About Even With Dirt With the Future Ahead [attn: Ravak]

[Roan]

Paks

Paks looked from the now-closed door to the Master of Training’s office, to the woman who stood before her. She gave a cheeky smirk after licking her lips, “Alone at last?” The gesture towards the end of the hall might have spoiled the moment, though Paks just gave a soft laugh as she led the way.

With the door open, Paks stepped in and let go a low whistle. It was finer than any bath she’d seen since leaving home. In the middle sat a high sided tub with steam coming off of it. “Why do I have a feeling I’m about to steal someone’s bath?” It was a rhetorical question, and really, the soon-to-be Drin’ didn’t really care. Behind her, she heard a click of the door closing, and expected to find herself alone, but the woman had followed her in and was leaning against the door.

It was pretty obvious by now that Paks was not a shy woman, so she didn’t even hesitate as she started taking off her clothes, shedding one garment after another and setting them in a not-so-neat pile off to the side. Fully naked, she turned to face the woman as she climbed into the tub, flashing what was apparently a characteristic smirk, “I wasn’t expecting an audience.”

There was a subtle sigh of relief as she settled into the hot water, letting the stress of the last few weeks melt away. After a moment, she lifted her gaze back to Elia, “So. . .I thought Aes Sedai told Gaidin what to do, not the other way around. What does Chief have on you that makes you so. . .subservient?”

[Craig]

Elia

Elia closed the door behind herself, sure that Ravak would have complained if he left his latest recruit alone. Leaning against the frame of the doorway, she folded her arms, a little wary of what she had to look out for. If she was to be believed, Paks Liard did not merit as much of a threat. Life affirming saidar still sung through her, the Accepted not wishing to be tarry for a second if there was need of any intervention.

The Mayener made a show of herself, stripping down until she was naked, then turning purposefully to face Elia. It was nothing new to the red-head, not having grown up with Shienaran bath houses where she would find herself in the presence of naked bodies of both genders. But the smirk and the tone of the language used was more than a little flirtatious, she thought. Elia shifted a little uneasily. With the Power coursing through her, Paks' body was more vivid and clear than she really wanted to witness. The lightest spots of red began to mar her already rosy cheeks. Once most of the Mayener's form sunk before the water line, Elia let go of a breath she hadn't realised she was holding.

"So, I thought Aes Sedai told Gaidin what to do, not the other way around. What does Chief have on you that makes you so subservient?" Elia wrinkled her nose, but she pushed herself away from the door, and stood as regally as she could muster.

"I am not Aes Sedai, just an Accepted. The bands of colour mark me as such." She lifted one arm, showcasing her banded cuffs. "So I don't get to tell the Gaidin what to do. Not that Aes Sedai do, generally. Unlike the White Tower, Gaidin are respected as equals here, just as Asha'man are treated as equals. That is a part of what makes the Grey Tower strong."

Elia stepped closer, so she didn't have to speak so loudly or worry about anyone hearing through the door. Her green gaze flickered over the surface of the water, before affixing itself to Paks' face. Her tone was a little brisker than usual. "So don't go thinking I'm subservient. There is a hierarchy, and I simply rank lower on it than Ravak Gaidin. Even if I were Aes Sedai, he would still have a slight edge over me." She lowered her eyes to smooth out her dress, then looked back to Paks, but not before her sight wandered again.

"So," she continued in a tone far more demure, "do you have any questions that I can answer?" Her fingers danced a little uneasy over her hips, as questions of her own popped up into her mind.

[Roan]

Paks Liard

The slight blush and wandering glances did not go unnoticed by Paks, who took her time scrubbing herself clean. She would lock her glance on the Accepted as she spoke, and wondered what kind of an effect she was having on her. . .though the soon-to-be Drin’ had an idea.

“Gaidin are considered equals?”she asked rhetorically, a hint of surprise in her tone. The bit of news changed things, somewhat, though Paks wasn't entirely certain in what way or capacity. It was a bit of information she tucked away to consider at another time.

The Accepted closed the distance between the two of them, though she fidgeted as she watched Paks, who was still smirking ever so slightly. “Ask questions of you? Hmm...I am not entirely sure where I might begin, though I don't fully know what I seem to have gotten myself into.

“What you did back there, where you and the Chief were waiting for me,” she said after taking several deliberate seconds to shift her position in the tub as she continued her bath. “Is that common? I mean. . .I’ve heard rumors of what Aes Sedai can do, but I haven't ever been near one. What do you do?”

Paks didn't take her eyes off of Elia as she leaned forwards to run a sponge down one of her legs as she waited for an answer. She wondered what was between Ravak Gaidin and the woman who stood before her. There was some hint of a resemblance between the two, but she didn't want to assume they were related. Perhaps it would be her next question.

The thought of the Accepted being related to Ravak amused Paks. The woman might think her only capable of smirking, as she flashed a mischievously big smirk in Elia’s direction. The cause of said smirk were wayward thoughts that, if acted upon, might get her strung up by Chief Ravak Gaidin, himself. She thought it best to keep those thoughts to herself. . .for now.

[Craig]

Elia

"What do you do?" It was quite a refreshing open question, and so earnest. It sharpened the Shienaran's mind enough that she was no longer focused on the body of the woman bathing before her. Elia looked for a stool, placed it near enough to the bath for conversation, and sat down.

"I can do a great many things, Paks?" She wasn't sure how best to refer to the Mayener, but it certainly sounded better than Mistress Liard. "Lifting you into the air, or removing dirt and grime from your clothes is only a small part of it. I could make the bathwater warmer for you, or colder, or fill and empty the tub. I can produce an orb of light, so I can see without need for a candle." She glanced briefly at her hands, specifically her Great Serpent ring. "I can even make things with the Power. I don't know if you've heard the term ter'angreal, but I can make objects that do things. It's a little tricky to explain." Elia only had her ring ter'angreal, and as far as she could tell, it did nothing.

"Beyond that..." she trailed off, considering. The Shienaran thought about her other talents. Healing, for one, but she couldn't do any flashy demonstration unless the woman was already ill. Delving held the same issues. But Compulsion...

Abruptly, Elia was aware of the Mayener smirking at her. That couldn't be from my answe- oh! Of course. She felt her face getting hot, but she wasn't so thrown by the woman's look and unspoken suggestion as not to have her own retort in mind. A simple lattice of woven Spirit manifested itself above Paks, invisible to all but the Accepted's eyes, and she carefully placed it over the other woman. You'll be blushing yourself in a moment, Elia thought. The weave she created should make Paks just as flustered, at least in theory.

[Roan]

Paks gave a simple nod to confirm her name for the woman as she spoke. The Mayener listened intently, fascinated by what the woman could do. Sure, Paks had heard of Aes Sedai and Asha’man, but she’d never crossed paths with one, so much of what she knew was based off of rumor and hearsay. Her imagination, as it was wont to do, went off on its own thinking what she could do with such abilities. To make these. . .ter’angreal? How much fun could one person have? How much trouble could one person get into, she thought, though instead of avoiding such trouble, she’d likely chase it down, such was the life Paks led since leaving her Father’s house.

The Mayener’s smirk started to grow, but then she felt a rush of a shiver up her spine, and the hint of heat on her cheeks not from the heat of the bath. It was an unexpected moment, and she didn’t have the experience to school her outward reaction. Clearing her throat and turning her attention back to her bath, Paks laughed softly to herself. First time for everything? But. . .as pretty as she is, she’s not really my type, she thought to herself.

Clearing her throat again, as if to shake off the momentary lapse, “So. . .you said you weren’t an Aes Sedai yet. What will you do once you are?” Deflecting attention from herself was not uncommon for Paks. Before the Accepted could answer, though, Paks submerged herself in the bath to wash days worth of grime out of her hair. She realized she hadn’t gotten the woman’s name yet, which amused her to no end. When she surfaced once again, she turned her attention back to Elia.

[Craig]

Elia

Elia smiled all too sweetly at Paks' response. Good. She wouldn't be seen to be embarrassed in front of this Drin'far'ji, not with that response. And laughter too. Who knew how much of that was the Compulsion and how much of Paks herself.

"So, you said you weren't an Aes Sedai yet. What will you do once you are?" The black-haired woman vanished beneath the surface of the water for a long moment, because she reemerged. The way her mop of dark hair hung to her face and scalp - so short - she could have been taking for a pretty man in the right light. Elia didn't know why some women wanted to do that, shirk away from who they were to become someone else. But then, she had seen how other people had transformed, especially here at the Grey Tower.

Elia tilted her head in thought. "I would continue my studies into ter'angreal. The Tower has some number, sealed and protected tightly. As an Aes Sedai, I would have better access, and maybe help to..." The Shienaran trailed off, another thought coming into her head. "Actually, I think one of the first things I would do is return home. I haven't seen my parents in some number of years, nor any of my family." Besides Ravak. "I would quite like to make that trip, once I can."

The Accepted made a fuss of her skirts, adjusting them and rearranging them so. "And as for yourself, you have no plans? It is probably best that way. Training at the Grey Tower can take years, regardless of which path you are on. Get yourself settled in, and make friends." Elia realises she wasn't really giving advice, so much as prattling on. With a displeased twist to the corner of her lips, she paused. Then it was back to a smile, directed at no place in particular.

[Roan]

Paks Liard

Get yourself settled in, and make friends.

Paks studied the woman across from her for several moments, realizing that yes, the Grey Tower would be her new home. . .whether she liked it or not. The alternative was incarceration. At least here, perhaps she could make something of herself. At least here, she could make friends. It was something Paks had a knack for, really, and she intended to take advantage of that particular talent. Might as well make the most if the situation, right?

The water in the bath was closer to luke warm, but the Mayener considered herself suitably clean and pushed herself up out of the water before stepping out of the tub and grabbing the near by towel. Now, she wasn’t deliberately making a show as she was just doing what needed to be done to get dry and clothed once again. She would glance in the Accepted’s direction from time to time, a slight smirk seemingly a permanent fixture on her lips.

“If I make it to full rank, I think home is the last place I’d visit. Father made it pretty clear he wanted nothing to do with me, so I might as well not disappoint, right?” The thought stung, though it wasn’t something Paks would ever admit to, certainly not to a stranger she’d only just met.

Once fully dressed in her simple white blouse, and black trousers, she nodded towards the door, “I suppose we shouldn’t keep Chief waiting too long, eh?”

[Craig]

Elia

She did her best to keep from watching, alternating her attention towards the now empty bath and the door, but her willpower wasn't so strong. At the very least, Elia kept her from fidgeting too much on the stool whilst Paks donned her attire once again. "I suppose we shouldn't keep Chief waiting too long, eh?"

Elia smiled, rising up from the seat and moving towards the door. A number of comments bounced around her head in response to that remark, but the beautiful Shienaran tried to remember her place. Ravak had very much asked for her assistance as an Accepted of the Grey Tower, not as his sister. That's why she hadn't been too forward with this new recruit. Well, not as forward as I may have liked. And the woman deserved that flush of colour to her cheeks.

Leading Paks back along the corridor, Elia stopped just shy of Ravak's door, stretching an arm out to make two firm knocks on the wood. "Good luck," she said by way of parting.

Ravak

Rav grumbled at the heavy weight that lay across his lap, attempting to get comfy in spite of the inconvenience. "You're not a bloody cat, Snowflake." The pup didn't seem to give much mind to that rebuke, panting away with his tongue hanging out, tail swishing back and forth against the spine of the treatise his master was attempting to read.

Two knocks at the door, and paws were suddenly pushing off against his legs. Snowflake scarpered into his private office before the outer door was opened, admitting a bathed Mayener. "Ah, Paks. Come." Rav beckoned with his bad hand whilst he attempted to brush away dog hair from his trousers. The kennels couldn't come soon enough.

For a wonder, Rav's desk looked tidy. At the far end, a ledger was open facing Paks, an exquisite iridescent quill laying beside it. "I've entered your details, as best as I've got them. You just need to make your mark here, and you will be a Drin'far'ji of the Grey Tower." He indicated with a finger against a blank line on the page.

[Roan]

Paks Liard

Paks shot the Accepted a smirk as the woman offered her well wishes, “Thanks. See you ‘round.” She truly was shameless, but it was, in her mind, harmless fun. Watching some people get flustered at her knowing looks, or suggestive remarks (that weren’t all that suggestive aside from the tone and look she might give) was amusing. Before entering the Master of Training’s office, she watched the other woman walk away, clearly amused with herself.

As Paks stepped in, she noticed the decor, and didn’t miss that there was nowhere for his ‘guests’ to sit when he had people in his office. It struck her as an odd form of power play, but everyone had their odd quirks, right? She was curious as to what was behind another open door, but doubted this was an appropriate time to go snooping around. Instead she turned her attention to the ledger he pointed to, and as he mentioned, her details were indeed filled in. She just had to sign. She scanned some of the names before her, and wondered how they found their new lives as Warders-to-be. . .wondered how she’d do, since, unlike most of the others who signed before her, she really didn’t have much of a choice.

Paks looked from the ledger to Ravak as she picked up perhaps the most outlandish quill she’d ever seen, “Looks like we’re stuck with each other, Chief.” She flashed a smile before looking down to sign her name with a bit of flourish. “I’m surprised I didn’t have to sign in blood,” she teased as she set the quill down and looked back up. “Now what?”

[Craig]

Ravak

"Now you officially a part of the Grey Tower." These words held less weight and ceremony than normal, but then Paks' entrance into the Warder Yards was not normal. "Your days, starting the day after next, will be filled with classes, training, and chores. I will expect no more or less of you than any other trainee, although I shall be watching for any signs that you plan not to stay with us for long.

"There are a good long list of rules and expectations that any trainee of the Grey Tower is expected to obey, and failure to do so means you get to spend some quality time with yours truly. Physical punishments don't go down so well in the Yards, but I can assure you that no-one wants to come back to my offices after the first rebuke.

Rav pushed himself up, collecting his scabbarded sword-breaker from behind the desk. "Now, time to show you to your new room. Come." With that, Rav led the way out of his office, not bothering to lock it for such a short excursion. He settled back into his usual patter for new Drin'far'ji. "As the Master of Training, you report to me as your superior. Your lessons and other training will be directed by teachers. Some of these will be Gaidin, others Ji'alantin and Ji'dar. Regardless of your rank and theirs, if they are the teacher, you obey without question."

Ravak led the way back down the stairs into the great foyer, then through towards the barracks. "Most Drin'far'ji are doubled-up with another Drin. Your roommate is an Andoran called Fiona." The Light protect me from their antics, he thought. The decision to station the Mayener with Fiona had come before he knew the specifics of her crimes... and dalliances. "I expect nothing untoward from either of you."

Rav led Paks to the room of her new room, and opened the door with a key. Inside were two beds. Several stacks of folded linens, uniforms and towelling had been left on one of the beds, with a good sized chest at the foot of it, and a singular desk and chair set in between. "Enjoy the solitude whilst you have it. You have an hour or two before your roommate may appear." The Master of Training produced a second key from a pocket, and placed both into Paks' hand. "It's tradition for you to have two sets of keys. You may entrust the second to a friend or confidant. I'll tell you know, don't think I shall tolerate it if you give your second key to a casual acquaintance. There will be no distracting relationships in these halls."

Ravak took a step back, so that Paks had access into her new room. "Do you have any further questions, before I leave you to it? One of the Ji'dar will be along later to help orientate you further."

OOC: Finished? unless Paks has any questions.