The Nature of Pissy

[Bridget]

It wasn’t that Rhyka wasn’t used to dusting rooms and gathering soiled linens and cleaning chamber pots. She was; she had been raised a maid, and there was no disgusting duty that she had been spared from in her time at the Caeldor household. Chamber pots were a small thing. It was easy enough to ignore the stench and excrement and simply do the job. It wasn’t even that she resented the chore when she could be learning, spending her time in some useful way.

It was the bloody fools that she had to work with. From the way they acted, they had never seen a chamber pot before! Oh no, not that they had never seen one before- they had simply been the ones to do their business in one and send for a maid to do their dirty work. The silly chits had to be new to the Tower, to think any job was bad enough to turn their noses up at. Light, had none of them had a visit to the Mistress of Novices yet? If they hadn’t, it would be a miracle; they were obnoxious, insipid, lazy…

“Rhyka, you’re grinding your teeth.” Vesra’s voice shook her out of her inner tirade. Rhyka glanced over at the other novice and grimaced. Vesra was fine, as far as novices went. She was kind, but about as placid as a cow. Rhyka wouldn’t be surprised if some of the silly girls staring in astonishment and disgust at the pots they were supposed to be cleaning managed to convince Vesra to do their chores for them.

“Yes.” She clipped out, and scrubbed harder. “Let’s just be thankful I’m not biting anyone’s head off.” Rhyka ignored Vesra’s appalled face, and turned her glare at the group of novices poking uncertainly at their respective chamber pots. “Do you think just staring at them is going to clean them?” She barked, her grip tightening on the rim of the chamber pot.

[Carra]

Elysianne Ne'Alic Noble Hands only do Noble Work It had been a joyous thing to learn that some of her childhood friends that had left her so abruptly were to be found in this horrible place full of witches. It had been a tearful reunion, all of them rushing to give her handkerchiefs and to share in her grief. And for the first time since leaving home Elysianne could honestly feel happy. Seeing Saera, Eoleria, Isria, Vesra and Cherish brought back all the good memories that Elysianne had, and like her home Elysianne now had friends. Friends gave her strength, perhaps even power. Friends meant that she was not alone.

The joy she had felt was not entirely short lived, but it was diminished when she was introduced to the life she was not to live. While the classes were interesting and even some of the chores not so bad (the nursery was her favorite), most of the other tasks challenged her most noble ability to be... a noble. She had the makings of perhaps one day becoming a Queen and Queens do NOT clean chamber pots. They do NOT scrub pots in dirty water, nor do they clean laundry. These were tasks of servants and Elysianne thus far has had nearly every one of her friends volunteer to take on the worst of the chores so that their some-day-to-be-queen friend need not ruin her perfectly soft hands. Something that Elysianne would remember, and reward them for one day. They were her true friends.

They were cleaning a room with another Novice. Her and Vesra. Vesra was kind enough to start with the chamber pots while Elysianne worked at dusting the the curtains with open windows. A white silk kerchief covered her golden locks that were carefully braided back to keep out the dust. Isria was magic with hair. Vesra had been at the witches tower much longer than her, having only been here a short time, so she knew more of the other Novices that Elysianne did. Some she would like to have friends, but Vesra had warned her that this one was unkind. So she did not talk with her. That and she had the look of a servant. It was still strange to her that this witches tower would allow a servant to study alongside nobility. Why, it was so very backwards!

She was ignoring them both as they worked their way through the room. Elysianne closed shutters and gave herself a quick little dab of clean cloth to her nose to keep herself from sneezing when she found herself in front of a chamber pot not yet empty. She pulled her hands back with a bit of an 'eep' and looked for Vesra who was taking care of something across the room. What to do.. She should leave it, but then the other novice snapped at her.

“Do you think just staring at them is going to clean them?”

The pretty little novice put a hand on her hip. "That is no way to speak to me, servant. I do not clean chamber pots." And turned to Vesra. "Ves. Do you mind?"

[Bridget]

Rhyka couldn’t help it. She laughed, a great peal of laughter that shook her body. Light, the Tower was going to break this girl. Her noble airs were so apparent that it felt like fume that Rhyka might choke on, and she did not have the way with words to soothe upset nerves. She could see the pain in this novice’s future; if she didn’t earn herself a visit to the Mistress of Novice’s office in a week, Rhyka would eat a chamber pot.

“You lazy, vapid little chit.” Rhyka stood and started toward her, each step measured and precise. She had come a long way since she had come to the Tower; Lydie Sedai had made sure that she was not a woman to back down before a cow-brained, milk-faced fool like this girl.

“Don’t even think about it, Vesra.” She snapped when the other girl tried to dart forward, towards the offending chamber pot. The other girl stopped in her tracks, her bovine little face shocked. Rhyka smiled grimly at her, a quick flash of too many teeth. “Have you been asleep in your history classes, you little priss?” Rage simmered under her skin; for all that she pitied the girl, Rhyka wanted to take a bite out of her. To be called a servant should never be an insult. It was a living, and a good one. Only a vapid, self absorbed noble would think otherwise.

She stopped in front of the other girl, her hands planted on her waist. Rhyka leaned forward, as close as she could get to the other girl. “Because I think you have. Do you really think your nobility means anything here? Because Vesra used to.” Light, Rhyka couldn’t help but dislike that girl. Rhyka turned to look at her; she might be turning red in the face, but she knew her glare was just as sharp as it ever was. “And the Mistress of Novices beat that out of you, didn’t she?”

“Some of the most powerful Amyrlin Seats were the daughters of cobblers, merchants, and fish mongers. I would bet you gold marks that some of them were servants.” Rhyka spat out that word viciously; every part of her hoped that some of that spit landed on the girl’s face. “And so many of the Aes Sedai and Asha’man that you will curtsey for and yes, clean chamber pots for, were born servants and stable boys and from every other job that you think is below your precious dignity.”

She paused for breath, sucking in great gulps of air. She knew she must be red in the face by now, but hardly cared a whit. “And yes, there are members of the nobility among Aes Sedai and Asha’men. But each of them were once novice and soldiers, and do you know what they did?” She paused for a second, as if this girl could actually have an answer. “They cleaned bloody chamber pots, you light-blinded fool. They cleaned them, because they knew what would happen if they didn’t.” She stepped back, prodded the chamber pot with her foot. “And you know what? I pity you. Because the Tower is going to break you.”

Rhyka had no words left, but the anger coursing through her had hardly abated. She wanted to teach this girl a lesson, wanted to be the one to break a nasty, self-centered member of the nobility. Slowly, precisely, Rhyka caught the edge of the chamber pot and upended it over the girl’s ankles. “You should have cleaned the chamber pot.”

[Carra]

Elysianne Ne'Alic A Retaliation.. of sorts Elysianne stood there as the vile girl walked up to her, her mouth wagging like a dog. A bark of drivel and of ill-placed importance. She spoke of dreams that only servants and those born with less dream of. That she thought a witch, even the head of all the witches, could be greater than her? A fool full of drivel.

She was even less impressed when the girl upended her pot of fecal matter and piss over her feet. Staining her less than perfectly cleaned white slippers with a foul yellow and brown. Her nose crinkled and in that moment the other girls rage was matched. It took all her breeding and training to stand up to her father that kept her from screaming. And the facade of childlike sweetness disappeared. Opening her mouth, the scent of her feet reached her.. and no word came out of her mouth.

Vomit poured out of her as Elysianne heaved the contents of her stomach at the other girls feet. The fumes of the chamber pot too much for her and she could not keep it in. From the corner of her eye Elysianne saw Vesra run out of the room, the vile novice witch across from her stepping back. She could not stop! Light! Let it stop! But as her stomach heaved only air got stuck in her lungs and then instead of rage Elysianne felt something else.

Hate.

[Bridget]

Rhyka stepped back as the idiot girl vomited. It still splattered her skirts, but she hardly cared; she had been covered in far worse, in her years as a servant. A discomfort like this was a small one. It was obvious that the noble little novice didn’t agree. She was positively green in the face. Rhyka stared at her, unimpressed. Some part of her still sensed that the girl was stronger in the power than she was, no matter how much Aes Sedai had tried to train the tendency to compare strength out of her. Yet she still hoped that this girl would never make it to Accepted. Rhyka couldn’t think of anything worse.

Her anger was fading slowly, and Rhyka felt bereft for the loss of it. What was there to say, now that her rage was gone? Was she to tell this girl that she was pathetic, that she could not even endure this? It made her want to laugh. She had endured countless rapes, but this girl could not be stoic in front of a little piss?

She was saved from scrambling for words as the other novice continued retching by the reappearance of Vesra, an Aes Sedai behind her. Rhyka curtsied reflexively, her skirts flapping wetly around her ankles, dripping with vomit. “Krylena Sedai.” She murmured, inwardly cursing her temper. The other novice deserved it all, but she doubted any Aes Sedai would be able to see that truth. Rhyka had been right that the other novice would end up in the Mistress of Novices office within a week, but she hadn’t thought to bet on her own chances.

“Rhykana. Elysianne.” The Aes Sedai surveyed the scene, serene face unmoved by the splatters of bodily fluids. “You are both to return to your rooms and change, and then report immediately to the Mistress of Novices.” Rhyka fought to keep her face impassive. That was a boon, at least; she would be saved from the ire that dripping vomit all over the Mistress of Novice’s office would doubtlessly create. “You, child.” Krylena turned to Vesra, obviously having no idea what her name was and very little patience to spare. “Go find whichever novices are currently studying and bring them to… clean up this mess.”

Rhyka winced as Krylena swept out of the room. That wouldn’t get her any favors from the other novices. Although it was possible that she could argue that it was Elysianne’s vomit that they would be forced to clean up. Vesra gave her a dirty look before flouncing out of the room, and Rhyka followed her to the door, her chin high.

She paused at the door. “You might want to clean off your chin.” Rhyka smiled, nastily, adding you snot nosed little brat in her mind. “You don’t look particularly noble.” She strode away, as regally as she could, with her skirts flapping and dragging wetly. Someone would have to come clean the trail of vomit she was leaving behind her. She didn’t envy them, but she had no doubt her punishment would be far worse.

[Carra]

Elysianne Ne'Alic Silence holds a new darkness Elysianne felt what was left in her stomach leave her and a cough kept her from being able to still use her voice as the Aes Sedai entered the room. There was horror in her heart as the girl saw what was around her, from the vomit to the yellow stain of pee. All she wanted was a bath to clean away from the mess. A plan was forming in her mind and she couldn't help herself but let it sit until she could clean up.

Cleaning up was quick, as she dared not leave the Mistress of Novices waiting for her return. Thankfully it was mostly just her slippers that were the worst for wear, and completely unsalvageable. Washing her face, her feet and a cloth over where she felt was less than clean, Elysianne put some soda on a brush for her teeth and cleaned those up as well. Dressing quickly, purposely doing them up incorrectly in a rush to get to the Mistress of Novices office. While cleaning her mind turned over what she knew of the girl and the exchange and while the girl was clearly common, she had a lot to learn about manipulation and people. The fool was a Trolloc in a store of glass.

Arriving at the door where Rhykana stood there already waiting, Elysianne only kept her eyes on the floor. Not out of meekness for the girl but for the Mistress of Novices. She played this before and Elysianne knew how to win this time. “You might want to clean off your chin.” ... “You don’t look particularly noble.” Elysianne took a quick look at the girl and a smile brushed her lips and disappeared just as quickly as the door started to creak open.

Stupid commoner.

[Stasia]

Illyria Malkom I am Having a Bad Day and So Shall You

Illyria Malkom was enraged.

Not a common sensation for the usually sedate Aes Sedai, but an empowering one nonetheless. Her husband was off chasing Trollocs, Darkhounds or Shadow-wolves or Black-Mutts, or Light only knew what they were actually called, because apparently he was the only person fit to defend a village out in the middle of nowhere, and she amined to be angry enough that he could feel her wrath through the bond, even hundreds of miles to the north - and she was not ashamed to admit that she nearly hoped that he injured himself in the effort - at least that would keep him here, where she was, stuck and saddled with an belly fit to burst with their child! As if that was not enough, the political tides of the Tower had shifted near overnight as a new M’Hael had been raised in Riven’s stead - with Jaryd’s rainbow cord and Carraidhin already at the helm of the Hall - one Red for a few years, one Red for a few hours, but not for an instant did she believe that either of them could be trusted to be impartial - or perhaps the problem was that Carra was too impartial. And Jayrd, she did not know, but as she still could not understand the true purpose of the Red Ajah, or what either of them were thinking or doing, she was deeply disturbed by the implications of a change in command.

She simmered, and a cloud of thick steam rising from a screaming kettle that she had channeled too hot was a perfect physical manifestation of how she felt. She churned, boiled, broke steel quill-nibs against the desk that was too constraining, ached and sagged in the chair that supposedly held her weight; her entire morning was a run on sentence of black fury, trapped in ugly rumination. And so, when an Accepted came in without knocking, and was met with a glare that should have encased Illian in a glacier, and an emphatic “What,” that would sour even the sweetest wine - and then it would have been wasted wine, which only served to make her angrier, because the Yellows forbid her from so much as sipping the substance - Illyria gave no pause when the usually steady and strong girl shrank back into the door-frame.

Words spilled out of the child’s mouth in such haste that they nearly fell out of order in an attempt to reach their destination. “There’s novices, Aes Sedai, and one of them’s hurled a chamber pot, Aes Sedai. They’re waiting outside, sent by Krylena Sedai.” Pure resentment rolled down her spine. The fourth steel nib of the morning was violently snapped away from where it had been firmly attached to the base of her quill because she pressed too hard against parchment; the Accepted flinched as it flew off the desk, though it had come nowhere near hitting her.

“Send - them - in.”

The Accepted did not need telling twice - she fled gratefully, and after a long wait, the pair bustled in like cats with their backs arched, in silent competition. One came through the door first, smirked slightly, the second’s iron-cold composure slipped into a momentary scowl; the first took her seat without bothering to curtsy or address her superior, and the second dipped near to the floor in triumph as the first rose gracefully to her feet, attempting to hide her error. There was no visual evidence to suggest nor stench to support what had happened, and she wished that Krylena had sent them to her filthy - she now could only rely upon what the children told her, and all children lied at least twice when caught red-handed. And that was two lies more than she was going to tolerate this morning. She let them sit in silence, occasionally fidgeting under an uncharacteristically direct and cold stare, and when she did finally speak, her voice was sharp and unyielding.

“I am not in the mood for games, children. Attempt to lie to me and your punishment will be triple-fold; unless I hear the exact story from both of you, on the first attempt, I will personally see to it that neither of you see banded hems and plenty more chamber pot contents for the next several years.”

OOC: Not sure if my politics are correct, but I can edit them if needed be. Sorry for playing them coming into the office, I wasn't sure how else to get this started, but feel free to edit their entrances your own posts and I will correct mine to reflect. I'm really excited about this thread!!

[Bridget]

Rhyka curtsied, lower than usual. She took the chance to take a surreptitious glance at Illyria Sedai’s face, and blanched at what she saw. The Mistress of Novices looked furious. “Illyria Sedai.” She murmured in greeting, not daring to take a seat. It was gratifying to see that Elysianne had no understanding of how to present herself to the Mistress of Novices- the stupid chit didn’t even curtsy! Her anger, which had been mostly quashed by regret, spiked at that. The milk faced cow seemed to think she was too good for the Tower! To treat the Mistress of Novices like that was unthinkable.

But her familiarity with Illyria Sedai was not likely to be an advantage. She had been caught channeling without supervision three times since coming to the Tower, and Illyria Sedai had not been lenient any of those times. Rhyka had not lied to her, on any of those occasions; Illyria Sedai was frightfully competent, and she rather admired the woman. Perhaps it would have been better to lie; she had walked away with welts and weeks worth of chores each time. Yet each visit had ultimately left her with a resolution to be better next time, and be caught less quickly.

She snuck a glance at Elysianne and scowled. The noble born, vapid little sow was going to talk circles around her. Rhyka hated the girl already, with an intensity and fury that came close to rivaling what she felt for her noble born rapist. Just like him, the light blinded girl thought she was so much better than everyone else! The girl threw her privilege around like other people threw stones.

“We were cleaning rooms with a group of other novices, Illyria Sedai.” Rhyka jumped in quickly, so she could tell the truth before Elysianne could warp it with bald-faced lies. “Elysianne refused to do any of the hard work. She loitered around dusting things that didn’t need to be dusted while the rest of us cleaned chamber pots.” She took a deep breath and plunged into the rest of the story. It would be best to stick to the truth; anything less and the prissy little fool would jump on the opportunity. Lydie Sedai had been right to say that someday her temper would be the best of her.

“I asked her to help and she called me a servant and said that she did not clean chamber pots.” Her cheeks were bright red with rage. To call her a servant like it was an insult! Rhyka’s fists clenched, and for a moment she wished that she had done more than simply upend a chamber pot. “I got angry, and told her that many Aes Sedai had been servants, and that even noble born novices and Accepted had to clean chamber pots.” And that was where her story derailed. No matter how she spun it, she had been the one to toss the first chamber pot. “And then I upended the chamber pot on her feet.” She said it in a rush, as if Illyria Sedai might miss it. “And then she vomited. On me.” The last bit was more of an afterthought; Rhyka had dealt with far worse things than a little vomit.

She shot a glare at the other novice and dug her nails into her palms. It felt as if her heart was about to beat out of her chest. Rhyka wasn’t prepared for whatever lie Elysianne was about to sing out, and she couldn’t stomach the thought that Illyria Sedai would believe her. The other novice had no respect for the Grey Tower, let alone other people. If Illyria Sedai was lenient on her… The very thought of it made her feel sick. She didn’t know what she would do if someone she respected so much could not see how disrespectful and awful Elysianne was.

[Carra]

Elysianne Ne'Alic The second novice that stood in Illyria Sedai's office stood in silence while the other girl wove her tale. It rang mostly of truth and did not paint her in the best of light, but then words were words and she already knew that Vesra would speak up for her should it come to question who was telling the truth. And as the vile sow finished her tale, Elysianne made a visible effort to keep what little was still in her stomach where it was. Even still she could smell the vile chamberpot in her nose.

"It is as she says." Elysianne said, quietly. Meekly. Physically trying to not fall over or faint. She wanted to appear weak and the green of her skin only served her purpose better. She neither exaggerated how she felt but she didn't try to hide it either. "But I did not say those things. You see Illyria Sedai, I have a weak stomach. One smell of those chamber pots only makes me sick up into them. Vesra has been very kind in helping me with my share so I help her by doing her share of dusting. I used to have servants that used to so such work and I said as much. I think she misunderstood me, and then she just got so angry and then upended the.." She grew physically pale as the thought of the event threatened her. She swallowed and gave a rough cough. "Forgive me, Illyria Sedai. My stomach has not yet settled well." She gave a very shaky curtsey, perfect in every way from her rank to that of Illyria Sedai's. Elysianne's mind didn't even wander to where it might betray what was truth and what was not. She believed it to be true even if that servant in her house hold were stupid chits like Rhykana!

[Bridget]

Rhyka stared, her eyes wide and furious. That stupid, vapid, smooth tongued, lying sow! The girl was simpering at Illyria Sedai! She didn’t say those things? The girl had been born with one silver spoon in her mouth and another shoved up her ass! Rhyka’s fingers itched to get around her throat and simply throttle her.

“You’re lying.” Her voice started out calm, and progressively raised in pitch. “I misunderstood you? You sneered at me and called me a servant, you… you noble born cow!” Rhyka took a step forward, towering over the other novice. She was as short as a young girl, with about the same amount of manners. “As for your stomach, I haven’t heard a worse lie in my entire time here! You’re just so prissy and self absorbed that you think honest work is too good for you!” She scowled, poking a finger into Elysianne’s chest. “I’ve put up with too much from privileged,” poke “noble,” poke “little shits like you! Your personality is worse than a chamber pot, you simpering sow!”

She stood, shivering in rage. Who was this girl, to think she could turn the Grey Tower, Rhyka’s one safe place in the world, into just another place where she was second best, less than human? She had left all of that behind, left the world where her choices and her body were not her own, and she would not allow Elysianne to put her back there. “You are a liar.” Rhyka finished, quietly. “You are a liar.”