ooc: Seeing as there is no kitchen, this shall have to do. :blink:

Ren picked one of the aprons that were for the novices and soldiers that had to wash dishes. After all, they wouldn’t want them to get their precious uniforms dirty. Tying it behind his back, he walked over to join the other novices and soldiers that were cursed with the same fate. Many of the people currently washing dishes had been doing so for weeks- or months, in some cases. It was one of the Towers’ favorite punishments. Picking an open sink, Ren rolled up his sleeves and grabbed a bar of soap. With a great, over exaggerated sigh, he grabbed a dish and began scrubbing it. He was trying to look for the funny aspect of this, but the only amusing part of it was what had gotten him here in the first place. Well, that and the expressions on his fellow dish-washers. He’d been doing this for a week, and it was truly a miserable job. Not because he minded washing all those dishes, although to tell anyone the truth that was rather annoying, but because it was so utterly boring. There was nothing to do but stand there for hours scrubbing. Not one of the more fun activities. Of course, it was certainly intentional of the Aes sedai and Asha’man, for all you had to do was think. Most of the time, the thing that the poor souls who were sentenced here were thinking about was their guilt, and their regret. Light, the Asha’man and Aes Sedai were cunning. They never seem to do anything that wasn’t intentional and had at least two purposes.

Ren grinned at the memory of his own wrongdoing.

Whistling, the solider trotted down the hall, not going towards anything important, but looking as if he was. Ren had long ago discovered that looking idle meant that some Asha’man would jump on him and force him into doing chores or favors for them. It was truly one of the most annoying things that he had encountered. He’d be walking along to a class and then he’d be stopped and told to return a book for some random man he had never met. If it weren’t for the fact that they were powerful channelers and demanded respect, not to mention the chain of command that was so prominent, then he probably would have tried to tell some of them off in very… unkind ways. Normally, Ren would have thought nothing of it, but honestly, the way those men said “frog” and expected him to hop made him want to sucker-punch them.

In this case, Ren was whistling because he’d had a very nice chat with someone that he hoped that he could be friends with. Being the rather optimistic guy that he was, he was hopeful that perhaps there was a sort of friendship in the making. Then again, considering Esoria, perhaps alliance was a better word for it. As it was, he pushed into the mess hall. The sun was about to set, and he hadn’t had supper yet. One of the Dedicated was strutting around. Even if Ren hadn’t recognized him for one of his former classmates, he would have known that he was newly raised. He kept touching the pin on his collar. Caressing it, more like. Probably just wanted to be sure that it was there and it wasn’t all a really happy dream. He seemed to be looking for someone to cause trouble for. Of course, he would spot Ren.

The grin seemed to almost split his face in half. When they were classmates, the boy had disliked Ren, constantly giving him the hairy eyeball, but never actually approaching him, seeing as Ren was a foot bigger than him in just about every way, including height and shoulder width. Now he stalked up until he was standing right in front of him, although he seemed to regret it, since their height difference made him look even shorter and more pathetic than he already was, but he spoke anyway.

“Child, go fetch me…” The boy looked around a moment, as if he was trying to decide what to have him fetch. Jectin was his name, if Ren remembered correctly, which he rather doubted. The boy perked up, obviously having found something to order Ren to get him. “Go fetch me a book on dreamwalking.”

That’s about when Ren broke Jectin’s arm.

Honestly, he hadn’t meant to. He’d grabbed Jectin’s pointing hand, spun him around, and twisted his arm up behind his back. Really, it had been so effortless. So easy to just twist a little too hard… When the bone snapped, Jectin screamed. Little wimp. Ren had sustained worse injuries without half as much fuss. He felt not a single stab of regret. Not even when the nearest Asha’man got to him and sentenced him to two weeks of dish duty. Although he had had to press down a wave of satisfaction when one of his other classmates had whispered in his ear.

“Nice job. Ha, I wish I had done that.”

Ren was chuckling when he stopped his musing, noticing that he’d been scrubbing the same dish for the last ten minutes. Hastily placing it on top of the other dishes he’d finished, he grabbed for another, hoping that he’d managed it before the Mistress of the Kitchens noticed. Since she didn’t come over to yell at him, he assumed he’d gotten by.

Thank the light!

Evei stormed down the halls, furious. Bloody woolheads! She thought, anger rushing through her mind. Only a few minutes ago, Evei had spotted a Dedicated that had looked so much like Simil. It had been far away, but it had still been as if she was seeing Simil alive and walking. Evei had been so shocked that she couldn’t help but stare. How could I not follow the man? He looked so much like Simil! Evei had almost gathered enough courage to talk to the Dedicated, for she was sure he was Tuatha’an, like herself, when the Aes Sedai had seen her. Light forsaken idiot. She thought, annoyed beyond measure. It would have done me good to talk to another Tinker. Certainly one that looks like Simil. Still, it had been hard to see the man. After all, Evei knew well that Simil was dead and gone- she had seen the trolloc murder him with her own two eyes. The man was a reminder to her that both Simil and Diju were gone.

However, Evei still wanted to talk to him. She wanted to ask him if he could eat meat now, if he could sleep in the Tower without yearning to hear the rustle of trees and grass outside. Evei wanted to know so much. Is it possible for a Tuatha’an to adjust to this life and completely accept it? It was easy for Evei to love the White Tower, but she still craved for the little things that she had enjoyed as a Tinker. A child’s laughter, the bright colors, the peace... How she longed for them. The Towers had none of those in abundance. The main principles of Tuatha’an life were gone here, though they were gone to Evei as well. After all, how can I be Tuatha’an when I have broken the Way of the Leaf?

It still hurt to remember that, out of all the caravan, she was the only one to have severed her bond with the Tinker way. The Way of the Leaf had been a welcome lifestyle to Evei, and she had done her best to follow it. Yet, when she was faced with actual death... It had been so easy to give up. It had been so very easy to murder the trollocs with the One Power. Not that I knew it was the One Power at the time, though. She thought, sadly. Then, Evei had thought the deaths of the trollocs to be some sort of miracle. Now, though... She knew it had been her that had sent the creatures to their deaths. Her that had given up the Way of the Leaf.

Who am I, without that in my life? Evei wondered, slowly calming as she wandered through the halls to the kitchen, where her punishment was awaiting her. It was simplistic enough to dismiss the troubling thoughts and focus on the matter at hand: How that Aes Sedai had been clueless enough to punish her for being surprised enough to stare at the man who had so resembled her uncle. I can’t believe she lectured me on staring at men. I’m not a clueless young girl. I’m a woman in my own right, and a widow to boot. I have more sense then to spend my time gazing at men. Evei huffed, even as she turned the corner and stormed into the kitchens.

She snatched an apron from the pegs, and stomped her way to an empty sink next to a soldier. As Evei filled the sink with soap and water, she couldn’t help but muse about the man she had seen. Even up close, he looked like Simil. But I know that isn’t possible. Simil is dead. Evei sighed, a tear welling up slowly in her eye. He acted as a father in place of the one I didn’t have. I’ve never even met my real father, Ji’in. Where did Simil say he was, anyway? Evei searched through her memories, glad to have something else to think about as she begun to scrub away at food crusted pots and pans.

I remember, it was when I first came to the caravan. Evei considered her memories, trying her best to figure out when she had learned of Ji’in’s whereabouts. All of the sudden, she stumbled across the right memory. “Oh, light!” Evei whispered, her eyes widening as her hand forgot to scrub. Ji’in went to the Black Tower to become a soldier. That man... That man could have been him. The more she thought about it, the more sure she became. “Oh, light.” She hadn’t wanted to meet Ji’in. Ji’in didn’t know she was alive, actually, and Evei preferred it to be that way. He had a fair amount of illegitimate children in the caravan. I don’t want to meet a father like that. She thought, rather sad. It was then that she realized why, exactly, she was scrubbing pots. It was rather hilarious, actually.

“I’ve just been punished for staring in an inappropriate way at my own father.” Evei chortled, unable to help herself from bursting into giggles. Blood and ashes! Evei tried to stifle the sound with one soapy hand, but she didn’t think it would stop the soldier next to her from noticing her. Light. I wonder if he heard what I said? Evei leaned forward and peered across her sink, trying to see who, exactly, she had said such a ridiculous thing in front of. “Ren?” Evei couldn’t help but gasp.

Ren’s chuckling was cut short when Esoria- or Apple, as he had decided to call her- burst into the kitchen looking, well, murderous. He just stared at her as she grabbed one of the aprons and came to stand beside him. She seemed totally oblivious to everything but the dishes. He was shocked. He’d thought her white-ish. This was more like a spoiled child than a grown woman. Certainly not the woman he had been talking to in the gardens a week ago. For a moment she seemed to be muttering to herself, until suddenly she spoke up. Ren looked around, trying to figure out who she was talking to before he realized that she was observing something. That something made Ren’s eyebrows shoot up to his hairline.

”I’ve just been punished for staring inappropriately at my own father!”

Ren just stared at her for a moment, and then, he started chuckling. It was hard not to do more, and unfortunately he wasn’t able to control his laughter as well as he would have liked, because it took only seconds for those chuckles to turn to bellowing laughter as what she had just said sunk in. That was one of the most ridiculous things that he had ever heard. Out of all the things that had happened at the tower, that was the funniest. Or perhaps it tied with seeing Jectim the second time. Now that had been funny. The dedicated had glared at him. Apparently the Healers had decided that he didn’t get to be healed, and he should deal with the punishment of gloating. When he had seen Ren, he had turned this really ugly purple color, and had run away, trying to make it look like he was just walking quickly.

”Ren?” Now it was Esoria’s turn to look shocked. Apparently she hadn’t recognized that she knew him. This only made Ren laugh harder. He had tears of laughter streaming down his face. Only glares from the Mistress of the Kitchen made his amusement die down enough for him to gasp and wipe the tears from his face. Still gasping, it took him a moment to get his breath back to speak.

“Well, well, well, Apple. That certainly isn’t one I’ve heard before.” He shook his head and picked up another dish before the woman came over and bashed him on the head with whatever was closest to hand.

“Now Apple, this wasn’t how I expected us to meet.” In reality, Ren had more expected to meet her in some way where she was superior. It was amusing, really that she seemed to run into him when they both least e+pected it. Cendaline would have loved to hear about Esoria’s punishment. If there had been any lingering chuckles, that thought shut them up. Meeting Esoria’s eyes, he did the first thing he could think of to deceive her perception. He made sure that she noticed that he was watching the Mistress of the Kitchens, trying to get across to her that it would be better if they were quiet and obedient-looking for a moment. Then, under the pretense of washing a few more dishes, he allowed himself to think about Cendaline.

All in all, he thought that his former fiancée was the exact opposite of Esoria. Cendaline had been the sweetest, most honest, kindest person that he had ever met. Esoria was so closed, so secretive that you couldn’t even tell what she was actually like. Ren thought that they could have learned a lot from one another, or at least Esoria could have learned. He didn’t think that Cendaline could have gotten any better than she already was. She was just so… perfect. That was all there was to it. She had been perfect. And now he would likely never see her again. He sighed so quietly that he could barely hear himself. He had sent her a letter not long ago telling her the facts- that it would be a decade at least before he got out of the tower.

He noticed that his jailor had turned away to glare at someone else, and he relaxed.

“If you’ve had dish duty before, you’ll know that that woman is just plain evil.”

He raised his soapy hands so that she could see the bruise across the back of his hands.

“Who knew that wooden spoons were such good weapons? Now, would you care to tell me why you were ‘staring inappropriately at your father’, Apple?”

He doubted that she would. He almost thought that it was her instinct to close up when asked a question. Or perhaps she was always like that. Ugh. Apple needed to loosen up. Ren grinned in spite of himself. He could help with that. Being a former gleeman had it’s uses, although once in the tower the uses had all but disappeared. He had little doubt that given enough time, he would be able to get her to open up.

Ren just doubted that Esoria would spare him the time.

Evei winced, watching as Ren practically cackled with glee, tears of laughter running down her face. Why him? She asked herself, miserably. Why, out of all the Soldiers in the Tower, does it have to be Ren? Evei bit her lip, then ducked her head to stare down at the soapy sink. Maybe, if I pretend to not exist, he’ll leave me alone. As soon as the thought entered her head, Evei dismissed it. She was a grown woman, and she was going to act like one. Evei straightened her posture, and then turned slightly to stare Ren in the eye. I won’t react to you. She swore to herself, determined not to be humiliated by Ren’s humor. She was a stronger person than that. Still, Ren’s words were everything she thought they would be: filled with laughter and a tinge of superiority. “Well, well, well, Apple. That certainly isn’t one I’ve heard before.” Ren shook his head, amusement in his very posture, and bent a little to pick up a dish. “Now Apple, this wasn’t how I expected us to meet.” Evei tilted her head, and stared at him. He likely expected to see her surrounded by a group of other novices and explaining to them why they’d someday become the epitome of Aes Sedai, even if they had been raised as whitecloaks. Oh, stereotypes. She mused.

Evei turned away to face her sink, and scrubbed at the stew crusted pot in front of her with the expertise of someone who had been washing such dishes from the beginning of her life. Fyfe, Evei’s great aunt, the woman that had raised her and the woman that had given Evei her first name. Fyfe had been a gentle woman, even when she was saddled with Evei’s mother, Celosia. Fyfe had known that Evei was to be a Tinker from the very moment she had laid eyes on Evei, and had taken it upon herself to raise Evei in some semblance of a Tuatha’an raising. Evei had learned to cook and to clean, to mend and to sew. Those were the days she almost missed most, cloistered inside with Fyfe and a bowl in her hands. They were beaten only by a hair by the days when Evei would play her violin in villages while Diju worked his trade- making things better then new.

It took a moment for Evei to pull herself out of her memories. It was no good to look back on them, after all. Diju was dead, and Fyfe likely was, too. At least, Evei would never see Fyfe again. If she is not truly in her grave, she is dead to me. Evei pondered, grief tinting her thoughts. It was only Ren’s presence that kept her from loosing her regained outward serenity. I can rival the Aes Sedai when I want to. Evei thought, rather proud of herself. Most Accepted couldn’t even do as good of a job as Evei. “Please refrain from calling me ‘Apple’. It is too derogatory of a nickname for my tastes.” Evei stated, coldly. Ren was a nice enough man, but Evei was determined not to tolerate such things from anyone. He’d do well to understand that. Evei thought, rather fiercely. Yes, she would like Ren as a friend, but not at the cost of her dignity.

“If you’ve had dish duty before, you’ll know that that woman is just plain evil.” Evei sent Ren a sideways glance, surprised. Is he trying to have small talk? Evei questioned herself, rather amused. “Who knew that wooden spoons were such good weapons? Now, would you care to tell me why you were ‘staring inappropriately at your father’, Apple?” Evei almost groaned at Ren’s words. He hasn’t given up ‘Apple’, and he went right to prosecuting me for my slip. I want to drown. Evei eyed the sink for a moment, before banishing the thought. She would be no good to Diju or Simil if she lost her life with her head in a pile of dirty dishes. It took a moment for Evei to calm herself, but she managed it.

“The secret to using a wooden spoon as a weapon is the angle of the strike.” Evei spoke coolly, her words bringing back memories of both Fyfe using the spoon against her and of herself rapping the hands of children trying to steal Fyfe’s pies. She had never used the skill in the caravan, but Evei rather doubted it was gone. She looked down at the now clean pot, and slowly reached out to rinse it in clean water. “First of all,” Evei said, “I wasn’t staring at him in an inappropriate fashion. Secondly, I’m not actually sure if he is my father. He simply resembles my uncle, which was the case of me staring in a completely appropriate manner.” Her words were politely spoken, and with patience. I’m not going to loose a possible friend just because I made a mistake and said something I shouldn’t, but I’m also not going to expose my past to Ren. There's no way not to admit I've never seen my father before, though. Evei couldn’t imagine admitting to Ren that she had been a Tuatha’an with a husband and a child.

The idea of it just didn’t sit right in her mind.

Ren grinned and shook his head as she went on about using the wooden spoon. He rather doubted that she knew what a joke was. He knew that she knew how to laugh, but he doubted that she would do so without first breaking the joke down to each and every syllable. Esoria needed to learn how to enjoy things. She needed to learn to simply enjoy life. That wasn’t something that she could do without first loosening up. It always seemed to come back to that: She needed to loosen up. He’d never seen anyone so tightly wound.

It startled him that she had admitted to never having seen her father, but then again, if he was at the tower, it wasn’t too surprising that she’d never seen him. Many people had lost loved ones to the tower. Like him, it was unlikely that they would come out for decades. He wondered where her father was from. He’d been unable to place her accent, and most of the time he was pretty good at that sort of thing, having traveled all around the continent. He suspected there was some Andoran, and something else. Domani? Tuatha’an? Aiel? He couldn’t figure it out. He doubted that she had been raised by those cultures, but there was something about her skin color…

About to reach for an empty wine pitcher, one of the novices came over and deposited another few hundred dishes for each of them. Ren let out a pronounced groan, not realizing that the devil-woman was standing right behind him.

“Renoeil! I’ve heard enough out of you.” He only saw the spoon after it had rapped his knuckles, too late for him to dodge as he usually did. The older bruises had already been bothering him, but now they smarted.

His fake meekness was perfection, having been practiced for years upon years. Especially in the last few weeks. He started the Mistress of the Kitchens.

“Sorry, ma’am. It won’t happen again.” For a moment she just stared at him. All the time that she’d been here, he’d fought her. Then a triumphant grin spread across her face. She honestly thought that she’d broken him. With his head down, Ren didn’t have to suppress the grin covering his own face, although he managed to hide it well enough when he looked back up at her.

“Get back to work.” Ren nodded politely.

“Yes, ma’am” With one more smile, the gloating woman turned away. Ren simply hooked one foot on her ankle. The woman, who was rather top heavy, to say the least, went tumbling, landing on her belly. They now had the attention of the entire kitchen, and every person was quiet, watching. Ren widened his eyes, making himself look like a gawping fish. Of course, he winked to Esoria first. She was in a position where, if she had been looking, she would have seen his foot snake out. Now, of course, his foot was right next to it’s counter part. Looking as innocent as the summer sky, he offered his hand.

“Ma’am, what happened? May I help you up?”

The wide woman was turning as red as a raspberry, furious as it was possible to get.

“RENOIEL SYETH, YOU WILL REPORT TO KITCHEN DUTY EVERY NIGHT FOR THE NEXT MONTH! I’D BETTER SEE YOU HERE EVERY NIGHT, UNDERSTAND, BOY?” She didn’t voice any threats, but there was certainly punishment waiting if he put so much as a toe out of line. That is just how she was. Some of the other novices and Soldiers were giggling, but they were careful to hide who was making the sounds. The humiliation was plain on her face, but Ren just couldn’t manage to scrounge up any pity for her.

However mad she was, she still took his hand. It appeared she couldn’t get up without it. He pulled the 300-pound woman up with little visible effort, although she was double his own weight. She glared at him, gathering what was left of her dignity before she swept to the other side of the room. Now Ren turned back to Esoria.

“I told you she was evil, Apple.”

Evei shook her head, ignoring Ren’s grin, and went back to washing. She was just starting to scrub at a pile of plates when another novice arrived, Retelle, and deposited large stacks of dishes in front of the both of them when an apologetic glance. Evei swallowed, leveling a glance at Retelle’s back as the novice walked away. Just like her to get herself into a job that makes everyone hate you. Evei thought, humor tinting the words. She glanced over at Ren, a bit surprised at the groan that left his mouth. You’d think that someone like him could deal with a bit of honest work. She mused, watching quietly as the Mistress of Kitchens loomed up behind Ren’s back. Evei almost laughed at the picture the woman made. “Renoeil! I’ve heard enough out of you.” The Mistress boomed, her spoon flashing out to smack Ren’s knuckles.

She has the angle wrong. Evei observed, not sympathetic in the least at Ren’s pain. He should know better then to groan around that woman. Evei glanced over at Ren’s face, unperturbed to see a meek look plastered to his features. So I was right in thinking that he could act and lie well. She mused, almost sure now that Ren had been lying about his strength in the One Power. Still, Evei didn’t let herself think about it. There were better things to watch, after all. “Sorry, ma’am. It won’t happen again.” Ren announced, his tone apologetic. The answering look on the Mistress of Kitchen’s face could only be described as proud. She thinks she’s tamed him, then. Evei decided, even as she watched a mischievous grin spread across Ren’s cheeks. “Get back to work.” The woman declared, triumph tinting her words. Evei spared a look at Ren, unsure. Is he going to try to get some sort of idiotic revenge on the woman?

Of course he is.

“Yes, ma’am.” Ren answered, even as his foot thrust out too hook around her ankle. Evei watched, amazed, as the woman went tumbling down to slide a foot or so across the floor on her belly. What a woolhead. Evei mused, dispassionately as she stared across her sink at Ren’s face. He winked, and Evei couldn’t help but glare. The idiot. The idiot in question fixed an appropriately contrite and innocent look on his face as he opened his mouth to speak. “Ma’am, what happened? May I help you up?” Ren bent down, offering a hand as he stared at the large woman splayed out on the floor. Now he’s just tempting fate. Evei thought, snickering inwardly.

“RENOIEL SYETH, YOU WILL REPORT TO KITCHEN DUTY EVERY NIGHT FOR THE NEXT MONTH! I’D BETTER SEE YOU HERE EVERY NIGHT, UNDERSTAND, BOY?” The Mistress of Kitchens screeched, her face turning as red as a beet. To a casual observer, she looked about ready to try and strangle the soldier standing before her. Instead, she gripped his hand as if it was his throat, and pulled herself up. As she waddled away, Ren turned to face her, a grin still planted on his face.

“I told you she was evil, Apple.” Evei raised her eyebrows at his words. I beg to differ. She thought, amused. The woman couldn’t be considered evil, really. She was only doing her job, after all. Still, Evei doubted that Ren would appreciate hearing her say so.

“You know,” Evei pointed out, gesturing with a soapy hand, “That was completely idiotic of you.” Evei glanced at him, her look rather disdainful. If he’s going to torment people, I’m going to make sure he does it right. “If you really hate that woman so much, you should have waited until you have the upper hand. In your case, you should have waited until you’re Asha’man. Once you are, you can torture her to your hearts content without gaining yourself any sort of a punishment.” Evei rolled her eyes, rather amused that he didn’t see the proper way to get revenge. “Of course, however, you go off and try for revenge in a completely stupid fashion. Do try harder next time.”

Evei turned away, and concentrated again on cleaning the towering pile of plates before her. Desica Sedai, the woman who had found her gaze so very inappropriate, had told her to clean two loads of dishes, and Evei rather preferred getting it done sooner instead of later. Of course, Retelle would load her up with more dishes soon, and the Mistress of Kitches probably wouldn’t let her go any time soon, considering the woman likely associated her with Ren now. “Woolhead.” She muttered, her hair falling into her face as she scrubbed harder at the sauce crusted plate. If I have to stay here longer than necessary because of him, I just might smack him.

“You know,” Esoria said, waving a soap-covered hand towards the Mistress of the Kitchens, “That was completely idiotic of you. If you really hate that woman so much, you should have waited until you have the upper hand. In your case, you should have waited until you’re Asha’man. Once you are, you can torture her to your hearts content without gaining yourself any sort of a punishment.” Esoria rolled her eyes, apparently thinking that his stupidity was tedious and immature. Of course, Ren thought that Esoria thought of most things like that. “Of course, however, you go off and try for revenge in a completely stupid fashion. Do try harder next time.”

Ren started chuckling softly, this time quiet enough that only someone within a few feet of him could have heard. Esoria had taken a rash action and analyzed it. She seemed to do that rather often, and it was getting annoying. Then again, it would be interesting to see what she would do if he did the same thing in return. The part that made him chuckle was that Esoria didn’t know all she thought- or pretended- to know. For instance, she didn’t know that he’d had more dishwashing time tacked on for being rude to an Asha’man and refusing his request! She had also forgotten to observe Etteniontna, which was the Mistress of the Kitchen’s name, he’d discovered, who was ignoring him in a way that was painfully obvious. Esoria had her head down, scrubbing with a newfound vigor. He heard her muttered word, and he shook his head, a mischevious smile on his lips.

“Woolhead”

“Of course I am, my dear Apple.” Ren shook his head, his amusement easily visible. “I didn’t wait until I was an Asha’man because patience is not one of my many, many virtues. This was more satisfying, and I didn’t have to spend all my time plotting and planning. Call it instant gratification. To be honest, the poor woman doesn’t deserve anything too bad. I don’t intend to hold a grudge for the next two decades or so. I’m not quite as wool-headed as you think. What Etteniotna doesn’t know can’t hurt her, and what she doesn’t know is that I was already in here for another three weeks, therefore making her punishment only another week. Add to that the fact that she was so embarrassed that she can no longer stand to see me without blushing, and you will find that all in all, I’ve just made my stay in the kitchens a whole lot more pleasant.”

Ren grinned, and gestured to the afore-mentioned woman, who, sure enough, was still keeping her back to him, trying to ignore him in so obvious a fashion that anyone who looked at her could tell. It really was rather painful that a grown woman couldn’t find a way to deal with a young man. Especially a woman of the Mistress of the Kitchen’s bulk and standing.

“Besides, I don’t really like to be predictable. It spoils all the fun.”

((OOC: I have Ren’s permission to slightly powerplay! :ph43r: ))

Evei pulled her hair out of her face, and then returned to scrubbing at the pot in the sink before her. Somehow, arguing with Ren over dishes reminded her so much of Diju. Oh, Diju. She thought, her anger melting away at the thought of her late husband. Evei sighed, unable to stop herself from remembering all of the times she and Diju had bickered good-naturedly over the years. Evei’s shoulders shook for a moment, even as she remembered herself. Diju is dead. I need to move on. She wanted to shake the memories from her mind, and be the Evei that had been untouched by Diju’s kindness, but it was impossible. Evei was almost certain that she would always be tainted with the mark that Diju had left upon her. I’ll never be truly Evei again. Part of me will always be Esoria. Evei thought, despair and sadness mingling in her mind.

Evei bit her lip, forcing herself to stop thinking about Diju. It wouldn’t be any good to dwell on him, and she knew it. It’s just so hard to accept that he’s gone. She mused, even as she looked down at the pot. The thing was almost sparkling. Evei winced, and quickly rinsed it off. I can’t loose control of myself again. She swore to herself, even as Ren decided to speak up. “Of course I am, my dear Apple. I didn’t wait until I was an Asha’man because patience is not one of my many, many virtues.” Evei looked up, annoyed at his self confidence, to see his grinning face. “This was more satisfying, and I didn’t have to spend all my time plotting and planning. Call it instant gratification. To be honest, the poor woman doesn’t deserve anything too bad. I don’t intend to hold a grudge for the next two decades or so. I’m not quite as wool-headed as you think. What Etteniotna doesn’t know can’t hurt her, and what she doesn’t know is that I was already in here for another three weeks, therefore making her punishment only another week. Add to that the fact that she was so embarrassed that she can no longer stand to see me without blushing, and you will find that all in all, I’ve just made my stay in the kitchens a whole lot more pleasant.” Ren gestured at the Mistress of the Kitchens, all laughter and smiles. Evei looked where he was pointing, almost amused to see the woman act so meek and embarrassed. If it were me that Ren had pulled that on, I wouldn’t be acting like that. Evei thought, rather confused to the reason that caused the Mistress of the Kitchens to give in to a mere soldier. “Besides, I don’t really like to be predictable. It spoils all the fun.” Evei blinked for a moment, even as a thought raced through her mind. I wonder what instant gratification is like...

Evei raised an eyebrow, and turned away. “You’ll never be any use to anyone, especially the Red Shen, if you can’t plan ahead. Instant gratification is all well and good, but you need to know more than that” She stopped washing the plate for a moment to turn and look at him. “Woolhead.” Her face was as serene as she could make it, just to make the moment perfect. Inside, she was almost cackling with glee. I need to make myself feel a bit better, and I’ve never actually tried instant gratification. Even if it is childish... I don’t care anymore. Esoria was never a child, but Evei was. Is. Evei thought to herself, her delight and determination growing. I’ll pay back Ren for being an idiot, and I’ll enjoy myself. It’s the least I can do, after all.

Diju would have wanted me to be happy.

Evei pushed the last thought from her mind, and strove to catch a hold back on her childish merriment. I won’t spoil my fun by thinking about the past. She promised to herself, even as she reached for a dirty pot. I’m going to see what instant gratification is like, and even memories of Diju aren’t going to stop me. Evei nodded shortly to herself, and filled the pot with the warm, soapy water. “You know,” Evei said, conversationally, as she lifted the pot, “I’ve never actually tried instant gratification.” With that said, Evei whirled, pot in hand, and upended it over Ren’s head. The water flew down, matting his hair to his skull, and dripping all the way to his shoes. Evei burst into laughter, unable to believe the look on Ren’s face. “Now,” she said, between chortles, “You look the part of a woolhead.”

Still giggling, Evei glanced over at Ren once more, before she straightened. After a last giggle at the hilarity of Ren, dripping water all over the floor with his jaw agape, she spoke. “I have to say, instant gratification has its merits.” Evei contemplated for a minute. “Of course, I like planning ahead more. It’s more of a rush when you’ve been waiting for it.” With a nod, she turned away from the drenched soldier, intent on ignoring him for the rest of the day. I have to say, I’ve missed being childish and doing silly things like that. Evei admitted to herself, almost ashamed at her own antics. I’m a grown woman, yet I enjoyed that. Evei contemplated, suddenly unsure of herself. I don’t care. She thought with determination. I enjoyed myself for the first time in over a year. I’m glad that I didn’t pass up on the opportunity. With that thought still in her mind, Evei inched away from Ren, intent on avoiding punishment.

Surely the Mistress of the Kitchen’s won’t punish me. After all, she’ll be glad to see Ren get a taste of her own medicine. Hopeful, Evei scrubbed the offending pot, with one eye intent on seeing if the woman in question was approaching

ooc: I have her permission to powerplay a bit.

“You’ll never be any use to anyone, especially the Red Shen, if you can’t plan ahead. Instant gratification is all well and good, but you need to know more than that” She stopped washing the dish in front of her, and met his eyes. “Woolhead.”
Sensing that she had something else to say, he stayed quiet. What is she planning? I have this odd feeling that I won’t like it. He didn’t mind about the slash about being useless, he knew it well. Sometimes, though, you had to know when to give yourself a bit of a break.

Esoria had a odd sparkle in her eye, little warning of what was about to occur, and certainly not enough for anyone to guess anything other than Oh, dear. For a moment that sparkle flickered, but it happened so fast that Ren wasn’t sure that he had seen it.

“You know,” she said, her voice calm and normal, as if she were discussing the most mundane of subjects, “I’ve never actually tried instant With a swift movement, she then dumped a huge, 300-person cooking pot filled with water over his head.

For a moment Ren just stared at her, his mouth open in shock. Who knew the serious, logical, White-ish girl would have something so childish in her? He hadn’t even been paying attention enough to notice that she was filling up a pot!

“Now, you look the part of a woolhead.”

“I have to say, instant gratification has its merits.” She seemed to think about that for a moment. “Of course, I like planning ahead more. It’s more of a rush when you’ve been waiting for it.”

Suddenly, the young man broke out of his trance of amazement and started laughing in a way that brought the few workers that weren’t already staring at them to look in their direction. Holding up his utterly soaked arms, he shook his head, scattering droplets from his short hair. Covering the distance between them with a few long strides, he tossed his arm over her shoulders. Within seconds, the cloth on her shoulders was soaked through, but that wasn’t his purpose.

“Apple, that wasn’t very nice! Now I’m going to go have to bathe.” He gave her a sad, disappointed look.

Maybe there is hope for her yet.

As he had hoped, the Mistress of the Kitchens was dying to get him out of the kitchens for the moment, so that she could pull herself back together. She had long since decided that he was a bad influence. She came bustling over now, although her cheeks were beginning to burn at the memory of being a beached whale.

“MR. SYETH, MS…” The huge, red-faced woman seemed to be searching for Esoria’s last name, unable to remember it. “ATRUIM, LEAVE MY KITCHEN NOW, and since you seem to be so determined to be dirty, you can go and help the stablehands clean out the stalls.”

He smiled his innocent smile at her, the one that seemed to make him look like an angel. In truth, he was more interested in finding out what Esoria’s last name was than making himself look good to his imprisoner. The woman was already determined to hate him for the rest of eternity. Or at least until he became Asha’man. As it was, he was stuck cleaning out horse waste. Wonderful

“Of course, ma’am.”

When he turned his back to her, his smile turned into a bit of a smirk, wondering just how pissed off Esoria was going to be at him. Not that she didn’t deserve it. Honestly, dumping a pot of water on him! She had to know that it was going to bring some consequences, even if it wasn’t him that had been drenched.

He whispered to her as he led her out the door.

“And that, Apple, is the bad part of instant gratification.”

Evei turned, surprised as Ren’s boisterous laughter filled her ears. Just like him to decide to laugh at something like that. she thought, rueful. What else could I have expected from him? Evei shook her head, then glanced over her shoulder, still intent on spotting the Mistress of the Kitchens. His laughter is only going to get us into more trouble. Evei mused sourly, annoyed at both Ren and her own idiotic actions. I can’t believe I did that. It was amusing... But I think I went a little too far. Evei huffed, irritated at her own indecision. It was then that she realized that Ren wasn’t likely to just let what she did go. Evei winced, knowing that Ren’s revenge would be perfectly calculated to humiliate her. And there’s really nothing I can do to stop it. Evei thought, tense.

She could hear Ren’s footsteps covering the distance between them. Evei bowed her head, almost wanting to squeeze her eyelids shut. I feel like a trapped animal. It was hard to admit it to herself, but Evei knew well what position she had just been forced into. He’s superior now. She thought, dread pooling in her stomach. Ren can best me this easily... Make me feel cornered without doing hardly anything. The feeling of inferiority welled up at the thought, and Evei was forced to admit to herself that Ren had won. I’ll never be his equal now. She thought, miserable, even as Ren’s arm descended on her shoulder. A well thought through punishment, after all.

Evei winced, but couldn’t seem to move herself to shake his arm off. “Apple, that wasn’t very nice! Now I’m going to go have to bathe.” She glanced up, just in time to see his innocently gloomy face. How could he have known to do something like this? Evei wanted to scream. Just his arm looped around her neck made her want to scream. It made her vulnerable and weak, and even more inferior than before. Evei knew that she wouldn’t be able to stand up to Ren again, for the memory would never disappear. I’ll always know that he’s better than me. Her previous merriment was gone, as if it had never been there. Evei couldn’t help but blame herself. If I hadn’t got such an idiotic idea in my head, we could have been equals. I could have... overcome the fact that I’m less than so many people if I could have been on the same footing with the person that is so like Diju.

But it was done. Evei cleared her mind, readying herself for the next blow. “MR. SYETH, MS… ATRUIM, LEAVE MY KITCHEN NOW, and since you seem to be so determined to be dirty, you can go and help the stablehands clean out the stalls.” It was a raucous voice, but it took Evei a moment to identify it. The Mistress of the Kitchens, then. She thought slowly, too full of grief to think quickly. I’ll always be less... It was her only thought as Ren ushered her from the kitchen, his arm still laid over her shoulders. “Yes, ma’am!” He called to the red faced woman cheerfully, even as he dragged Evei through the door. Somehow, Evei couldn’t find it in herself to mimic him. “And that, Apple, is the bad part of instant gratification.” Ren stage-whispered to her, his face alight with amusement.

“Yes.” She answered shortly, her head bowed and her hair streaming over her face. I can’t look at him. Why can’t I look at him? Evei thought, desperation running through her. Why can’t I face him? Nothing more was said as they made their way to the stables. Evei couldn’t bring herself to speak.

Evei slipped out from under Ren’s arm as they approached the barn, and walked quickly ahead to push open the door. She waited for a moment in order to let Ren walk past her, and then entered the gloom of the barn. Evei turned, and beckoned Ren with one finger. “The Master of the Horses’ office is this way.” She said quietly, before leading Ren past the rows of horses to the office. She pushed open the door, once again making way for Ren, and followed him into the room. “Sir, we were sent to help muck the stalls.” She said quietly to the man, Koroe.

Koroe sighed, half amused. “You’re the one that sold your horse to us, aren’t you? Well, I guess you can start with your old mare’s row. I know what it’s like to miss a horse, after all. You know where the equipment is, don’t you?” At Evei’s nod, Koroe shooed them out of his office with a little wave. “Do ten horses stalls each!” He called after them, as an afterthought. Evei shook her head with a small chuckle, then lead Ren farther into the barn, to the tack room.

“Grab a halter and a lead rope.” She instructed him meekly, for she was unsure if he had had the pleasure of mucking out stalls before, even as she reached out to snag a halter and lead rope for herself. “We put the horse in the cross ties before mucking out the stall.” Evei explained quickly, as she fled from the room to the safety of her old horse’s stall. Kippei had never really been her horse, for the mare was Diju’s, but Evei had enough memories of the animal. She had learned to ride on Kippei, and it had been the big gray mare that had taken her away from the site of her husband’s death, and on her journey to the White Tower. If nothing else, they were companions.

“Hello, Kippei.” Evei whispered to the dapple gray horse as she opened the stall door. “I’ve missed you.” The mare gave a little whinny and butted Evei in the arm with her muzzle. Evei gave a small smile, but was quick in slipping the halter onto Kippei’s head. She hooked the lead rope to the halter, and lead Kippei out of the stall and toward the cross ties. Ren will have enough sense to follow. She thought, wincing to herself at his name. She was quick to secure Kippei in the cross ties and give the mare a quick pat before heading back toward the tack room to get a wheelbarrow and rake.

Now armed against horse waste, Evei made her way to Kippei’s stall. It was good to smell the scent of horse again. Mucking had never been a job in the caravan, for they moved before any need to clean appeared, but it still reassured Evei. After all, she had been finding excuses to visit Kippei every few days. The mare was the last link she had with Diju, and Evei didn’t want to loose it, even though Kippei wasn’t hers anymore. Evei sighed to herself, and parked the wheelbarrow next to the open stall door. “I’ll get over it all eventually.” She whispered to herself, both Diju and Ren appearing in her mind’s eye. “Eventually.”

Ren followed Esoria as she hurried in front of him, towards the Towers’ stables. His face was molded into a confused frown. He was trying to interpret her odd reaction He had expected Esoria to be angry, maybe give him a slap, but she had gone quiet. He didn’t get it. She acted as if he had bested her at something. A contest or a test of some sort? She wouldn’t even look at him, and yet, she didn’t seem angry. He’d thought she was uptight, but this was something else. This person wasn’t anything like the girl that he had thought he was getting to know. Esoria was being meek.

More proof of this appeared when the Novice held the stable door open for him to walk through. Before, she had seemed the type to let it slam in his face just to make him open it himself. He stepped inside the stable gratefully. There weren’t many windows in this part of the building, but to him it still seemed cheerful and homey. It usually did, anyway. He wasn’t paying as much attention this time, simply because his brain was full of thoughts and calculations. It still made him relax, though. It was the horsy, travel smell that did it. It reminded him of Jaayl, a memory that he coveted, but was extraordinarily painful. Ren rarely came here. He loved Jaayl, but he had moved on, and it did little good to dwell on the past.

Esoria broke into his thoughts, her voice as meek as she was acting. At least she was looking at him now, although it wasn’t much of an improvement.
“The Master of Horses’ office is this way.”
Ren nodded, but he didn’t say anything. He knew this place well enough. His own gelding was stabled here. However, saying so would break the peace- or whatever it bloody was- between the two of them. Peace was the wrong word. Silence, mayhap? Either way, they arrived at the Master of Horses’ office without breaking that silence.

“Sir, we were sent to help much the stalls.” Esoria really was being meek, and apparently not just to Ren. What had he done? He’d simply meant to laugh at -or with-her. Not this.
“You’re the one that sold your horse to us, aren’t you?” Ren tried to remember the elderly man’s name. Kanpo? Korke? Koroe? He thought that was it. Keroe continued without waiting for Esoria to answer his question. “Well, I guess you can start with your old mare’s row. I know what it’s like to miss a horse, after all.” Ren smiled slightly. The man seemed nice. It puzzled him though. Why had Esoria sold her horse? You didn’t really need money in the tower. They provided everything for you- food, clothes, room, and schooling… Ren had to admit that he wasn’t the poorest of folk, and he couldn’t really look at it from her perspective, but he could imagine, and it made little sense to him.
“You know where the equipment is don’t you?” Esoria nodded. Apparently she had been here often. Maybe to visit with the horse she sold?

Ren followed after her, giving a polite smile to Keroe. He was only a few steps out the door when the Master of Horses called
“Do ten horse stalls each!” It reminded him it was a punishment, and that he’d be shoveling horse much, and he grimaced. Normally, he wouldn’t have minded, but now he was dripping wet, greasy, and his boots squished, having collected all the water dripping from his body.
Light, that was a big pot

He knew he would look back and laugh about this, but right now, the amusement had worn off and the uncomfortableness and grumpiness had set in.
wonderful.

Esoria led him to what he assumed was the tack room. It was astonishing how much stuff they had here. It was all oiled and well kept, probably by Soldiers and Novices as much as the paid stablehands. Ren had traveled all over, from Tear to the Borderlands, and he’d never seen so much tack in one place.
“Grab a halter and a lead rope.” Esoria spoke to his right. She was already leading by example. Ren hurried to do the same and catch up to her but she had already left the room, and he watched as she made a beeline for a healthy gray dapple. It was a beautiful horse. Ren couldn’t tell from where he stood whether it was a mare or stallion, but he remembered what Keroe had said about Esoria’s “old mare”. Esoria touched the horse with affection obviously returned by the horse. Ren was distracted then by his own animal’s familiar neigh.

Jay’d seen him. Ren grinned, walking over and giving the dun a fraction of the affection he deserved. He put on the halter and attached the leadline, but it wasn’t really necessary. Jay would die if it seemed like that was what Ren wanted. The horse’s full name was Jaayl, and Ren had raised him from when he was no more than a year and a half of age. He was a strong horse with a lot of stamina, affection and loyalty.

Jaayl trotted behind Ren as the soldier followed Esoria outside. Jay drooped to be left, but he recovered quickly and went to go and join Esoria’s beast.

This was getting ridiculous. Esoria had hurried off to begin her punishment, without having said a word to Ren. He really didn’t get what this was about. Just a moment ago they’d been laughing, and now she’d gone cold… if cold was even the right description.

When Ren stepped back inside the stable, equipped with pitchfork, Esoria was already going at the muck in her horse’s stall. Ren was cranky, sobbing, cold, and he wasn’t feeling quite as patient and lenient as usual. He walked over to her horse’s stall, leaning against the wood, carefully staying out of the way of any stray muck. As wet as he was, it would probably stick to him.

“Are you going to tell me what this is about? All the sudden you freeze up and go limp as a ragdoll, Esoria. I don’t get it.”

Under normal circumstances, he would have waited this little fit out, but he liked Esoria, or at least the person that he’d been getting to know.

“Are you going to tell me what this is about? All the sudden you freeze up and go limp as a ragdoll, Esoria. I don’t get it.” Ren announced from the doorway.

Evei looked up from her rake, surprised. So Ren had wasted no time in coming to interrogate her. She sighed, and stared up at him unflinchingly, even as her mind ran in circles. I have no answer to give him. Evei bit her lip, trying to sketch out a plan in her mind. Nothing came. Time to improvise, then. She thought, a bit rueful. I can’t go right out and tell him that I’m inferior to him now, can I? Evei couldn’t help but imagine the chaos that would ensue. Ren seemed the type to dump a gallon of horse manure on her head and tell her to get over herself. Evei wanted to snicker, but laughter didn’t quite fit in with improvising.

She eyed him for a moment, her chin resting on the end of the rake pole. I suppose I have no choice, then. Evei let out a long winded sigh, and fell back on a woman’s best excuse. “It’s that time of the month.” She said shortly, almost wanting to wince at the lie. Evei was an accomplished liar, but it didn’t seem right to lie outright to her superior. No hope for it, though. It was my only choice, really. It was rather funny when she thought about it. After all, Ren’s reaction to a statement like that had to be amusing. Evei glanced up, wanting to see just that. My bit of lying just might pull off. I think he’s the type to shy away from such a topic. Still, it was better to be safe then sorry.

“So don’t push me.” She stated testily, before gripping her rake once again. It was easy enough to make the act of shoveling manure into the wheelbarrow threatening, really. All Evei did was put in a little more force than necessary. I bet he got the message. She though, satisfaction tinting her thoughts. It would be best to change the topic, though. Evei hunted through her mind, searching for a conversation that would actually be meaningful and enough of a distraction for Ren.

Evei bit her lip, and decided to let loose the only idea she had. “So.” She began, making sure her words were a bit aggressive. Evei wanted to bow her head and act as meek as she should, but there was no way she was going to provoke Ren that much and ruin her story. The fight against her instincts wasn’t easy, but Evei won. At least for the moment, for Evei didn’t think anything would be a permanent solution to her problem. “What do you think about the Red Shen?”

At the very least, it was a somewhat worthy question. She wanted to know, after all. Before, Evei had been sure that Ren would be good material for a partner in the Red Shen, but now she wasn’t so convinced. The Red Shen was based on equality and partnership, and that was something she and Ren definitely did not have in spades. Still, the idea of going into the Red Shen with Ren was still an attractive one for Evei. Ren had a personality that Evei could get along with easily enough, even if it did amount to some degree of humiliation on her part. After all, it was hard for Evei to find someone she could get along well with. She was fine with short term relationships- Evei could act as amiable as anyone when she tried. Still, it was hard for her to uphold a long term friendship. Ren had one of the few personalities that she was even slightly compatible with.

Evei sighed to herself, and shook the thoughts from her mind. It was silly to dwell on things she already knew, after all. Evei looked up, eyes intent on Ren’s face as she moved to hunt down one of the few bits of manure left in Kippei’s stall. Is he formulating an answer, or just ignoring me? Evei wondered, half sure that Ren was going over the authenticity of her excuse for her behavior in his mind. There’s no use worrying about it. Evei told herself firmly. There was nothing she could do to change her answer, and the only thing to do was wait.

“It’s that time of the month.”

Ren raised his eyebrows. Waaay up. Esoria was biting her lip, and her body language made it obvious she was uncomfortable. Besides, he had spent time with women who’s time of month it was, and that was not how they reacted. In any stretch of the imagination. They didn’t calm down- they got angry really fast, yes, but they didn’t go meek. Why was she lying to him? Was there really something that was so secret about this newfound meekness? Something that she was so resistant to tell him that she bit her lip and looked nervous? Why did she care so much? What had happened to the cold manipulator that he had first met? Question after question entered his head, but he had answers for none of them. Esoria seemed eager to steer the conversation away from her lie, which wasn’t surprising. She didn’t seem to like this lie, and he couldn’t blame her. It was one of the most common, obvious lies there was. ‘It’s that time of month’? Really, could she think of nothing better? He’d thought she could. At least you can recognize it for a lie. It was true- if she had been more creative and less obvious, he might have believed her, and let the subject alone, leaving the mystery behind it covered up. Esoria had so many layers, hidden layers inside the layers. What did she have to hide?

“So don’t push me.”

She really was trying to hide something, then. She’d just confirmed it. God, he hated the game of minds. It wasn’t his specialty. It made him work to hard to see something. While puzzles might seem fun to some people, he disliked them. It was a waste of time that could be spent in better ways. Not the best approach for a future Asha’man, but what could he do? As much as the Towers would like to, his personality couldn’t be changed quite that much. If he was going to be in the Red Shen, he needed a partner like the girl he had been getting to know- calculating, manipulating, and cold enough to do what the Red Shen members had to do.

“So. What do you think about the Red Shen?”

Ren’s eyebrows resumed their spot near the top of his hairline. None of the talents included reading minds, or he would suspect her of doing just that. Why would she be asking about the Red Shen? She had said that she was considering Green and White- not Red. An interesting development. Was she really thinking about the Red Shen, or was she just looking for something to talk about? He suspected the former, simply because it would have been silly for her to bring it up unless she was serious about it.

As much as he would like her to be his partner in the shen of his choice, he wanted to unravel and unwrap her many layers first. There was no way that he was going to live his life next to someone who he knew so little about, and that was a problem for him. He wanted someone who was going to be open with him, who was going to tell him her secrets, instead of keeping them hidden from the world. Finally, he just laughed. She wasn’t going to tell him anything right now.

“Esoria, you are a fool if you think I believe you’re excuse, but I am a fool if I think you are going to tell me anything about it right this moment. As for the Shen- you tell me next time we talk, because I don’t trust you to answer honestly.”

Without another word, he gave her a smile, turned his back, and walked off to complete the punishment that had been assigned.