From Soldier to Servant (Attn: Bella)

[Cat]

Tristram

He supposed he should have been a bit more sensitive, but the thought of dwelling on anything serious had him wanting to run away. He couldn’t at the moment. There were still times – far too many – when he thought he was only mere seconds away from breaking down. He preferred people to think that he was shallow, vain, only interested in the most superficial of things. That way they wouldn’t look too deeply at him. It wouldn’t take much digging around to learn that Lord Tristram of House Baryn had lost not only his wife, but two of his children, and he really wasn’t willing to deal with all of that.

It was all about distraction, keeping the conversation far away.

Tristram shrugged his own shoulders, allowing himself to frown before he grinned again. “I haven’t even thought much about it. I don’t think I fit into any of them.”

He’d thought about Yellow once, because if he’d been able to Heal he would have saved them all, but Healing didn’t necessarily mean being able to save everyone, and he didn’t want to even run the risk of failing again. How would he be able to cope with that?

He shook away his thoughts and raised his eyebrows. “D’you think they’d let me be Ajahless?”

[Bella]

Well, now that was an interesting question. She paused again, reflecting for a moment that if they kept talking, they would never get the floor done since they kept stopping this way.

"I don't imagine so," she said after a moment, "unless you just never get raised to the cord. Once you attain Asha'man, you have to make a decision." She started scrubbing again. "Or maybe you burn out and join the Warder Yards." She shuddered. "I've heard a couple stories going around about those who have done so. Sounds...unpleasant, at the very least."

[Cat]

Tristram

He was going to be an Asha’man. It didn’t matter how long it took, but he was going to be one. He wasn’t even going to contemplate burning himself out, because it simply wasn’t going to happen. He wouldn’t let it.

Dumping the brush back into the water, he just laughed. “I can’t really imagine myself as a Warder. I’m not really good at following orders, and, well, if I can’t channel, I’d rather just go home. Make love, not war… I haven’t even been to the Warder Yards yet. I don’t think I could cope with seeing people who are much, much fitter than me. My ego would die.”

[Bella]

That drew a laugh from the Novice. It was not a loud sound, or especially joyous, but it was amused. She shook her head as she scrubbed, but somehow, had no trouble believing what he said as the truth. She did not think it false in the name of jest, but truth in the name of jest, which could sometimes be the funnier of the pair.

"My ego is properly secure," she commented, glancing up at him briefly as she changed sections. "I don't imagine I could see myself as a warder either. I'm not sure I have either the build or the temperament for it." Pausing, she bit her lip in a moment of thought. "Although I suppose the Yards would create the build."

[Cat]

Tristram

It was something of a lie. Oh, he didn’t usually go to the Warder Yards during the middle of the day when there were plenty of students about, but he certainly went to them. He was determined that the Tower wasn’t going to change him, despite the efforts of certain Asha’man and Aes Sedai, and a key part of his life had been his sword training. He’d always risen an hour before dawn to go through various routines, forms, and practice, and he hadn’t stopped upon coming to the Tower. No one was to know, though. He couldn’t possibly be sneaking out of bed early, now, could he? You had to stick to the rules!

He let himself smile as he scrubbed at the floor once more, certain that he was simply cleaning the same spot. He didn’t really care. At least the awkwardness in the conversation had ended. Talking about shallower things was far easier.

“Ouch!” and he made a show of grimacing. “That’s not what you were supposed to say! You were supposed to say ‘No, Tristram, you don’t need go the Warder Yards! Your body is stunning enough as it is and you’d be a match for any of those Warders!’” He laughed. “I’ve certainly seen some skinny Warders about, though. I’m sure you’d be fine.”

[Bella]

Andra laughed softly again at his initial response, and then thought idly that skinny wasn't her concern so much as...soft. Softness served one well as a woman, and neither Bel or Chandra had every complained about it, but she did not think it would do as well in being a Gaidin. It seemed being hard was the way about that one, whether narrow or broad.

"You'll have to give me a script next time," she said with humor. "I certainly don't want to continue going around replying incorrectly. It makes one look bad, after all. And it seems neither of us wants that, aye?" She flashed him a smile.

[Cat]

Tristram

He had to have cleaned the entire floor by now, and so he stood in order to get a better look at his work. While he couldn’t say that the tiles sparkled, they certainly looked cleaner, and that was enough for him. There were still a few marks, but he couldn’t be expected to perfect. He dropped the brush in the bucket for the last time, not caring that it splashed, and stretched, glad to be back on his feet.

“Sure. I’ll make sure to bring a script the next time we have chores together,” he said with a grin. “Do you have any requests? Anything you’d like me to say when we’re, I don’t know, doing the laundry together?”

[Bella]

Andraste took a quick look over the work they had done and deemed it acceptable as well. She hadn't been at it as long as he had, but long enough to be glad to see it over with. She put her own brush away and then got up, rolling her shoulders and taking a breath. "I'll take care of that," she said, nodding at the bucket and such. He'd brought it out, after all.

"As for the script, well, I'll leave that to your better wisdom," she said, moving to pick up the bucket. With one more smile at him, she began to turn. "Glad I didn't get this bucket dumped over my head, after all. Take care." And with that, she carried it off to be disposed of before she had to move onto her next chore.