A Blank Slate (ATTN: Roan)

[Leala]

Torianin wondered what her life would had been like had she been born here, but only for a moment. The thought of it made her disappointed in her own past. She had had such a good upbringing, with a loving pair of parents and a twin sister that she was close with, but all that had changed in an instant. She didn't dwell on it for too long, though. She had to remember to concentrate on the present and the future as well. Tia's comment about the dress made her giggle, though. "You want to get out of the dress, and I don't ever want to go back to my old one. I don't know what Ajah I will choose, but it will not be the Grey Ajah, just by virtue of the color. I know that is a silly reason, and that Aes Sedai and Asha'man do not have to wear the color of their Ajah all the time, but I would still rather not wear that particular shawl." Even if it was just out of stubbornness, she would not.

Tia had been training for longer than Torianin had, under the supervision of the Grey Tower. She could tell already that the classes were designed to move slowly, at a safe pace. She knew that she was lucky not to have had any mishaps with the One Power while she was a damane. "It seems like it's taking me forever to be raised, too. But, I think that's because Aes Sedai tell me every chance they get that I should have been already. Mirin Sedai is being patient, though, and I'm grateful for that." She trailed off, then decided to ask another question. "I've only been in these lands for a few months. I haven't heard of Saldaea. What is it like there?"

[Roan]

There was a twinkle in Tia's eye at the mention of Saldaea. To truly understand what it meant to be a Borderlander meant living there for a time. . .with the threat of the Blight on your doorstep, and the thread of the Shadow invading your very home. Perhaps it wasn't quite so dire as that, but for those who lost their homes and lives to the Blight, it was worse. Despite the challenges and threats, Tia was proud of her homeland, "It is beautiful and varied, wild and peaceful. . .all at one, depending on where you are."

Tia gave a wide grin as she continued, "My Mother's family owns a horse farm, and breed some of the best horses in the land. Saldaeans, though, are known for our equestrian skills. I don't think anyone can match a Saldaen when it comes to light cavalry skills." She quirked a brow as she considered what to add to her answer, "I didn't see much of Saldaea beyond the small hamlet I grew up in, and then what we saw as we traveled to the Tower after the summons my parents received.

"Duron is much smaller than Hama Valon. . .and nothing like the city or what we have here at the Tower. I had a lot of fun exploring with my brother before I had to sign the books and become a Novice," she couldn't help the slightly sad tone as she spoke. She had a lot less freedom as a Novice, and missed spending time with her brother, but there was little to be done about it aside from working very hard to become Accepted so that she could have a little more freedom to do as she wished.

[Leala]

Torianin smiled as she listened to Tia. It sounded a lot like her own home life before everything changed. She remembered days playing with her twin sister, and how close they had been, being identical. Their mother would always roll her eyes and throw her hands up in the air when they wanted to keep something from her, but she didn't know what. She still wondered what had been said to Lumanin during her training to become sul'dam to make her hate Torianin so. She wondered if perhaps they would have become novices together, had they grown up on this side of the sea. "It sounds like a wonderful place," she said wistfully. She made a note to find it on a map some time.

"My father was a silver smith," she explained, "and my mother was a seamstress. I don't know what they did after my sister and I became sul'dam and damane. My father had started to talk like he wanted me as an apprentice. He even had some clients among the Blood. My mother had too hard of a time trying to keep up with my sister and me to expand her business, though." She wanted to recount some funny moments with her sister, but that subject was too close to what had happened in class that day.

[Roan]

Tia tilted her head as she listened, realizing yet again she and her roommate came from very different beginnings. She was fascinated by just about everything Torianin talked about, and how casually she mentioned her sister and her being sul'dam and damane. The concept of such a system was. . .terrifying for Tia, to be sure. The idea of being in a collar, and treated as a thing, as opposed to a person? Admittedly, she didn't know much about Seanchan aside from stories told here and there meant to frighten children. It seemed unfathomable that a person would treat someone else in such a manner.

"So if you hadn't become. . .if things. . .," Tia hesitated, not meaning to sound so awkward, but it was clear that this part of Torianin's past was less than pleasant. She cleared her throat and tried again, "Sorry, Tori. . .Torianin. What I was trying to ask was what would you have wanted to do if things had been different? Would you have wanted to train with you father? And...would you be ok if I called you Tori instead of Torianin?"

[Leala]

Torianin felt her shoulders tense up as Tia asked her questions. They were so simple, and there was no malice behind them, but still her mind race. "I think...if we hadn't been found to be sul'dam and damane, I would likely have trained with my father," she said, nodding her head. "I would have served the Empire and the Empress, ma..." She stopped herself from finishing that memorized blessing. The Empress was still the Empress, but Torianin no longer felt fealty to her. "It's very likely that I would have accepted being damane completely, had my twin not...done what she did." It made her uncomfortable just to admit that, but the other sul'dam were willing to reward her for good behavior and train her delicately...Lumanin did no such thing.

"But, uh...I'd rather you call me Torianin," she said, feeling warmth come to her cheeks. At least the other girl had asked. "For right now, my full name reminds me that I'm still me." She laughed nervously. She wasn't sure if what she was saying would even make sense to her roommate. Consciously, she knew that she would understand, but there were still those nagging voices that reminded her of how different she was.

[Roan]

While Tia knew of the Seanchan, she did not understand the complexities of their culture. The idea of becoming damane willingly was such a foreign concept to the young Novice, and it fascinated her, in a way. Something else Torianin said caused Tia to perk up, "Twin? Your sister is a twin?" She couldn't help the grin as she perked up, "My brother and I are twins, as well.

"Even though I don't get to seem him every day now that I am a novice, Einion is kind of my best friend," she explained. With a shrug, Tia added, "We have always been close, and given how many of the other Novices tend to be towards me, he's kind of been my only friend since I became a Novice. . .at least until recently."

The goofy grin became a bit more subdued, "Torianin it is, then. A reminder of who you are is important." Not wanting to dwell to much on delicate subjects, Tia jumped to a new one, "What classes does Mirin Sedai have you enrolled in, and what classes are you hoping to take?"

OOC: I am SOO soooo soooo sorry for the late reply. Real life has been insane lately