Breakable, Unbreakable, Shakeable, Unshakeable

[Locke]

Another Mayener

Being used to something didn't make the thing any easier. Alric had learned that and many other lessons as a soldier. As a soldier, he had also had to sit by the bedside too many infirmed friends.

Ashes Nate, what did they do to you? Since he was getting his information from Garhald, he thought he knew what he was in for. He had come back from a mission raving mad and feral. According to scuttlebutt, he had even tried biting Maever. They were letting visitors in now so he had to be safe to be around, or he was thoroughly sedated. Still, he felt bad for not visiting earlier.

He pushed the door open with a knock, unsure what he’d find. His friend's haggard form drew his eyes before anything else. Weeks in a hospital bed had left him looking scruffier than usual. His cheeks were pale and sunken beneath the beard, and if he was conscious, he didn't show it. People had already been through with gifts, and the Drin, Alrim sat by his bed side talking.

Closing the door behind him, Alric pulled a small flask from his pocket and took a drink. He doubted the Drin would have any complaints. Screwing the cap back on, he said, “You'll be sad to learn, I didn't have to fight my way through a crowd of weeping women to get here”
Alric flashes an almost schoolboyish grin before it was consumed by an exhausted sigh. “Light, Scruffs, we seriously need to stop meeting like this.”

To Alrim he said, “You’re not going to tell anybody, right?” He slipped the flask beneath Nate's pillow. “I see Affie hasn't visited yet, there's not a banana in sight,” he said to the air between Nate and Alrim. The levity felt hollow to his ears. It was just, better than the alternative. He lay there, injured from events that happened the night of the ball, the same night there had been an attack in the city. It was just like last time, when they'd been soldiers. Did the Tower have plans for a counter attack? Improved safety? Or were they all just sitting ducks?

Unclenching his jaw with a sigh, Alric assessed Alrim directly, “You holding up ok?”

[Chris]

Le Nate Nate didn't really think people were going to visit. Not in a self-loathing sort of way, he just expected it to be another day of being by himself, resting up and putting his thoughts back together properly. He dozed, as he was prone to doing without a real timetable, and lay back on his pillow as his visitors arrived. He didn't pay all that much attention, he'd had dreams of his friends over the last few weeks, and he didn't react to the sound of Bells, or the smell of pies either. It was a part of a pleasant dream.

Oh Bells, he thought fondly, You're more important than you realise, you great trolloc. But I wouldn't wish Vaidulo on anybody I like. Memories of Alrim stepping into the path of The Tank were fresh in his mind, after all. It was one of those memories that resurfaced quite regularly and kept his spirits up. He did miss his buddy. Maybe Alrim would approve of his hair now it was longer, see about getting some of those bells going on? The thought amused the Mayener somewhat.

The thing that really got Nate's attention was when the pillow moved, and something uncomfortable was put under it, something the Asha'man guarding the Dedicated politely turned a blind eye to. Nate grunted a little and took a little longer to realise he was dozing, and to get out of that. The line between awake and sleeping was crossed at a snail's pace but he did open his eye, and he did see two of his favourite people with names beginning with "Alri".

They really were there in the room with him. It had been so long since he'd seen anyone other than Asha'man Gareth that it was a little odd to have people in the room with him. A brief flash of uncertainty crossed his face but then Nate let out a bark of a laugh at the pair of them, getting either attention properly.

"Bloody ashes Sarge," he said to Alric, "I've been here weeks and instead you ask Bells how he's holding up? He's a strong 'un, he's fine. I'm the one in the bloody Infirmary." He shifted to sit upright as he spoke, not lacking in energy, just not used to moving around much recently. Once he was sitting up, wearing a loose white shirt with the buttons undone, he took the lump out from beneath his pillow with a gleam in his eye. No need to guess who this was from.

"It's good to see you both," he went on. "Sarge, Bells. At first I thought you were figments of my imagination. Why the long faces? We have drink, and we have pie as well. My favourite, right?" That seemed to ring true in his head. "Awesome. It's practically a feast if you ask me. One of you cut these pies into threes and we'll have a third each, no point in me eating all of them when I can share with you two. I'd do it myself but I'm not allowed near any sharp objects or, y'know, Saidin." He spoke lightly, shrugging it off as unimportant. It would hopefully change soon. "I guess we need some mugs too. Or Sarge can make some cups of Air for this gin, that'll be something." He waved the bottle towards the man, "it's decided. Sarge sort the gin, Bells sort the pie, and Nate will sit here as the token handsome one until he's fed and watered." He gave them both a grin, "then we let in the hordes of crying women and let them console me. Us. That's a good time, right lads?"

[Andy]

Alrim blinked at the question, he had been in another world, an internal one where he had been trying to figure out what had happened that night. It all coalesced somewhere, he was sure of it - the Ball attack, Hama Valon and all the rest. Whispers and rumours abounded but there had to be some truths to be found and if they had harmed his friend he'd find them if he could. Still, he was startled and turned his head to look up at Alric, finally registering his presence. "I'm okay, just never had a friend laid out before. Suppose should be glad he's alright. Mostly I feel like finding the bastards and having a few punches at them," he shrugged, he was angry underneath amidst the sadness and self-criticism. But not today...some other time. This is for Brawn he reminded himself. It would have been impossible to fit any more of a grin upon his face without splitting it as Nate started to speak and shift himself, clearly he had been awake but had been thinking them an imagination. Perhaps he had had such things before? Alrim didn't think it best to bring such things to the surface, not then, so left it for another time - if at all. Ultimately he was just happy his friend was okay, or as okay as he was going to be after whatever ordeal had ensnared and tripped him. "Brawn! There you are, was wondering if you were alright. See the hair's gone long. Get you some bells like mine one of these days, step at a time" he managed to get out afterwards. He had noted the fact that his friend was not allowed near anything of danger - weapons basically. Or to use the One Power. He tried not to let it show but it worried him. Was the man dangerous now? The Asha'man seemed to indicate so. Yet he seemed the same old Nate as before. He weighed it up internally and found that he trusted Nate more than the warnings. He'd rather have a friend and deal with him than not have one. "Brawn, you're a mad man," he snorted, "but my kind of mad. Go on then" he shook his head musically and took up the pies, handing them out, one third of each for each of them. He would get more soon enough, it was hardly a difficult task. He still did it slowly, with a degree of caution just in case. "Just remember though, clearly I am the better looking one, quite clearly" he grinned.

[Locke]

Alric

“Good thing you’re back with us, Scruffs,” Alric said, with a tired grin. “The tower would be awfully quiet without you.” There was something about the man, he could dispel even the deepest gloom without much trying.

He turned his gaze on Alrim next. He understood where the man was coming from. Seeing a friend laid up in the infirmary wasn’t easy, the first time or the five hundredth time. Uncorking his flask, he raised it in a slight salute, “We’ll get those bastards, don’t worry about that. Just get to cutting that pie.”

After glancing around and not finding any good cup substitutes, and deciding Scruffs’ cups of Air idea seemed somewhat unreliable, he simply put the flask to his mouth and took a swig of gin. “What’s the matter? We’re all brothers here,” Alric said passing the liquor to Nate.

Spoiler: show

bleh, I apologize for it's brevity

[Chris]

Nate just gave his friends a smirk, pleased that they were actually going along with what he suggested. The man did not pretend to be a leader or in charge, and it was really because they felt bad for him that they did as he suggested, but it was nice all the same. Nate wasn't spun glass, he could - would - had! - bounced back. The Mayener would need more than a... he wasn't sure how to sum up his experience. But it would take more than that to keep him down.

The pies were cut and Nate was most pleased by the three flavours that had been brought along. He liked them all but he especially liked these ones, and the first bite of beef was warm, and savoury, and saucy beneath the skin he had broken open with his teeth-

Nate put the pie down and swallowed. It was no small miracle that he managed that much. No wonder Bells handed my pie over like I'm a wild animal, he thought, but he sat on that thought so he could mull over it when he was alone again.

"Better looking? You, Bells?" he asked, taking the offered drink from Alric and having a slightly longer pull than was entirely necessary. "I'm the token handsome one, you're the one with... bells. And the knife. And the badass scar as well, let's not forget that. If I wore bells it would take it away from you and then I'd have to have your share of the ladies as well." Then Nate handed the gin over, because he wasn't precious about sharing a bottle. Alric was the one with the rich family or whatever, not him. "I don't have a scar to show off though..." not a physical one. But people didn't swoon over mental scars, did they, and Nate wasn't about to go showing it off either. 'I tore a man apart with my bare hands and ate him!' wasn't really a conversation starter, unless he was auditioning to be a Darkfriend.

Nate had fallen quiet only briefly, but it was more pronounced because, well, Nate was normally so damn loud, and he looked up from the pie he'd only taken a bite from, to his two friends. "Thanks for being here," he said. "It means a lot to me that you would both show up, with food and drink no less. I really don't know what else a man needs apart from good food, good friends, a strong drink and a pretty lass to sit on his lap, but that last one isn't happening any time soon so I'll make do with the pair of you." He did lift the pie up again, but the sight of it only served to turn his stomach, so he put it on the small table at the side of his bed and wiped his hands together.

[Sunny]

Luck, as usual, was on Fiona’s side. Business had taken her away from the Tower for a week, and in that time, as usual, ridiculous things had occurred. The whispered rumors were more than enough to keep her awake at night. Some weeks after, upon finally achieving the shawl she had never thought to acquire, she received confirmation of what had actually occurred. She kept her head low, her eyes open, and her thoughts to herself; as a new Aes Sedai, and not a particularly strong channeler, she did not know what good she could really do on that front.

The Andoran could continue to assist with making the Tower healthier and happier, however, and thus she frequently visited the infirmary, making her rounds and leaving smiles and relaxation behind her. If her gaze strayed frequently to the door where she knew Nate was staying, she could hardly be blamed. Something terrible had happened to him and even the Yellow Ajah whispered about him as if he were no longer human. She could not claim the Dedicated as a close friend and yet she felt an odd sort of protectiveness for him admittedly at total odds with their differing sizes.

One day, things changed. She sat in a corner folding cotton when she saw Alrim arrive, look about, then casually enter Nate’s chamber. Pale brows rose, but Fiona remained where she was...that is, until Alric did much the same thing. The new Aes Sedai sighed and pushed herself to her feet, making her way to the door with a swish of green skirts. She had no desire to get her friends in trouble, but she did need to ensure they were safe.

A few breaths later she poked her head in the door just in time to hear Nate’s familiar voice. “…A man needs apart from good food, good friends, a strong drink and a pretty lass to sit on his lap, but that last one isn't happening any time soon so I'll make do with the pair of you.”

“I’ll pass on the lap-sitting, but I’m happy to improve upon the decor if you’ll have me,” she commented with a delighted chuckle. “It’s good to see you awake, Nate. I've been worried about you.” She entered the room entirely, glancing from face to face as she belatedly realized that her presence might make things awkward. “Call me Sedai and I”ll bite your shins,” she added cheerfully. “We’re all friends here. Is that a pie?"

[Andy]

"Oh I'm sure we could get you some scars soon enough, take you out to the Blight and see what we're all made of eh?" he returned with, not entirely seriously but the others knew him to be a Borderlander and interested in visiting the scourged northern borders. Can only learn by experiencing after all he told himself as he took a swig of spirits and finished off one section of the shared pie with hearty glee. "As for the bells, maybe one day you'll change your mind. I'll have you know that it is a much admired look. I'd ask Creases to wear them too," he gestured to Alric, "but I'm not sure he'd ever grow out enough to make them look right" he grinned. He shrugged off Nate's thanking of him, it was not required. He was a friend and even though they had not known each other for a lifetime it had been long enough that there were obligations and right things to do - spending time with him after his injuries was one of them and one he did willingly. He accepted the truth of the man's words but would have a word with him one day about his version of friendship. For now he nodded and was about to speak before a most appreciated interruption crept upon them. He stood and offered the chair for Fiona, not because of rank but because she was Fiona. He did, however, choke slightly at her lap sitting reference, his throat burning from the spirits now trying to sear his windpipe. She did always know just what to say to make him react so, it was almost as if she were doing it on purpose. His afternoon with her still counted as one of his better memories at the Grey Tower despite his falling out if his chair. He had kept her secret though, he had no intention of doing otherwise. "Oh I would never call you Sedai, I like my shins as they are," he said as after he had recovered and he offered her one of the last two bits of his pie and leaned against the wall, "my lady" he ended with and fully expected to get a swat for it but he was known to be mischievous as he looked at her. At least he didn't go so far as to bow. "Congratulations, by the way, the Greens have gained quite the asset indeed" he spoke more seriously then, "didn't know you all knew each other. One big family is it?"

[Locke]

Sarge

Alric snorted at the man’s comment about his hair. Reaching up, he pulled a tight curl out to it’s fullest length. “My hair’s plenty long it just doesn’t like to stay that long.” He was reaching for a slice of pie when the door opened again. His eyes shot towards the door, hoping Scruffs had the presence of mind to hide the booze. It was just Fiona. Fiona Sedai now, actually. Not that he expected that to change much. Rank and friendships could make an interesting path to walk, but he doubted they’d have any issues.

Apparently, she was as much a stickler for not being called “Aes Sedai,” as she was for not calling her “Lady.” Something he jokingly did regularly. Something Alrim was doing right now.

“Of course not,” Alric said, fighting to keep a grin off his face. “The title of Aes Sedai is far below the Lady Trakand. I’d hate for her to send a guardsman to bite our shins.” He locked eyes with Alrim momentarily and composure finally broke and he began laughing, glad the man seemed to have a similar sense of humor.

He handed Fiona the slice of pie he’d been reaching for and said, “I’ve been around a bit, and yeah, If you’ve got the right people around you, home stops being a place.” Having expended his sentimentality for the day, Alric grabbed his own slice, and reached for the gin again.

doot doot?

[Chris]

Nate wasn't against the idea of heading to the Borderlands when he was back in action. The idea of heading out there, fighting the good fight, and getting a few nasty scars in the process did have a certain appeal to it, but on the other hand there was also something quite... mindless about it. Unfortunately, the Mayener knew this would not give him the satisfaction he wanted, and that the Green Ajah was not the way out for him. It might have been, before. But now it wouldn't be enough.

Speaking of Greens... the little Aes Sedai who made her way in was familiar to Nate, though he wasn't sure why at first. It was only as she made her way over with a swish of green skirts that he realised it was Fiona, and his smile broadened at her appearance. The woman was beautiful, certainly enough to light up the room, and he hadn't seen a member of the fairer sex in quite some time. She was certainly a sight for sore eyes, even the Asha'man keeping watch had a small nod and a smile for her. It was a real shame she wasn't interested in the lap sitting...

"Fiona," he said in his easy manner, brought out of his ruminating by her fine visage, "it's great to see you and congratulations on the Raising! As Bells here says, the Green Ajah have been blessed." The Dedicated offered Fiona his pie as well, though the other two had already done the same. Still, the gesture was there. "I appreciate you coming in to check on me. Bells, I met Fiona when we..." there was a pause as Nate's eyes glazed over slightly. "We were... er..." the man scratched the back of his head, thick arm tensing, "I'm sorry Fiona, I'm kind of struggling here. I know that I should know, but I don't."

The Asha'man was writing something down in his notebook, no doubt about this little encounter. Nate felt a tinge of heat in his cheeks, and he took the gin so he could have a hearty drink. Yes, they were all friends there, but he ought to bloody well remember what it was he had done with Fiona to get to know her better. Either way though... "the Grey Tower's my family. I'm Mayener and bloody proud of it, but it's the people here that I care for and want to protect." It was a sentiment he hadn't really given much of a thought to, but the idea of any of them being in his position... it was enough to make his heart skip a beat and his arms to tense. He handed the gin back to Sarge before he could drink it all. "All friends here," he repeated. Damned if he could remember how.