A Sister's Attention (Attn: Cat)

[Craig]

Elia

This wasn't the moment for levity, yet a maddening sense of euphoria ran up from the Mistress of Novices' slippered toes to the top of her moonstone-lined head. She could see in her mind's eye several ways to set Johan down a path that would lead him into the palm of her hand. He had revealed his pressure points, his ambitions and his intentions. Elia just needed to hand the information off to one of her lackeys, and the seeds for the Drin's diversion into the Shadow would be planted for her.

But why waste time with lackeys?

Elia's external response was to nod softly, with only partially feigned empathy. "I can make arrangements for your family to be brought to Hama Valon." She donned the motherly tone reserved for her novices. Just like a child, the seed needed to be nurtured and nourished gently. "Depending on their ages, they can be looked after by the Mar a'Mael or found professions within the Tower or city."

The former would be the easiest solution: bundle the little ones off to the care of others, leaving the cost and maintenance to the Grey Tower itself. Elia smiled at the thought of Murdock having to go over the numbers for all of that. Pawns looking after the pawns. But if they were older, she would need to find apprenticeships or menial labour in the Tower. Better if Johan's siblings weren't close at hand. Better if they were within her own easy reach, but not within Johan's.

Malachite eyes widened not with the anticipation of being able to help, but with the desire of entrapping yet another recruit. "The protection of Hama Valon, the Grey Tower, and the Mistress of Novices. I don't think you could find a better offer, and I'm sure this would come under your definition of something that counts."

OOC: Sorry it's short

[Cat]

Johan

Thank you, Aes Sedai! That’s brilliant! Wonderful! Amazing! I couldn’t ask for anything more! Wow!

That should have been the response, but instead a look of horror crossed Johan’s face at the Aes Sedai’s words. It was there for all of a few seconds before he managed to stamp down on it, but it was there. The idea of his siblings being here, so close to Aes Sedai, was not a pleasant thought. It was why they hadn’t already joined him. He simply didn’t trust the Tower enough. He wanted his family, therefore, to stay far, far away.

He bit his lip, once again avoiding Elia Sedai’s gaze, and shifted where he stood, suddenly back to be every bit as uncomfortable as he had been at the beginning. Every thing about him -from his expression, to his stance, the way he held himself- made it obvious that he wanted to very much run away and not have to answer. He was pretty sure that he wouldn’t say no right now to the ground opening up beneath him and swallowing him whole.

“I…” he began, and then stopped, wondering just what he was supposed to say and how he could say it. He glanced back at the Tower. It dominated everything within view, took over, and he didn’t want that in his siblings’ lives. Never. They were better off in Ebou Dar.

“I…” he continued after a moment, stopping and then starting once again. He made himself smile, even as he shook his head. “Thank you for the offer, but they’re happier in Ebou Dar. It’s what they know. They wouldn’t be happy or comfortable here, and I couldn’t do that to them.”

OOC: Thought the post was great. Like the bit about planting seeds for a diversion into the Shadow! I really don't care about post length, so don't apologise!

[Craig]

Elia

Had the stakes been higher, or had the prize been more sizeable, Elia would have cursed her luck. Little acorns grew into mighty oaks, but Johan was still quite the little acorn. If she had to uproot him later once he was a sapling, that was still worth waiting for. All the Indigo said was "Of course" in a tone that made it seem like that was the only answer she had ever expected to hear.

The voice inside her head swore furiously. Snubbed by a flaming Drin! A bloody Ebou Dari street rat! Why did Ravak even bother with such nuisances? She wanted to hurl Johan's words back at him. How could they be safer in Ebou Dar when he'd lost members of his family already? Maybe he really wasn't worth the energy when his thought processes were so stunted. She didn't need another lesser version of Murdock on her hands.

For all of the hurly-burly inside, Elia maintained Aes Sedai grace externally. She smoothed out her dress in a comforting motion. "Well, I feel like I have interrupted you for too long in your duties, Johan." She cast a glance back at the Tower in private mockery of the Drin's daydreaming. "Unless there is anything you wish to ask, I shall bid you a good day." She wanted to add "But think on my offer", except that would have been pressing the matter too much. Still, the word "No" was one Elia liked to say but didn't like to hear.

[Cat]

Johan

He didn’t know what kind of answer he had been expecting, but, from what he knew of Aes Sedai, ‘no’ was not something they were used to hearing. The fact that he was still standing and not a pile of ash was something of a surprise to him, and he let out the breath he hadn’t realised he’d been holding. He just had to hope that she meant what she’d said and that he hadn’t suddenly, without even meaning to, made his life at the Tower even harder than it already was.

Quickly, and without much grace, Johan sketched a bow, making sure as he straightened that his face was back to the blank mask. He allowed himself a small smile, as if pleased by the Aes Sedai’s words. And he was pleased; he could have jumped for joy at being allowed to escape, but he didn’t let that show either. The slight added tension to the way he held himself, the way his whole body spoke of being ready to bolt, could still, he hoped, be put down to his nerves.

“Thank you, Aes Sedai,” he said, trying not to let his eagerness to be gone show in his voice. “It’s been a pleasure speaking to you. There’s nothing else I have to ask.”

He would have walked away, then, but he’d learnt fairly swiftly that lower ranks waited to be dismissed and did not dismiss themselves first.