Of Violence and Other Things [Attn: Jon]

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Welcome to the Warder Yards. This is the place for Warder and Trainee roleplays. Informal non-training interactions take place here, as well as some extended role plays. Yet these events may take place at any area of the Tower, and sometimes outside of it, since the images to the left merely serves as inspiration towards the sceneries of your stories. Channelers are always welcome, and might even find his or her bondmate through the threads that are displayed below.
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Andy
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Of Violence and Other Things [Attn: Jon]

Post by Andy » February 20th, 2017, 6:07 pm

It was another hard day, this one filled with sword practise and unarmed sparring. So far these were his weapons of choice, he had decided it was better to concentrate on two than spread himself too thin with four or five like others chose to. He’d much rather perfect an art and then perfect another one than be only half-decent and twice as many. As such he was now circling another Drin, sword lathes poised and ready to smack each other senseless. He actually enjoyed doing it to Viktor, he was so damned hot headed and proud that it made it…satisfying.

A few have gathered to watch, they dislike him almost as much as they look down upon me. Well, used to anyway. Think they’re coming around a bit now he thought, the bubble slipping through his mind before being pushed away.

The Creeper Embraces the Oak, that’s what he was ding now and doing it more successfully than Viktor opposite him. He felt more dangerous these days, not in a violent way but his confidence was growing. His lathe tip teased the man, snaking out high and low at random to be batted away, testing the guard. He let it go on long enough to see the frustration build in the man before stepping into Lightning of Three Prongs and after into Arc of the Moon. Lathes clacked and then his landed the last strike, pulled at the last moment to decrease impact, thudding into Viktor’s jaw.

“And that’s over,” he said cheerfully, “lowering his lather. He had already won four of the five attempts and in all honesty thought Viktor wasn’t good enough to teach him anything himself. He didn’t get credit for teaching others just yet and wasn’t arrogant enough to think he was accomplished enough to do so properly anyway.

“It’s over when I say Farshera!” came the venomous response and the immediate headlong assault.

Unsuspecting he was caught off guard and had to resort to parrying the strikes as he stepped back and sideways, creating room and hoping the man would burn out. He got in enough trouble without having fights with other Drin added to the list. He tried to be restrained, he did, but after the first dozen strikes it was clear that there was going to be no stop and already a few taps had gotten through, enough to sting slightly.

“Enough Viktor, peace” he told him, the other Drin were now starting to see that this was not a normal spar, “peace!”

“Burn you, you little-”

There were no further words, Alrim’s temper had flashed and he had ducked an overhead strike, planting his own lathe square into Viktor’s gut and doubling him over. He span back the other way and took his legs out at the knee, sending him sprawling and spluttering.

“No, burn you for forcing me” he growled as he threw down his lathe and turned away.

He tried to reign in his temper as he went back to where he had left his shirt, the others gave him a slightly wider berth than was needed which only served to annoy him further, it hadn’t been his fault! He found the water barrel and cooled himself off the only way he knew how to - head first. Droplets sprayed as he brought his head back and he slumped down next to a Novice, he hadn’t seen her before and truth be told at that moment he didn’t care.

“Bloody, blood and ashes, burn my eyes for having to deal with a jumped up, arrogant little…he’s a...burn it all” he muttered darkly, venting off his ire and feeling calmer, better in the process.

He sighed, he would end up being blamed for this he just knew it.
~
Arafel Will Rise, Kick Matty's Butt & Be Totally The Most Awesome Land Evar
~

Jon
"Lord of Chaos"
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Re: Of Violence and Other Things [Attn: Jon]

Post by Jon » February 23rd, 2017, 4:10 pm

The afternoon light shone brightly outside the Tower as Lee walked calmly through the corridors. Her destination remained uncertain, but she knew better by now not to let on that she was essentially wandering the Tower. Her lessons and chores today were finished, for now. She was slated to wait on one of the Sisters during dinner, but that was a few hours off from now. Sadly, her few acquaintances in the Tower had not been in the Novice quarters when she’d last been there. The emptiness of the Novice quarters jarred with the sense of community so integral to her heritage as one of the Traveling People. For this reason, she meandered the corridors: better to move than to be alone.

As she drew nearer to the Warder Yards, the sounds of practice swords smacking against one another thumped through an open window. The heartbeat of the training yards repelled and drew her. The Way of the Leaf forbade violence, and her parents had wanted to spare her the sight of violence as much as possible to preserve her innocence. Reflecting on her parents’ attitudes as they led her to the Grey Tower, the feeling of mourning that pervaded their conversations as they walked through Hama Valon could have been rooted in the fact that their daughter’s carefully maintained innocence was beyond their control now. Whatever the reason, Lee’s lack of experience with violence drew her like a moth to the flame as her feet wandered purposefully towards the sounds.

---

So, Lee became a face in the crowd as she witnessed a practice spar turn excessively violent. Her eyes glued to the Drin who sought peace in the place of anger. His calls for peace were enforced by a decisive blow that ended the conflict. The practicality of the action resonated within her. The use of power made sense, but it did not fit with her beliefs. The good little Tuatha’an girl inside her, the girl she’d been for her parents for as long as she remembered, rebelled against the thought of necessary use of power. This was not the Way of the Leaf. There was no excuse for violence. The Way of the Leaf taught acceptance to what came, contentment in both joy and suffering. To strike your own path, to force your own will onto the world around you, this was not done.

With the fight ending, the crowd watching was breaking up. Some of the Sisters watching the bout rushed forward to offer the other Drin healing. Novices and Accepted made their way either back into the Tower or towards other sparring matches. Lee did not think she could watch more people fighting, and she still wasn’t needed in the Tower. So, she sat in her thoughts, and she was so lost in her troubled mind that she didn’t realize the Drin who had ended the fight had made his way to her until he sat down next to her, bringing her out of her thoughts.

Now that he was so close, the pressing issue for Lee was not that he had just finished fighting but that his shirt was off. Certainly, she had seen men without their shirt on as they worked on wagons in their caravan, but she’d never seen one so muscled and so close to her. The proximity charged the space between them, and she felt her heartbeat speed up as a result. “Be careful or one of the Sisters might call you down for your language,” she whispered to him with an eye on the nearest Aes Sedai. Fraternization between tower trainees was allowed, but Lee doubted any Sister would appreciate a Novice getting too friendly with any man—even if he was a Warder Trainee.

“You handled that well, I think,” Lee added with a look towards the training circle. “I honestly have no experience with weapons of any kind, so I really don’t know.” That rapid beating in her chest led to a tingling in her shoulders and arms. Her mind raced with the words she wanted to say. She was lonely, so she didn’t want to chase away this man, but she was conflicted because she knew that his actions did not align with her beliefs. This did not mean she could not interact with him; she knew her parents interacted with violent people whether in cities or when they traveled with the people for a time.

“I don’t really like violence,” she understated. “Peace over violence at all costs is a bit of a family motto.”
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This is Laoise, or Lee for short.

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Andy
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Re: Of Violence and Other Things [Attn: Jon]

Post by Andy » February 23rd, 2017, 5:33 pm

"They can come and smack me with sticks for all I care," he snorted, "would just be the same stuff, different day" he shrugged in response to the voice.

He sighed deeply, breathing out sharp and fast as he vented his temper out upon himself. Whoever it had been to speak didn't deserve it, they had been trying to help him. Still he was in no mood for Aes Sedai, Asha'man or Gaidin and their flaming speeches. Half of them were hypocrites from what he could gather anyway. Besides which tempers were always flaring these days, it must have been something in the water, or the wind. He pressed the heels of his palms into his eyes, rubbing them slowly and then doing the same to him temples. He slipped his training shirt back on, leaving it open as he couldn't be bothered to do it up but it would keep him warm at least.

"I'm sorry, he just annoyed me. Shouldn't take it out on you," he turned around to look at the newcomer, a Novice he had already guessed but confirmed, "so please forgive me. Alrim Farshera" he nodded at her.

Her words puzzled him, they were so at odds with the Grey Tower's purposes in many ways that he thought she might be joking at first, mocking him slightly as Fiona had been so adept at doing. Once he had had a good look at her though, the cast of hr face and the way she held herself it was clear that she meant every word. He wondered who would have the job to break it to her that the Shadow didn't care what her beliefs were. He was not so cruel and so struck a more diplomatic tact. He wasn't in the habit of insulting pretty little Novices.

"I handled it proportionate to his stupidity. Viktor's been in the habit of pushing others around for some time, he just didn't think he would ever get hit back for it. He attached me and I was within my rights to do what I did. I suppose that I could have been gentler but perhaps now he will think twice before taking advantage of others" he told her, snorting at that idea, he knew it was unlikely.

But least he knows there's someone bigger and better than he is around, he might leave others alone. Just try for me. I can deal with it if so he told himself privately, already thinking of ways to put the man down a peg or two again.

"As to weapons, get used to them is all I can say. They're everywhere and if you ever get to leave the Grey Tower it will probably be with a Gaidin escort. Or Warder. They tend to use them to defend their wards" he was quite factual on that point and his tone reflected that.

"Violence has its uses but peace is usually better," he conceded, he always preferred peaceful relaxation over fighting after all, "trouble is when you're from the Borderlands the Shadow doesn't care. The Blight creeps onward regardless. You fight, or you die. I'd rather live myself. And if I ever have to fight in the Last Battle then you can bet everything you own I will be killing things so other people don't have to. Call it a sacrifice for beliefs like peace"

"What family has that motto then? Noble House down south? You a princess?" he asked, half-joking and half-serious, it wouldn't be the first time he had met someone from a higher station in life.
~
Arafel Will Rise, Kick Matty's Butt & Be Totally The Most Awesome Land Evar
~

Jon
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Re: Of Violence and Other Things [Attn: Jon]

Post by Jon » March 6th, 2017, 2:11 am

The hurt in this trainees voice pained Lee. Even though she wasn’t sure where she stood in relation to her family, her beliefs—or former ones if she decided to lose herself. Funny how the Tuatha’an called those who abandon the Way of the Leaf—they call them the Lost Ones. Was she already Lost by coming to the Grey Tower? She was lost in thought, self-focused thought to be precise, that Lee barely registered that the Drin had apologized and introduced himself. “Laoise Arged,” she said with a smile, “but my friends call me Lee.” Realizing that she should probably say something about his apology, she added, “Don’t worry about before. I understand how annoying training can be.”

His explanation of how the situation had played out made sense, so Lee nodded in response to his words. The novice quarters was not a peaceful place either. Some of the initiates were known for pursuing grievances, but the strictures of custom, let alone Tower Law, kept anyone from resorting to violence. Lee didn’t know if she could bring herself to retaliate if she ever found herself in that kind of situation. She kept her heritage close to her chest because of the reputation she was sure other initiates would have heard. Tinkers were not well loved by many. However, she couldn’t imagine living in a place where violence was expected, where people were being trained to be violent, and then not be expected to resort to violence to settle matters. At least, Alrim had let the violent play out in the sparring ring and not in a dark alley. Could there be a violence that wasn’t wrong? The question jarred Lee as many of the questions she was wrestling with recently did.

“An Aes Sedai once told me there is more to being Aes Sedai than violence,” she added in response to his get used to it comment. “She said that my following the Way of the Leaf need not conflict to my being Aes Sedai—if I eventually attain the shawl.” There was nothing that said she wouldn’t die in training. All of her problems would be solved by then. Lee didn’t think that initiates learned how to really use battle weaves. “You flatter me,” she added with a smile in response to Alrim’s comment about her being nobly born. That smile faded though, as the logical revelation came to her mouth. She continued in a softer voice: “I am a simple Tinker’s daughter who happened to be born with the spark.” Lee hadn’t voluntarily revealed that to anyone at the Grey Tower before, and she was uncertain how this Warder trainee would take her revelation.
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This is Laoise, or Lee for short.

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Andy
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Re: Of Violence and Other Things [Attn: Jon]

Post by Andy » March 6th, 2017, 6:04 pm

She seemed to be almost bashful about her heritage, he could understand why if they were outside of the Grey Tower but within the walls of stone they now sat it mattered little. Prejudices existed but were usually quickly beaten worked or flat out flattened out of anyone who held them, or acted upon them at least. That was the whole point as far he understood it, they were one big army now. There were no uses for dissenters and saboteurs, or morale, unity or otherwise. He tilted his head and looked at Lee, considering.

"And I am the son of a merchant who hoped I would be the future of my family. He ended up disappointed," he shrugged off the memory and looked at her directly, eye to eye, "we are who we are Lee. Doesn't mean it makes you less than the rest. We've got nobles, farmer and more side by side. Only your merit gets you anything, not your past"

"One, big, happy family," he chuckled, "siblings one and all, seeking attention from those up high" he grinned, it was a source of eternal amusement.

He mostly wanted to be left alone to get on with being better, it was just his luck that he was not allowed to be. Viktor was just one of his many little siblings seeking to one up him under the assumption there was some secret ranking system. He was pretty sure himself that the only ranking system was 'dog tired', 'busy' and 'nothing to do so you better get busy'. It was why he never bothered with competition, he just ended it and got on with things.

"There are the Yellows I suppose," he offered, a slither of sympathy filling him at her tone of voice and posture, "they devote themselves to healing others. I can't say it would be easier than the fighting but might be closer to...your philosophy"

"How did you end up here? As far as I knew Tinkers kept themselves to themselves. How did they find you? Have you been here long?" he asked her gently, seeking something to talk about.
~
Arafel Will Rise, Kick Matty's Butt & Be Totally The Most Awesome Land Evar
~

Jon
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Posts: 365
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PC: Laoise "Lee" Arged, Novice
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Re: Of Violence and Other Things [Attn: Jon]

Post by Jon » March 18th, 2017, 5:35 pm

Lee wanted to think that Alrim’s would soothe her aching heart. She wanted so badly for her pain to be the sort that simple statements of truth cleared away, like a broom sweeping up the fallen leaves. But she felt his words only drive the hurt deeper, spread the cracks inside of her further, and she doubted she was going to be able to pick up the pieces. He didn’t understand the struggle between the Way of the Leaf and what she thought she’d done—what she thought she’d be capable of doing. The fact that violence was something she could do—even though she hadn’t had full control—crumbled the foundation on which she’d built her life. No one but another Tinker would really understand, and no other Tinker would talk to her now. She was Lost.

“We are not immune to the turning of the wheel,” she said with sad smile. “And the Pattern involves us all. I was born with the spark, so when it manifested, they brought me here. We were in the southeast, in what I think is Tarabon in name, and Hama Valon was the closest place to take me so that I could learn.” She didn’t tell him about Aunt Verbena and her death on the road to Tar Valon. That story was one she’d only heard when her parents discussed with the Seeker of their caravan where to take Lee now that she’d manifested the spark. He had wanted to take her all the way to Tar Valon, but they convinced him that Hama Valon would be a quicker journey, most likely saving her life in the process. “One in four women with the spark survive learning on their own,” she explained to him in case he didn’t know, “so any Tuatha’an caravan will pack up and head for Tar Valon when the spark appears in a girl. We just happened to be closer to Hama Valon, so I ended up here.” She could feel the sadness in her cheeks, and she tried to smile through the pain so that he couldn’t see it too.

“What about you, Alrim?” she asked before realizing she was bringing the conversation closer to the topic she wished to avoid—violence. Her desire not to have to talk about herself was so strong that she continued anyway. “What brings the son of a merchant to the Grey Tower?” Leaving family was not something she had ever wanted, so this man’s story intrigued her as well as scared her.
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This is Laoise, or Lee for short.

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Re: Of Violence and Other Things [Attn: Jon]

Post by Andy » March 18th, 2017, 9:11 pm

“Yes, the odds always seem to be against Tower folk, one way or another. Channellers seem to get the worst of it to start off with,” he scratched his chin idly, “not sure how things are as you progress the ranks. Seems better than the Gaidin lot in some ways. Hopefully you will find happiness in time” he stated softly.

He knew how it went, arriving new and fresh faced but not really wanting to be at the Grey Tower at all. He knew little of the Tinker’s lot but he knew enough to know they were a tightly knit band. For Lee it must have been terrible to be parcelled off, far from friend and family and in a place where her philosophies were not really taken on. At least not so far as he had seen. He tilted his head as he looked at her, there was sadness in her face though she tried to hide it. He didn’t want to probe too deeply.

Better to let her deal with it, say what she wants when she wants. No one likes being forced to. Least of all me and I should know he told himself.

“As for me, I was sent away. Disowned. Did one too many bad things to a father who was infinitely patient,” he stated blankly, he was used to it now the pain had eased and been replaced with stubbornness, “so I was sent here to become better. It’s worked, after a fashion” he shrugged.

“Don’t suppose I’ll ever see them again, my family. I’d like to but not sure they’d ever have me back. The Wheel weaves indeed, Lee,” he smiled at her sadly, “tell me of your people. I have never had dealings with them myself, only heard rumours. What happens when you get your training? Do you go back?”

He asked her for a few reasons but mostly out of curiosity. How often could you sit down and talk to a Tinker? There were other reasons though, because he knew first hand that not talking about something only made it worse in the long run. Bottled up sadness turned to hate and acting out. It was one of the things that had gotten him into trouble, as well as his general laziness. It seemed harsh but it was true.

“Perhaps, here, is not the right place for such conversations,” he stated after a few moments, it was a warlike place after all, “have you seen the gardens? They are more...peaceful. I don’t mind showing you” he offered.
~
Arafel Will Rise, Kick Matty's Butt & Be Totally The Most Awesome Land Evar
~

Jon
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Re: Of Violence and Other Things [Attn: Jon]

Post by Jon » March 18th, 2017, 10:15 pm

Will you go back? The question was simple enough, but the depth was enough to drown her if she let it. Sinking into sadness, she would never see a sunrise again if she let herself dive the depths of his question. Laoise searched his eyes, looking for an anchor that might save her from the depths. Light preserve me she thought to herself as she felt the corners of her eyes fill with tears, unshod pools of brine—splashes of her diving deep into his question. She looked away. Hiding her tears was the only recourse. She would not let him see her cry.

“Aes Sedai are bound to the Tower,” Laoise repeated mechanically, reciting a lesson she’d heard often since coming to the Grey Tower. “Plus, women who channel age differently than the rest of the world. If I were to take the Oaths, I could expect to live near to three hundred years. If I don’t take them, I am not sure how long I would live.” A part of Laoise’s mind hesitated at sharing more details about how the power changed the people who wielded it, but she didn’t care. Alrim should know, in any case, if he was planning on bonding a Sister. “It starts when we first touch the Source. I won’t age normally now that I’ve begun to channel. The Whites or the Browns could explain why.”

Finding her anchor in the recitation of her lessons, Lee had survived the initial plunge. Now, she could surface and find her bearings. The shore couldn’t be too far away. She need only to let the weight of her shame go, let it fall to the ocean floor. If only she could bring herself to do it. He saved her, though, from having to find her way just yet. “The Gardens would be nice,” she said. “I have been sent there a few times to do chores, but I haven’t been on my own time as of yet.” She stood from where they were seated and held out her hand to him. “Lead on, good sir,” she said with smiling lips serving to distract from the evaporating trails on her cheeks.
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This is Laoise, or Lee for short.

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Andy
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Re: Of Violence and Other Things [Attn: Jon]

Post by Andy » March 19th, 2017, 1:27 pm

He hadn’t meant to make her cry and for that he felt sorry indeed, though as he took her hand and saw the smile he smiled back and pretended as if nothing had ever happened as he walked them towards their destination. He kept up some idle chatter, sharing rumour and the rest, small things to provide a distraction, nothing of true substance. Perhaps now was not the time to offer direct help, he reflected, but instead to provide an escape. He was good at that it seemed, he escaped anything serious he could. Soon enough they were stepping into the leafy sanctuary of green.

“I come here often,” he confessed easily, “I find it much more relaxing than the Yards. I don’t mind the sparring but after a while it becomes tiresome. Plus there’s the whole ko’di thing, can’t concentrate enough with the noise. But here....it’s peaceful. Thought you might find it more to your liking” he told her as he led them down one of the myriad paths there were.

He breathed in deeply, the rhythm and grace of his walk shifting slightly as it always did in this space of tranquillity. The scents of the flowers, the ones that remained through the use of the One Power reached his nose and his muscles relaxed further. The sound of trickling water began to reach their ears as he steered them towards a destination he had in mind. He let go of Lee though, he was in no rush and if she wished to explore freely he would have no objection to it. He remained mindful of what had happened to Zarayne though and so remained vigilant.

Not likely to happen but still...not again he affirmed to himself.

“It is a place, I think, where I could spend many lifetimes,” he told her, “beautiful and fragile. One of the few places that I would protect, I think. The Drin don’t like to show it but they value this place. I should know, I am one,” he grinned, “I bet you’ve seen some nice places like this already though, eh?”

She had travelled far and wide he bet and seen many a place that would have good memories and beauty associated with them. He loved his Arafel but it had nothing like the Gardens outside of the capital, maybe. Perhaps not even then. He was genuinely enchanted by the Tower’s green miracle.
~
Arafel Will Rise, Kick Matty's Butt & Be Totally The Most Awesome Land Evar
~

Jon
"Lord of Chaos"
Posts: 365
Joined: February 16th, 2016, 11:11 pm
PC: Laoise "Lee" Arged, Novice
Location: Dallas, Texas
Contact:

Re: Of Violence and Other Things [Attn: Jon]

Post by Jon » April 5th, 2017, 3:28 am

Lee stepped into the quiet, green sanctuary that was the Grey Tower gardens. She came here more than she might have liked because of her chores. She was inevitably the one Novice always assigned to sweeping the leaves, but she didn’t mind. Living in a building was weird enough for her as it was that having access to nature--albeit cultivated and not wild--was enough for her to feel at home. The walls of the Grey Tower were starting to feel like home to her, but the woods would always be her true home. She would always have part of her that would welcome the open road and a traveling wagon--a part of her that would always be a Tinker.

“Yes, the gardens are lovely,” Lee said with a smile. She watched as Alrim loosened up, and she realized that she like the young man. It wasn’t infatuation. No, she knew that feeling in her stomach that said more was at play than simple friendship, but she didn’t hate Alrim for his use of weapons as she might have once done. Time at the Tower was changing her. He was multifaceted, as their jaunt through the gardens was proving, and she realized to judge him solely on his abilities with weapons would be to judge him too soon. “I come here myself more often than I’d like,” she added, “like I said before. I come for chores, but this place always makes me feel so at home.”

He left her behind, so she took the initiative to find a tree near where they were. She plopped her white seat down into the green grass, her back resting against the stump. If she got grass stains on her dress, the Sisters would probably punish her, but it would be worth it. Kicking off her slippers, she felt more like her old self, and the world made sense somehow. “The gardens are to me what they are to you, Alrim,” Lee admitted after his confession. “I am not one for being indoors. The Tuatha’an spend their lives traveling in wagons. Our nights are spent under the stars, whether painted on the wagon roof or in the night sky. I miss the feeling of being free, but I get some of that when I visit the gardens.” She leaned her head back, brown hair resting on the rough bark. “I can pretend when I am here,” she sighed as she felt her tension soak into the earth beneath her.  
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This is Laoise, or Lee for short.

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