Mixing It Up! [Attn: All Novices, Soldiers & Drin ~ PC, PSC & NPC Welcome]

A place for the Learning Ranks to socialize and mingle.
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Bella
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Mixing It Up! [Attn: All Novices, Soldiers & Drin ~ PC, PSC & NPC Welcome]

Post by Bella » October 26th, 2022, 10:00 pm

Since the Days of Yore (tm) when Miahala had been a Novice herself--you know, back when the world was new--and it had been another Green manning the stole of Mistress of Novices, they'd still had these sorts of gatherings. Over the decades, it simply entrenched itself deeper and deeper as a well-supervised chance to force everyone on the first level of learning ranks to pretend they wanted to get to know each other.

Mia hadn't liked it all that much then and she realized it was a little silly still, but she carried on the tradition nonetheless. First off, it was indeed a tradition. Secondly, though, sometimes it did work. These Novices, Soldiers, and Drin might actually make connections and make friendships that would see them through their time in the Grey Tower. While certain sorts of "fraternization" was "discouraged," the fact was that these sorts of bonds were vital.

What was worth fighting for if you were nothing more than an island unto yourself?

Friendships, warder-bond, romantic relationships, family and near-family affiliations... They were all crucial to the Grey Tower and to the world, to the future, and so on the off chance that maybe some beginnings would be formed during one of these events, Miahala ni Sha'hal t'Darrow Sedai would continue seeing them done.

It was an unusually warm autumn evening, but nowhere near the terrible heat the summer months could bring. Aes Sedai and Asha'man had weaves to spare them these things, but the young ones did not. It was a little unseasonably, but it was pleasant on its own. It was just shy of the usual dinner hour, when there was enough sunlight to see by but it was no longer blinding. There were two long tables of refreshments laid out with benches, blankets, and natural seating around the clearing in the gardens.

She spied the Masters of Training and Soldiers loitering around, checking over last-minutes preparations, the same as she was. Classes would soon let out, and the young ones would be arriving...

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Ashfalcon
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Re: Mixing It Up! [Attn: All Novices, Soldiers & Drin ~ PC, PSC & NPC Welcome]

Post by Ashfalcon » October 26th, 2022, 11:05 pm

Darthalien studied wooden cube on the table and tried once again to reach for the Dark Power. He knew he needed to stop thinking of it that way, especially now that the Corruption had been cleansed from it, but the habit was hard to break. Then he dismissed the thought, let his mind go still, and reached...

Nothing. He could feel Saidin but he couldn't touch it. It wouldn't come to him. He strained harder, but it was like trying to push through glass that wouldn't break. After a moment he shook his head. "I cannot."

Cavros Asha'man heaved a mighty sigh, then started pulling the heavy curtains back to let light into the room. "I'd hoped that if we made it dark enough..." the Blue trailed off, looking thoughtful.

Cautiously, Darthalien prompted: "Yes?"

Cavros shook his head. "A thought for later. It might work though..."

Darthalien sniffed and shook his head, amused and exasperated in equal measure. "You still think this is a Break?" Wait, no, that wasn't right. "A Block? Perhaps the men of my people can only channel at night."

"I'm certain of it," Cavros said. "Your Weavers could channel day or night; you just haven't gotten past thinking that what you can do is vile and unnatural."

There was truth in that, and Darthalien nodded. At night he could have called out strands of Air to lift the block. It was only the daylight outside that prevented him from doing it now.

"Well, enough of this for today," said Cavros. "You've a Social to attend."

"Yes, I... what will I be expected to do there?" Darthalien had read the invitation three times, and he still wasn't sure.

"Why, mingle, lad! Talk to people! Get to know them. Let them get to know you. The One Power can do amazing things, but it can't teach you how to work with other people. Go and interact with your fellow students."

Darthalien nodded as if receiving his orders, and turned to leave the room.

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Dan
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Re: Mixing It Up! [Attn: All Novices, Soldiers & Drin ~ PC, PSC & NPC Welcome]

Post by Dan » October 27th, 2022, 12:40 am

Three months had passed since she had followed the little threads to this place. Hama Valon, a city of the present age, created by men and women of different creeds, cultures, and beliefs. While there were other places with similar ideals, this place was truly unique in and of itself. She had never seen it's like before, and even after the many moons spent in this place, it still felt so very unreal. There was a chance she could one day be an Aes Sedai. A bloody Aes Sedai!

Yet, Senarah was a little different from her peers, for the chores assigned to her gave the only sort of normalcy currently in her life. She did not mind the menial tasks, for she had been doing them her entire life. It helped root her in the presence, to help others, to help keep the Grey Tower functioning in little ways. This was not home, it was hard to imagine this place as such. But she was a part of something greater than herself, and that was humbling.

The weather was nice, and she felt refreshed. Freshly bathed, hair brushed out, and wearing a crisp clean Novice's dress, Senarah felt good. But with the few months she had spent in this place, she had not made any sort of connections yet, no bonds. She felt as if she was just lost in the shuffle, being an average student, and not the most outgoing of sorts. This was the first real social event she had found herself in, since moving to this place, and butterflies were flying in her stomach.

Watching the men and women going about, she sipped her cup of water. A competitive side of herself she had not known she had held deep within challenged her on one thing, no tea until she learned to channel, and could heat her own water. Ever since she had seen an Aes Sedai perform the feat, she had felt the drive to learn, and do it on her own. She loved tea, but she would have to earn the right to have it. Lessons were so very hard, and in comparison to some of her peers, she was not the best of pupils. How could an innkeepers daughter compare to girls born of nobility, born of soldiers, born of heroes?
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Locke
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Re: Mixing It Up! [Attn: All Novices, Soldiers & Drin ~ PC, PSC & NPC Welcome]

Post by Locke » October 28th, 2022, 1:06 pm

Since coming to the tower, Nasrin’s progress had proceeded in fits and starts. If it was simply a question of channeling ability, the Domani girl would have at least been an Accepted by now. According to her teachers, it was a mindset issue. “You’re such a bright student when you want to be. Too bad you don’t apply yourself more,” they’d always chide her. She did though. Ever so often, she’d get it into her head to go to class regularly, stop playing pranks, and even try to set an example for the younger girls. Something would always happen to throw her off her game, and she’d find her ship against the rocks yet again.

Too strong in the power to be sent away, but too mentally weak to progress. She’d accepted her fate as a forever Novice. She was admittedly just going through the motions these days. Even when she’d gotten news of Miahala’s mixer she only half considered making herself a new dress. She’d probably get in trouble anyway, it wasn’t like one of those balls they’d like to have back in the day. Those were just a reminder of what could have been anyway. Her friends had moved onto bigger and better things. Even Paks had become a full Gaidin. If the woman she’d admired so much had managed it, she was running low on excuses.

As she shuffled through the halls in her Novice Whites, she caught her sight of her shadow. It was a meek, downtrodden thing. No, that wouldn’t do. Moping around would take her further from the path to freedom than even a hundred pranks.

“You do be lookin’ no good, girlie,” she said to her shadow. Patting her cheeks, she straightened her back. She was Nasrin Naceri. Nasrins didn’t skulk around halls like a crab around gulls. A proper Nasrin strutted and swayed through the halls like something described by a girl who was good at similes. Burn it, she would go out tonight, She would have fun, and in the morning she would go to class on time. She hadn’t noticed, but her attempt at the sultry walk of her people had turned into a determined stride. She burst through the hall’s double doors like a general entering a war room and froze for a moment feeling everybody’s eyes on her. No turning back now. She’d heard a saying from Tairens sailors about sailing through the Teeth of the Dragon. No turning back now. Plastering on a smile that she didn’t know if she totally felt, she approached somebody at random.
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Ashfalcon
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Re: Mixing It Up! [Attn: All Novices, Soldiers & Drin ~ PC, PSC & NPC Welcome]

Post by Ashfalcon » October 29th, 2022, 12:48 am

Darthalien watched the young woman in the Novice dress push the door open and stride into the gardens, and blinked in surprise. Unexpected steel... One moment she'd been hunched in, self-effacing. The next, she'd blossomed into a determined, commanding presence. She would have made a fine Weaver. He didn't know if the same could be said for her as an Aes Sedai, but then he was still learning what Aes Sedai were, what they did, what purposes they held. That they seemed so similar to the Weavers of his homeland did more to obfuscate than reveal.

He wasn't so impressed that he failed to take advantage of her grand entrance, slipping in behind her and surveying the area. He didn't stop beside the door; that would have been too obvious. Instead, after a brief pause to glance around, he circled towards the food tables. That gave him the look of doing something definite, and a plate of food in his hand could be used to cover his silence, or for any extended pauses while he tried to remember the right words for things.

Things to learn, things to do. He remembered events like this, and they were always training exercises. The senior Daggers would sit with them later, reviewing things accomplished, opportunities missed, unintentional slips of etiquette, and outright mistakes. Darthalien wondered if the other students knew this already, or if they were due for a surprise.
Last edited by Ashfalcon on October 30th, 2022, 11:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Alianora
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Re: Mixing It Up! [Attn: All Novices, Soldiers & Drin ~ PC, PSC & NPC Welcome]

Post by Alianora » October 30th, 2022, 8:54 pm

Ekaitza Dolrin, Novice
Ekaitza peered anxiously into the clearing ahead, not entirely of just what awaited her. Such a gathering as she'd been invited to this evening felt strange here, in this place that so far had contained nothing for her but long classes and endless chores. She picked at the sleeve of her dress, pulling out a loose thread, then brushed a few specks from the white skirt. It still mystified her that she could be expected to both wear nothing but white every single day, and keep the fabric perfectly clean at all times. That expectation had the novice studying the fabric for a bit longer, but once she was satisfied that it was, indeed, unstained, Ekaitza walked forward and entered the clearing.

She was not the first arrival, and observed that several other novices had already taken seats. Studying their faces, Ekaitza hoped to see Saralin among them, but her cousin wasn't there. Disappointed, she looked around the area, not exactly certain what to do with herself. When her people held events like this, there was dancing, music, familiar and loved faces....here, there were only strangers. It made the Tuatha'an woman feel shyer than she might have otherwise, suddenly sure that everyone was staring at her.

Though she felt nervous, Ekaitza refused to look down as she moved towards the tables of food. She didn't take more than a couple of pieces of fruit, not being very hungry, but eating was something to do other than sit around in what was, for now, mostly silence. Once she was done, she walked to one of the empty seats to eat, passing by an oddly pale Soldier on her way.

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Re: Mixing It Up! [Attn: All Novices, Soldiers & Drin ~ PC, PSC & NPC Welcome]

Post by Ashfalcon » October 31st, 2022, 1:45 am

Darthalien rose from his seat, plate in hand. He had no intention of being rebuked for sitting out the event, even if he didn't understand what goals and objectives he'd been assigned. If nothing else, his cloak-assignment -- Mingle, lad! -- was something he could complete. And perhaps he could uncover his true mission in the process.

He considered possibilities, then crossed to the next table. There was a young woman there, barely more than a girl, sipping at a cup of water: pretty features, soft blond hair... not pale enough to be Pallid, but an intriguing and exotic mix of white and gold. "Hello," he offered. "I think we're supposed to be talking."

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Dan
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Re: Mixing It Up! [Attn: All Novices, Soldiers & Drin ~ PC, PSC & NPC Welcome]

Post by Dan » October 31st, 2022, 2:48 am

So lost in thought, she was startled when a man began to speak to her. The young novice started to cough as she had swallowed water the wrong way down due to being surprised. Grabbing one of the fabric napkins on the table, she covered her mouth as she got it out of her system. She was far from being some noble lady, but she was observant, and had seen many of the older girls do this in times of need. So she could mimic the manners she had seen. She was a novice, after all, and everyone would be judging her on her actions today.

That was something her mother had once told her, no one will judge a woman more, than another woman. In this place of wonders where both common born girls and noble born ladies came from across the land, and lived together under one root, it was inevitable that one would look upon another, and judge. Be it for a valid reason, or a superficial one, if her mother's words were true, it was bound to happen.

She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Her heart was racing with anxiety, and this was not the place for such a thing. Senarah used the moment to centre herself, something she had heard an accepted once say. She had not been sure of the context of the conversation, but the idea was sound. To take a moment, just a moment, to fortify your will for what came next. So she did just that, taking a moment to gather her wits. Perhaps it looked silly to the man, but what was done, was done. It took but a few more breaths for her chest to feel as it should.

Unable to meet the man's gaze due to embarrassment, she said in a raspy, irritated voice; "Hello." She bit her lip in further embarrassment, hearing how irritated her voice was. She was no gleewoman, no singer, but the sound of her voice really irritated her. It even hurt a little to talk. Her accent was that of her homeland, and her voice was rather common and was not all that noteworthy. But she just didn't want her first conversation of the day to be marred by what had happened, and the constant reminder of it. So meeting his gaze very briefly, she offered him a small smile, then took another sip of water, carefully, to try and ease the hoarseness of her throat.
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Locke
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Re: Mixing It Up! [Attn: All Novices, Soldiers & Drin ~ PC, PSC & NPC Welcome]

Post by Locke » October 31st, 2022, 4:24 am

There’d been a time when somebody knew somebody who could get their hands on some, usually cheap, booze. Bottles of liquor or other contraband items would make their way through the lower ranks by method of traded favors, trinkets, or even the occasional silver. Those days were long past, or at least they were for Nasrin, these networks were often built on trust and most of her old network had moved on, some even to third ranks and freedom. The lack was extra stark today. Students stood around in small huddles or lurked alone. There was a notable lack of gaiety, instead it reminded her of a funeral reception.


Nas decided to break her self imposed isolation on the blond Novice sitting alone with a plate of fruit. Ekai- something. Before she could second guess herself, she strode over and straddled a chair in a most unladylike manner. “Hey, girlie,” she said, flashing the confident smirk she’d borrowed from Paks. Nas opened her mouth again and closed it, she had absolutely no plan.
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Ashfalcon
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Re: Mixing It Up! [Attn: All Novices, Soldiers & Drin ~ PC, PSC & NPC Welcome]

Post by Ashfalcon » October 31st, 2022, 11:55 pm

Good to know I'm not the only one who feels woefully underprepared for this, Darthalien thought. Aloud, he said, "I did not wish to ambush you; I hold regret. If you do not wish to speak, I will go." He knew his looks could be off-putting, and he had no intention of forcing his company on anyone who didn't want it. Still, the novice had seemed more surprised than displeased, and the... growl? ... in her voice didn't seem to be reflected in her posture or expression. "I am called Darthalien."

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