and that life is only worth living separated from it. I know this to be false. This path will show me just what the World has in store. What steps must I take?" His tone was eager, yet his face was calm while he watched her, hoping he could begin his path here- knowing the only way to do so, was to accept direction.

[Bella]

"You're already on it, child," Sadi said with a faint trace of warmth in her voice and in her face. "You have thought through the paths you wish to tread, and you know yourself. Now you must learn about the world--about it as it is now, as it once was. Study, read, learn. Know all that you can. Understand the wisdom, and the mistakes, of the past. Contemplate where your passions for justice lie."

She paused and tilted her head slightly. "And then just as you think you have learned all you can, learn more. Prepare yourself for going into the world. Continue walking the steps to the cord of the Asha'man, and contemplate everything; wisdom comes from our analysis of ourselves as well as others and of situations."