Wheel of Time MUD

Awarded:

Penzei - 4 rpqps (2 + 2 for editing)
Aja - 2 rpqps
Aelrena - 1 rpqp

Please visit a silver-haired sister.

Point of view: Penzei

Participant:
Accepted Penzei
Novice Aja

Special Guest: Accepted Aelrena


Summary: Accepted Penzei teaches Novice Aja a lesson on etiquette in the Tower! Accepted Aelrena confirms she will help Novice Aja to read and write.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




In the Classroom
A board of black slate hangs on the wall near the door, suggesting this
room is used as a classroom. The room is plain and windowless and has
enough place to seat thirty students. A dais with a desk sits at the front
of the room, where the Aes Sedai or Accepted teaching the class can sit.
[ obvious exits: W ]
Zone: White Tower Upper Floors
Door west: door
A woman with an ageless face stands here.
A haughty young woman strides by practicing Aes Sedai serenity.
Aja has arrived from the west.

close door w

Aja cants her head to the right. "A classroom?"

Penzei nods in agreement.

Penzei says 'Take a seat, darling'

Aja says 'But I didn't have a chance to run back to the well and get my cushion to sit on.'

Penzei strides up to the front of the classroom, subtly removing a thick leather binder from
seemingly nowhere out of her dress.

Aja takes a seat in the front most chair.

Penzei slams the binder onto the desk with a loud *thawk*.

Aja almost leaps from her seated position.

Penzei says 'SO, it has come to my attention that you could use alittle education on proper customs and
courtesies associated with women of the Tower and Aes Sedai! '

Aja's nose wrinkles and shoulders move back as her arms stick outwards in a questioning motion. "Me?
What did I do?"

Penzei grins slightly at the mention.

Penzei says 'Tell me, do you think it's proper of a girl of your stature to whine about cushions to Aes
Sedai ?'

Aja says 'Well.. if San.. I mean... no Accepted Penzei.'

Penzei says 'Ahh then you are aware there is an established etiquette surrounding your position here in
the Tower ?'

Aja mutters, "As a Novice.. the etiquette appears to have me and the other Novices do all the work.
But that aside, I have come to enjoy working in the library."

Penzei walks directly in front of the desk your sitting at with her arms crosses across her chest.

Penzei says 'Those are the responsibilities associated with your current station.'

Penzei says 'But that means nothing of etiquette, Have you not noticed when you mention certain things
in front of Aes Sedai, they seem to be burning holes into you with their eyes ?'

Aja looks up at Accepted Penzei as she seems to loom above her. "I have accepted my station.. and
YES! The Aes Sedai scare me."

Penzei says 'Well if you do not wish to incure the Ire of every Aes Sedai you come across, then please,
pay attention!'

Aja lowers her face. "Yes, Accepted Penzei. I will listen. I can hardly read, but I can listen."

Penzei tilts her head slightly regarding the Novice.

Penzei says 'You are a highborn girl who can't read ?'

Aja says 'My father sent Sandra to learn to read for me and she did what was asked of her. Right
before I was sent here by my father after killing his bull, she had started helping me with a few
words.'

Penzei turns around momentarily to hide her contempt, after a moment she turns back around
expressionless.

Penzei says 'WELL, we shall have to remedy that, it is going to be expected that you should be able to
read for MANY of the tasks that are going to be asked of you including the ability to read and
write.'

Aja says 'Tell me, Accepted Penzei. On my bed in the Well is three letters. I think it has two A's,
which I am familiar with, but the middle letter I can't make out. What does that say?'

Penzei says 'Your name is Aja correct?'

Aja lifts her chin proudly. "Yes it is, Accepted Penzei."

Penzei walks up to the drawing board at the front of the class and then writes your name on it
slowly saying the letters outloud as she says them, " Aaaaaa... Jaaaayyy... Aaaaaa.... "

Penzei says 'To ofcourse signify that is your bunk, for the time being'

Aja lifts her right hand, it formed into a fist and its index finger pointing at the board. "Yes!
That's it. My name. Aaaaaa. jjjjjjj. aaaaaaa"

Penzei says 'Don't get to excited, dear, we have much to learn'

Penzei says 'Which brings me to my next topic.'

Penzei grabs a piece of cloth, erasing the name from the drawing board before continuing.

Penzei says 'Here at the Tower you'll find an interesting mix of people, those born low and high, also
those from the far corners of the world.'

Penzei says 'If you have noticed you'll see that Aes Sedai treat each other with a certain decorum and
also treat Accepted and Novice's with another seperate decorum.'

Aja says 'Yes! Why do they treat me different?'

Penzei says 'Let me rephrase your question for you'

Penzei says 'Did your servants not treat you differently than your father ?'

Aja says 'Yes! My servants did EEVVVEEERRRYYTHING for me!'

Penzei blinks momentarily, face expressionless.

Penzei says 'But how did they treat you ?'

Aja says 'Like I was important to them.. which I was!'

Penzei says 'How did you KNOW that you were important ?'

Penzei says 'What sort of things did they do to show you your.... Importance ?'

Aja says 'Because they didn't have to be asked to do anything for me. They just wanted to serve me
the best.. I get it now.'

Penzei says 'Sort of... but they most likely spoke to you by adressing you by your title, bowing or
curtseying in your presence...'

Penzei says 'Has any of your 'servants' ever complained to you about your conduct or say your father ?'

Aja says 'I do curtsey for the Aes Sedai. Have you heard any complaints about me, Accepted Penzei?'

Penzei says 'Is just an example dear, I need you to start thinking in a broader context'

Aja says 'My servants were mad that my father sent me here, but they won't tell him that.'

Penzei says 'Why do you think that is?'

Aja says 'They are scared of him.'

Aja says 'And it isn't their place.'

Penzei says 'Ah'

Aja says 'They are servants.'

Penzei says 'So are you dear, the moment you walked into the Tower you are literally training to become
a servant of All'

Penzei says 'Not only must we conduct ourselves as if our service is literally all that holds back the
shadow, we must conduct our behavior in a manner befitting treating each other and the common folk
as if we are both Lady and Commoner'

Aja lowers her gaze to the top of her desk. "I understand that NOW!"

Aja says 'I have learned alot since arriving here.'

Penzei says 'Should you have the strength and conviction to become an Aes Sedai, you will need to master
the etiquette of the Tower, for all Aes Sedai will judge you on such behavior at ALL times.'

Aja says 'I have lots more to learn though.'

Aja says 'Don't I?'

Penzei says 'At the class a few weeks ago, did you not reference that you would need a cushion in front
of no less than five Aes Sedai ?'

Penzei says 'How do you think those Aes Sedai viewed you after that comment ?'

Penzei paces a bit back and forth awaiting the response.

Aja mumbles, "I even mentioned my cushion today. No one else complained. But it was my first class.
How was I to know we don't get cushions?"

Penzei says 'It's not about the cushions, dear, it's about attitude'

Penzei says 'As an Aes Sedai you will find yourself in more than a few situation that are FAR from
comfortable and we must retain our poise regardless'

Penzei says 'Even if when you retire to your chambers in the White Tower you have the softest cushions
in the lands...'

Aja squirms in her seat, its wood as hard and cold as a rock.

Penzei says 'Sit up straight, Dear, even commoners don't slouch'

Aja slowly rises in her seat, straightening her back and looking forward. "Yes Accepted Penzei"

Penzei nods turning back toward you, continuing.

Penzei says 'These are only the smallest things you will be judged on'

Penzei says 'How you carry yourself, how you walk, talk, express your emotions'

Penzei says 'EVERYTHIGN'

Penzei says 'You must learn to express yourself while remaining calm and poised, instead of reacting to
situations based on your comfort, or your emotional state.'

Penzei says 'THIS is the basics of being both Noble and a Servant of All'

Penzei says 'If you cannot grasp this you won't make it to be an Accepted'

Aja's lips quiver as a muffled, "Everything" flows through them.

Penzei from underneath her crossed arms her hands weave together a few strands of air, causing the
leather binder on her desk to rise up and then slam down again on the desk with a loud *thawp*

Penzei says 'EVERYTHING!'

Aja's chin lifts and she screams, "EVERYTHING!"

Aja realizes she was out of place. "I am sorry, Accepted Penzei."

Aja says 'That is why you are speaking to me today in this classroom is because of moments like
that?'

Penzei grins slightly at the mention.

Penzei says 'Yes, that is exactly why we are having this class'

Penzei says 'You have great potential, Young Lady, you are being watched'

Penzei says 'We want all girls who come to the Tower to succeed and we will go to great lengths to
ensure that they do should they choose it'

Aja says with a crystal clear voice, "I must treat others as my servants treated me, because NOW I
am a servant of All"

Someone knocks on the door from the other side.

open door w
The door is opened from the other side.
It's already open!

Aelrena has arrived from the west.

Aelrena closes the door.

Penzei says 'Aelrena, please come in'

Aja turns to look at Aelrena, a smile crossing her lips.

Penzei says 'I was just explaining to Novice Aja here, about proper etiquette in the Tower.'

Aelrena ducks into the room, curiosity on her face.

Aelrena nods in agreement.

Aelrena says 'Of course, please continue, I just tired of the warders in the practice yard showing
off to get attention while I read.'

Aelrena shakes her head.

Penzei says 'Yes, I do want you to grasp the concept of servant of all while simultaneous presenting
yourself as if you are ofcourse, a high born Lady FIT to be a Queen of any nation.'

Aja ponders Accepted Penzei's statement.

Aelrena moves to stand against one of the walls and listen quietly.

Penzei says 'A Queen does not beg, a queen does not complain, a Queen wills her reality into existence
through action'

Aja inhales deeply then exhales through her nostrils as she speaks. "I never had to beg my servants
to do anything. They just knew what to do and did it. That is what I must learn here."

Penzei says 'Precisely, I'm sure at some point you asked for something not readily available to you or
your previous servants and they had to perform some sort of complicated task to retreive or present
said thing to you.'

Penzei says 'But you know nothing of that process'

Penzei says 'They simply said, Yes M'lady, and did it'

Aja nods slowly. "Yes, Accepted Penzei."

Penzei says 'Wether the experinced joy or anger at doing it is entirely up to how you present yourself
to them'

Penzei says 'They ofcourse'

Penzei says 'Do you understand what I mean ?'

Aja says 'I do and I will admit that I must treat others, especially the Aes Sedai, as my servants
would have treated me..and not just the Aes Sedai, but the Accepteds, the other Novices. '

Penzei smiles faintly.

Penzei says 'You will find it is not alwasy easy to accomplish my Dear'

Penzei turns around facing the drawing board.

Penzei says 'I, too once struggled with such things, in a different way, but all the same in the end'

Aelrena's eyebrows raise slightly as she listens, though nods along slowly after a moment.

Penzei says 'You will have your heart broken, you will feel as though someone is shoving you into a box
too small to contain you, as if you are suffocating...'

Penzei says 'But remember we are all here together, to help and support each other'

Aja looks to Aelrena, her right hand reaching out to pat the seat next to her in a gesture that she
was welcome to sit there at her side.

Penzei turns back around, faint smile still upon her face.

Penzei says 'Do you have any questions ?'

Aelrena shakes her head slightly, and then leans against the wall before sliding gracefully to the
floor, and pulling a book from her bag.

Aja says 'I don't and I thank you for helping me see that I need to work on my attitude and
treatment towards others. That I am a servant here to ALL.'

Penzei says 'Good!'

Aja says 'That even if I were to wear the Shawl, I would still be a servant to All.'

Penzei turns to Aelrena and says," It has come to my attention that Novice Aja cannot read or write,
do you think you can help her a bit with that ? "

Aelrena nods to Penzei, "I believe she's already taken me up on my own offer to help." she
continues, her umber eyes darting to Aja, "Of course, that will be more for her to work on, on top
of chores."

Penzei says 'Splendid! She will be ready to raid the halls of Thakandar in no time!'

Aelrena chuckles politely.

Penzei spins in a grand flourish of her dress, her cheeks slightly red with a bright smile.

Aja's lips curl into a smile as she looks at Accepted Aelrena.

Aelrena's tone is dry as she responds, "I'm not entirely certain that there is a direct correlation
between learning to read and write, and raiding the halls of Thakandar."

Aja says 'Thank you again, Accepteds Penzei and Aelrena.'

Penzei says 'Sarcasm, Dear, Sarcasm, apparently my lessons have taught me well'

Penzei subdues a slight giggle.

Aelrena chuckles politely.

Aelrena winks at Penzei, a smile touching her lips as she gazes at the woman.

Penzei says 'Well, I shall excuse myself, Ladies'

Penzei curtseys to her audience.

open door w

Aja stands from her seat and curtsies.

Aelrena says 'Light go with you, Penzei.'

Penzei strides to the door with an air of satisfaction, nodding to each on her way out.