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Re: Lost in my Ways (Attn: Craig/Elia)

Posted: February 20th, 2016, 11:56 am
by Teddy
Elia's touch felt warm, and strangely comforting. Cayden usually avoided other people, and he didn't appreciate people touching him for no reason, but this was different. He always felt awkward when people touched him, and he never knew what to make of it. He never could tell if they were being genuine or not. But this... even through her embrace, he could feel the truth of her emotions and her sadness for him. Before he could help himself, a tear started to form in his eyes. No, he shouldn't be crying now. He wouldn't cry. Squinting, he shrugged off the sadness that suddenly crept on him, ready to overwhelm him.

Cayden nodded, and followed the Novice through the hallways of the Grey Tower as she lead him to his intended destination, trying to figure out how he felt about her. At first, he had thought it was her prettiness that made him a little nervous, but it was so much more. He hadn't felt this genuinely confused in a while. Elia was probably the first person in a while who actually came across as a genuine, caring person, and that made him want to be all the more distrustful, but he somehow couldn't get himself to be wary of this red-haired beauty. Still, he would have to force himself not let all his walls come down so easily, not after less than an hour of knowing her.
--- Cayden relished in the refreshing air as they stepped outside. His thoughts had always been clearer outside, and he wanted -no, he needed- his thoughts to be clear now, when they were so jumbled and mixed up. He took a moment to simply breath as he listened to Elia talking about her life before the Grey Tower. A life as a simple civilian, how would that be?, Cayden wondered. He didn't know if it would be better or worse than being a noble. He had always enjoyed the luxury his parentage granted him access to, and he had been horrified by the lack of it here, but the lack of responsibility would probably blissful. Yes, having to worry whether you could eat that night wasn't great, but you had to care about five or six people at most, not tens of thousands.

He was taken aback a little by her apology. What was more surprising was that even her apology was laced with sincerity. The kindness in it dizzied him a little. What was it about this girl that she seemed to know exactly what to say? Was that some channeler trick? Light, he wasn't being manipulated or anything, was he? No, he reprimanded himself, of course he wasn't. Cayden smiled at Elia, with only a hint of sadness. He couldn't help himself, although he managed to keep it relatively positive. "Don't worry, you didn't do anything wrong. You know, this place can be so cold sometimes. Nobody actually seems to be interested in how you are doing, or even in who you really are. It's... refreshing to know not everyone's like that." He sighed. "Does it get better, around here? Does it get less cold and demanding?" The last question came out a lot more bitter than he had expected it to be, and as he thought about it, he wasn't even sure what he meant. Was he talking about the Grey Tower or just life itself?

Re: Lost in my Ways (Attn: Craig/Elia)

Posted: February 22nd, 2016, 10:11 am
by Craig
Elia
Elia wrinkled her nose at the question. She tried to place herself into Cayden's boots but... she couldn't. Her own experience of coming to the Grey Tower had been fantastic. She had a roommate she had seriously bonded with; her first lessons with the One Power had been productive albeit imperfect; and she had found Ravak after he had disappeared however many years ago. No, she couldn't envisage the Grey Tower as cold. Demanding on the other hand...

"I think you may just need to meet the right people." She wanted to lay a reassuring hand on him, but restrained herself. "No matter how hard the Gaidin drill you, you still need to have a life. And trust me, you'll regret it if you don't. You can't put the blinkers on and earn a fancloak without knowing people. What would you do if you were an Gaidin and didn't know anyone?" That question was rhetorical, of course. "But demanding? I think that gets better the longer you are here." If it did, she had yet to see it. But she endured with as good a grace as she could muster. "At least, you learn to cope with it better. And the Warder Yards get more leeway than us in the Grey Tower." She flashed a smile even as a sullen thought came to mind. Apparently they could get food at any time; Novices and soldiers basically had to eat as fast as possible during their appointed mealtimes or go hungry. "I suppose it's because you can't accidentally burn a classroom down if you let your attention wane."

"Maybe you just need someone to... connect with? Someone you can share your thoughts with? Do you have a roommate, or...?" Elia couldn't think of a decent or. Or you can talk to me? Well, maybe he was opening up, but it wasn't easy to maintain a close relationship between a novice and a Drin. Not that she wouldn't try if the need arose. There must be someone else who can help... "If you need some help, my brother may be able to assist? His name is Ravak Darrow, well, Ravak Gaidin. Just under six foot, shaggy hair and beard the same colour as mine, looks Andoran but sounds Shienaran." That was a good enough description to go by. "Just say that his big sister sent you."

Wide green eyes looked up at the lordling. "And if there's anything I can do, please just ask. I know how rough things can be without friends, and feeling like you don't belong." Memories of her year at the White Tower came back to her now. That had been a year of torture, despite her growing confidence in the One Power, and it had ended with her biggest regret. Or second biggest. "Still, you have a friend now Cayden."