Bathhouses. Only in a place like Tar Valon, could Vera visit bathhouses. In Tar Valon, people were too busy meddling with their own lives to truly give a great deal about visits by young Aes Sedai for a relaxing hour into the city’s most luxurious establishment. It had been a somewhat breathless week- there was really no better word for the way the days had flown by. The beginning of the week had been spent preparing for the Novice and Accepted trip, while the middle half she had spent her time completing her analysis on the situation in Illian based on a report from a contact from the Gray Ajah Eyes and Ears. It was finally that last fraction of the week, the one where one was allowed to be a little languid, and the ‘Servant of All’, could let her guard down some.

 

She had heard about the place from an elder Sister of the Gray, who to her dismay had been able to see straight past her neatly bunched hair and pearly smile onto the buried layers of strain. “Sister,” she had begun in a kind, but amused tone. She went on to explain, in that same tone that made Vera want to blush to the roots of her hair, that there was this wonderful little place that would welcome any Sister very warmly, especially those of the Gray, for their Ajah, besides the Blue had favoured the owner greatly in the past. When she had heard this fact, Vera had laughed; she had heard of Ajah inns, where the contacts for the Ajah lurked, but bathhouses? Bathhouses? Really now! The right thing to do of course, was to nod agreeably when the Sister finished and of course mention that she would think on it. Funny thing was though, that she found she was wondering about this Ajah favouring bathhouse. Thus it was that she found herself pushing through the jingling doors of Light and Bubbly, a name that made her tell herself her choice to approach this guilty pleasure once more: it wouldn’t hurt to take a little break, and if one Elder could tell she was under pressure then Light only knew how many others were aware, and in their smooth faced pleasantries…tickled pink.

 

She was pleased to see that the owner was in fact all syrup and warmth. Ushered in with enthusiasm that fitted the name, she was lead into voluminous private rooms for her to change or relax in, and “once she was done,” to pass straight through into the wash halls. The rooms seem to be shared she realised, as she saw a dress neatly pressed into place not so far away from where she had been left to herself. She couldn’t descry a shawl, so perhaps a rich lady? One of the numerous nobles who were visiting? Stepping into a bathrobe, Vera frowned at the thought of encountering a noble- if this was to be her chance to unwind, rummaging in the depths of Daes Dae’mar was certainly not the way to go. She had learnt to make the Game a part of her, and under Nyssa’s influence, Vera had even enjoyed it from time to time, but today she wanted merely for herself.

 

The place was doing quite well, she realised as she stepped in, gently testing the water. The temperature was, delightful! Just how she liked it: not scalding, but not cold either. Tepid she decided, was the perfect description. Removing herself of the bathrobe, she moved in with ease, loving how nice the water felt around her body. Sinking in until she was comfortable, Vera let out a sigh. A sigh that had been gathering in her for quite a while now.

 

Vera Cadsanome

Gray Ajah

“Ahhh…”

 

Oh the miracle of warm water.  Where would the world be without it?  For one, everyone would be a whole lot sicker as cold water simply didn’t wash everything like boiling water could and secondly, the world would be so much tenser without the natural massage warm water gave to tensed muscles.  And Light knew Estel’s muscles were tense.

 

As to why she was in a public bathhouse in Tar Valon rather than the supposed privacy and comfort of her own rooms- that had a lot to do with being such a “troubled Sister” and the Ajah’s burden to constantly check up on.  Burn them, they treated her like she was still Accepted!  With Estel’s limited patience and explosive temper, there was likely to be some disastrous showdown at some point that would only further drop the Domani’s ruined career to the lowest depths of degradation and social ineptitude.

 

Those were Estel’s reasons for soaking languorously in the Light and Bubbly- which just so happened to be connected to the Blues’ vast network of Eyes and Ears.  As such, the rebellious young Sister had any number of perfect excuses should any of her older “babysitters” happen along.

 

And so, when another woman entered the bath, Estel’s mind immediately raced through the innumerable excuses to those that sounded best.  Of course, by the time she had chosen one, she realised who it was: Vera.  Vera Sedai now, the same woman who had in Novice whites dumped paint on Estel, the same woman who a few months ago had barged in on her weeping after a difficult meeting with Orion.  Blood and ashes, why was the woman here?

 

Unwilling to return, or even really admit to their last conversation, Estel got up to leave as circumspectly as one could get out of water, stark naked, and sneak right past the person one wished to avoid.

The obvious is that which is never seen until someone expresses it simply.

 

Estel Liones. Scuttling by her with her gaze affixed elsewhere, as the water made light swishes due to the movement. Estel Liones. Doing her level best to be discreet as she was illuminated in splashes of light, masking herself so flawlessly beside the tiled walls. Vera’s sigh stopped in it’s tracks and she held herself together tightly. It was a second later that it dawned on her that there was little point in trying to make her own self seem obscure, now that Estel was taking the initiative and well, busily scuttling away.

 

Vera reflected back to her last exchange with Estel, eyes focused on the Domani as she mulled over the right way to go. If there was ever a moment in her life she needed to draw out that fit the words frustrating, humiliating, pitiful and challenging, it would be that night. Soft weeping had reached Vera’s ears as she had coursed her way out, and it had beckoned. It was that same lament that had forced her out, besides a good deal of cursing, mutters and of course that indispensable addition of unfathomable facts of Estel’s life that Vera hardly desired to know. Those mumbles were still with her, mind games tempting her to solve them and then, join the bandwagon that was Estel Sedai’s Laugh Track. And that, she certainly wouldn’t. The memories of being the tittle-tattle behind the door, the cause of hushed giggles in the corridor as she passed…they were all too fresh, two decades past or not.

 

In a way, it aggravated her. Vera was not one who had many enemies in the Tower. She preferred being a soft voice in one’s ear, soothing at times, cautionary at others to the dominant, fiery passion that leaders in the Tower had. With such means, she had enlisted a strong group of friends, or at the very least allies. Any misconceptions that had brought friction out between her and another, Vera tried hard to smooth out and this…would not do. If she couldn’t extend a hand of friendship to the Blue, then rather than having that hand swatted back, a polite distance would have to suffice. It occurred to her that Estel wasn’t looking for polite distances, but Estel confused her. Whichever way today was going to go, one tiny sliver of hope would not be worthless.

 

“Estel Sedai.” She called out just as the Blue was about to slip away through the exit. “Would you care to join me?” She motioned with one hand to the empty space near her and gave the Sister a polite smile. Testing new grounds was not her specialty, but she was willing to give it a shot if Estel would.

Vera Cadsanome

Gray Ajah

 

OOC: Maybe we can sharepost the next bit? :)

For the very first time, Estel cursed her beautiful natural colouring.  Had she been Cairhienin, this might have worked, but as it was, copper-skinned women had little hope of hiding in a white bath.  Damn her luck.

 

“Estel Sedai.  Would you care to join me?”

 

‘Not particularly, no.’  Being able to say those three simple words, more like two as one was the derivative of the other, would have made what she now had to endure so much easier.  Unfortunately, her reputation couldn’t withstand her aggravating too many more Grays- even if she was slightly suspicious of how this particular Gray had managed to find her in a bathhouse after Estel had been surreptitiously avoiding her.

 

Now she was the slave of polite conversation and would have to evade carefully asked questions as to why she had been gone for a year after being found bawling like a baby.  Perhaps she could come up with a good excuse.  Maybe, just maybe, her fellow Sister wouldn’t see through it or else stalk her to her fake destination.

 

“I’m afraid I was just on my way out.” she feigned a polite smile before muttering something about a massage and turning her back.

 

 

Vera sighed. She had played tricks, pulled and prodded with the Game as long as she could remember now, but this delicate thread of communication with Estel Sedai would allow her no entry in, not even a sliver of light wherein she could use her strings. No, this was going to have to work in a system Vera didn't look upon with much affection. Confrontation. How would she go about it? A thoughtful finger circled her lips as she thought, hardly listening to Estel's excuses. Obviously, the polite, concerned way wasn't something the Blue warmed to easily, but stating what she felt without cushioning her words straight out on the table, without tipping over their uneasy balance, was going to be tricky.

 

"Estel, I need you to understand something. I'm not... following you around in the want to ruin your happiness. I'm not out here to make your life unpleasant, by turning up at the most unexpected turns and surprising you with my polite greetings and stubborn insistence that you should let go." Her eyes flickered at the bare back, before going on. "I had merely tried to help, and I'm truly sorry if that was inconvenient for you. I've a feeling I meddled too much." She shrugged, and went on. "I do not, and even then, did not intend to figure out why I'd found you that night like that, but was just offering a helping hand. However...” She paused, and sucked in some air "seeing as you now choose to avoid me every time it is that we chance upon each other, which seems to be a lot, I just want to make it clear that I'd really like it someday if you, um, didn't have to."

 

 

So the woman was following her… creepy.  Taking an automatic step back, Estel was suddenly incredibly aware of her nakedness.  Not that she was ashamed, just… well if the Gray was stalking her, why did she decide to corner her in a bath?

 

The woman’s creepiness level doubled.

 

“I’ve had quite enough helping hands, thank you.” her tone dripped sarcasm.  “Meddling?  It’s not your fault, it’s the nature of your bloody Ajah.”  Estel’s fists clenched thinking of Lavinya.  “I can deal with my own problems and what happened that night is absolutely none of your business.  Perhaps when you learn not to stick your nose into everything that you feel needs your help.  I don’t.”

 

 

Why that goat kissing, blind little, ignorant....Vera breathed. There were many things she had expected Estel to say- a grudging thankyou, a mutter and then silently shuffling off and then the wild, wild hope that the woman would just accept her as she was. Even silence was more welcome than this. This, this... twisting of her words! She breathed heavily, and her grey eyes turned a touch stormy as she sat, naked, watching the stormy Estel Sedai. I'm a Gray, she told herself in an effort to calm down, I belong to the Ajah of peace and I'm a mediator. I will not figh-

 

The woman had just insulted her Ajah. Nyssa, Phaedra, Lavinya, Evaida...Only a few names amongst the Sisters who she cherished, and each and everyone of them now fixed themselves in her mind. She felt colour rising to her cheeks, and did her best to smoothen out the tightness around her mouth and eyes. Vera Cadsanome, for a flash of a second before she spoke, felt a flicker of acknowledgement that she was about to get herself into rather a large mess.

 

"Are you quite done?" While Estel considered nodding, she struggled to find the right words. Rage always blinded a person, and Vera almost always needed a little concentration when speaking or writing. "Now that you've made yourself clear, insulted my Ajah, my intelligence and also pointed out how adept I am at…sticking my nose in, did you say, let's get some things straight, please. Firstly, I was trying to say that my view was that I'm sorry for having rankled you, and that I won't make that foolish mistake of trying to help you again. And since we are bound so marvellously by the Oath Rod, you needn't worry about lies either. Secondly," she paused. "Secondly, I'm sorry."

 

Vera rose, steely eyed and grim and began to make her way out. "Oh and, I suspect that you should be on the lookout tomorrow, you wouldn't want one of us meddling Grays lurking around, too close."

 

 

She seemed hurt.  This amused Estel.  Well… quite honestly it creeped her out too.  That Vera got upset after just being told to mind her own business only proved her disturbing fixation on Estel- usually it took a few insults to a Sister’s respective Ajah, family and bed partners to get this sort of reaction.

 

The woman’s apology went unnoticed in light of a white back heading towards the door.  The bitchy young Blue would be damned if the Gray got the last word.  “Well, seeing as I don’t go out of my way to interfere in others’ private business, avoiding your lot shouldn’t be too hard.”

Zaire took a deep breath in and let it go through her lips. She didn't care much about the lack of serenity because the only people near her were her friend Salandrian and two other Novices. The Aes Sedai were already bathing in the other room. Spending a free day like this...If there was some way to still get back at that Saline, she would grab the chance in a heartbeat. But the whole idea of pulling a prank on Aes Sedai and being stealthy about it intrigued her. She was folding the towels for the Aes Sedai and placing them in a pile behind her and Salandrian so that they could place the itchweed inside of them. Keeping an eye on the two other Novices across the room, Zaire folded the last towel and placed on top of hers and Salandrian's pile. Then she turned around to face the towels with Salandrian. Zaire pulled her packet of itchweed out of her bodice, thanking the fact that it was in a leather pouch, and opened up the top towel. She opened the pouch and sprinkled some of the itchweed around the whole inside of the towel, making sure not to drop any on the ground, get any on her, or get any on Salandrian. She continued this for the rest of her pile of towels and then turned to Salandrian, giving her an eye that said she was ready for what they were about to do.

Saline. Saline. Over and over again, Salandrian repeated the name in her mind, still in awe of the Accepted's sheer fortitude to turn last week's situation on its head. Would she, would Zaire, have to develop their tenacity to become Aes Sedai? Yes or no, crafty Saline had Salandrian and Zaire doing her dirty work. The Salandrian who had come to the White Tower would have been abashed of what the present-day Salandrian was doing now, but here she was. You think to much girl! Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she returned her focus to the task at hand.

 

Salandrian took the pouch of itchweed from Zaire and began filling the towels with it, then folding them up. Once she had finished lacing her towels, she stacked them on top of Zaire's, then nodded to her, indicating that she was ready.

 

OoC: PM me with what we do next!

After getting the confirmation from Salandrian that she was ready to what they were made to do, she picked up her pile of towels and walked through the doorway and into the bathroom where the Aes Sedai were still bathing and talking amongst themselves. Salandrian and the two other Novices followed her through the doorway, but only Zaire and Salandrian walked further to place the towels on the ground near the stairs to the bathing pool. After placing the towels neatly on the ground so that the itchweed would not fall out, Zaire and Salandrian exchanged a quick glance of mischief and continued on back to the doorway where they stood and waited on the Aes Sedai, in case they desired anything more. Zaire crossed her fingers behind her back, careful so that no one could see them, not even the two Novices. They could ruin the whole plan, and she wasn't about to give up her hide for two young twits who were too weak to do anything further than follow Aes Sedai on a leash. She looked over at Salandrian once more and smiled a warm smile, one of friendship. Now that they had done something against the White Tower, no matter how small, they were in it together, and would be, until they were raised at least.

Salandrian was proud to have a friend as fearless and determined as Zaire. Shame came on her part though. It had been Salandrian who volunteered herself for this bloody stupid prank, Salandrian who had made the rash decision to kidnap Saline, and yet Zaire followed her, loyal and impavid of the consequences. If they were not to be inconspicuous, she would have squeezed Zaire's hand, but that would ruin their plot. A smile would be sufficient, she thought, and looked up at Zaire, who was already smiling a warm smile of friendship. She returned it, glad to have a friend by her side, in this rugged and unpredictable world.

Zaire, seeing that her smile was returned, felt more comfortable and paid no attention to the Aes Sedai in the bathing pool. A novice in this circumstance was to be meek, not trying to listen to the Aes Sedai's conversation, if it wasn't warded, and not watching them bathe. Zaire thought that it would be weird to look at the nude Aes Sedai in the bathing pool anyways, so she made no effort to raise her eyes to the naked women. She did however, randomly glance at the towels. This couldn't be taken as suspicious, seeing as she was a novice who placed them there for the Aes Sedai to use. If anything worse than that, they might think her eager for the Aes Sedai to finish so she could get back to the Tower and spend the rest of her free day the way she desired. The latter was true in her case.

 

Finally, after a good while of standing against the wall next to Salandrian, the Aes Sedai made to get out of the bathing pool. Zaire looked straight down at her feet popping out of the bottom of her white dress and made no eye contact with any other person in the room; nor did she look at the towels containing the itchweed. Once each Aes Sedai had a towel wrapped around their bodies, Zaire raised her head and waited for any further request from the women. Her face remained as hard as marble as the women rubbed the towels all their bodies, drying the water from their skin. She started to think of exactly how they would get away with this. There had to be some way to use the other two novices and be innocent as well. They could say that they were the two who folded the towels, and that Zaire and Salandrian only brought them out. Obviously the other two would deny it, because it wasn't true, but they would be seen as the guilty ones. Perhaps there was a way for Zaire and Salandrian to be innocent and convince the Aes Sedai that they were innocent. The two novices folded the towels and laced them with itchweed. Zaire and Salandrian brought them out, and while doing so got itchweed on their hands and arms from the towels. Zaire needed a way to tell Salandrian the plan, or at least hint that their arms and hands itch. If only one of the Aes Sedai could ask for something.

Should she stop the hatefest? Now that they were well and truly into it, should she actually? Closing her eyes for a second, she was glad that it was her back that faced Estel. Vera was certain that if someone thought it interesting to lock Estel and her up in a room to conduct...experiments, she would develop all kinds of nervous twitching in the process. Not bothering to turn around she spoke frostily. "I did not step in until your private life came intruding out of your door, Estel." And that was true. That was the whole point of her discussion, but till now all hopes weaved into words had proved only to play across their relationship by adding more havoc. One could admit that this was, pointless.

 

That was what did it for her, she would now give in to retreat. Moving away swiftly, she did not even glance the way of the others in the room and began to hurry to dry herself, dress, and be rid of the troubles! Wrapping the soft white towel around her frame, Vera prepared for the onset that she knew would follow, and at the same time, did all she could to get ready.

 

 

Estel snarled and cursed, hating that what the Grey said was true.  "Out of my door?  Unless I've completely lost my wits, it was you who came intruding on that door.  You could have walked past, could have gone when I asked you to leave but no!  You just had to know; had to stick your nose in!"

 

The insult was sent at Vera's retreating backside so, satisfied that she had gotten the last words, Estel followed her to where there towels waiting.  Making quite the act of completely avoiding Vera's gaze- meanwhile shooting murderous looks at her while her back was turned- Estel set about drying herself off.

 

Wrapping one towel around herself and folding her hair into the other, she was somewhat surprised by the sudden burning sensation that stung over her entire... bloody... body.  Biting her lip, she checked that Vera was still faced towards the wall while her nails seeked to sooth the powerful itch assaulting her backside.  Desperately trying to neither squirm nor whimper, she checked again that Vera wasn't looking and scratched her left thigh.

 

It took a few minutes of surreptitious scratching and silent agony to come up with an explanation for her sudden disease.  Furious, she threw both towels to the ground and stalked back towards the bath.

 

 

No onset followed, but it hardly mattered to Vera. Just as she thought she was safely snug in the towel's comfort, she felt her entire body shiver under the material as suddenly, Vera's mind was filled with a desire only to make the itching-not the hatefest-end. Now. She paused, even though wants and oh, needs instructed her to do otherwise. Hands that was earlier springing up in desire to scratch her arm here, or her thigh elsewhere tightened around her stomach. The pity she had felt, the anger that had followed and then the guilt, all sprang away. What was left, was only one Sister with need to do nothing more than go back to the Tower and give in to a hot bath.

 

She could not, though. Someone- Estel?-  had supplied her towel with a large quantity of itchweed. She had never used it herself, not on any Aes Sedai or Accepted during her younger years, but she knew its touch, its impact. Head snapping as she heard the loud thud of doors, it was with some confusion that Vera eyed the abandoned towels on the floor. Had she, or hadn't she? Was this for effect? Burn the Game for having muddled her brain, when she needed clarity most. And then again, came the want to scratch. As if seeing the towels on the floor gave her the necessary push, she dropped her own and rushed to the bath.

 

A pitiful state she found herself in, running wildly towards the sanctuary of the water. Once inside, she did not both to give the water a gentle test, and instead stepped right in. Grace, near abandoned. Logic, fading away. From the corner of her eye, she saw Estel's silhouette. "What just happened?"

 

 

It was a bare minute before the door crashed open and Vera slipped back in the water with an audible sigh.  Far more graceful than Estel's re-entrance, she had basically thrown herself into the water with a tremendous SPLASH! that the walls were still crying over.  And while the mere presence of the Grey was grating on her nerves, it was the fact that she could no longer itch freely that really sparked her temper.

 

"WHAT JUST HAPPENED!" she shrieked at the top of her lungs.  "YOU DARE TO ASK ME WHAT HAPPENED!"

How ironic it was that to calm Aes Sedai stood shrieking and itching, while to Novices stood by, calm as clams, outwardly at least. It took Salandrian all the composure she could summon not to crack a smile, and had to bite her lip besides. Thus far, Estel Sedai and Vera Sedai were unaware of the culprits, and were so preoccupied with their personal struggle that they could, and thankfully would, not open their minds to see another villain than each other.

 

Salandrian hoped beyond hope that the Aes Sedai would be too caught up in they're petty bickering to notice that the attendants had been switched. Light, let it be so, she thought as she nodded her head toward the door, hoping Zaire would follow her lead.

While the two Aes Sedai lost their composure, Zaire opened her mouth to tell Salandrian the plan when she nodded towards the door. Zaire took the hint with no question and headed towards the door while the Aes Sedai were preoccupied. When Salandrian followed her, Zaire began to explain the plan.

 

"Just in case we don't get out of here, the other two novices folded the towels and we simply brought them out here," she whispered. "If they call us back before we get out, start to itch your arms and hands. That way, they will believe that we got itchweed on our hands when we handled the towels. They wouldn't believe that the pranksters would affect themselves."

 

They continued towards the door, quickly, but trying to move so that they would not be seen amongst the arguing Aes Sedai. Zaire only hoped they could make it out the door before the Aes Sedai realized the culprits were escaping. This private club stuff was thrilling, but scary.