To live is to write poems about death

[Catisune]

To die, is to become them.

Catisune Sedai interviews Novice Lexiane.

*

Lexiane lingers by the door, head bowed demurely.

The carveddoor closes quietly.

Catisune seems to let out an enormous breath she didn't appear to be holding.

Lexiane waits for Catisune to summon her.

Catisune says 'So you are a student of poetry?'

Catisune resumes her seat by the Ajah window. Her eyes drift toward the commotion at the gate before returning to the Novice before her.

Lexiane blushes under Catisune's attention.

Lexiane says 'I just like poetry, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune says 'I do not often teach seminars where Novices outshine the Accepted.'

Lexiane says 'I found the work of the library dull, but I enjoyed reading poems.'

Lexiane blushes again.

Catisune says 'Do not think I am chastising you.'

Catisune says 'I want only to know your potential.'

Lexiane says 'I am sure the Accepted are busy with other studies, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane says 'Not everyone likes to read, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune says 'Not everyone knows how, dear.'

Lexiane shuts her mouth with an audible 'click' of her teeth to end her rambling.

Catisune says 'Many come to us in Whites without such an ability.'

Catisune says 'But you seem to be getting on.'

Catisune says 'Where do you come from?'

A young woman in novice whites stands here. Her large, doe eyes a deep
brown. Her head is shaved bald, and shines when the light hits it.

Lexiane is in excellent condition.
Lexiane is healthy.

Lexiane says 'My da taught me to read, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane says 'Andor, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane says 'I lived on a farm, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune scrutinizes Lexiane as a jeweler might a stone with a magnifying lens.

Lexiane says 'There was not much to do, Aes Sedai, but work. My da taught me reading as well as arithmetic.'

Catisune says 'A literate farm girl from Andor. How droll. And what happened to your hair?'

Lexiane blushes again, unsure if she should be proud or offended.


Lexiane says 'Myrtle burned it, Aes Sedai. Half of it. So Accepted Amilya shaved the rest off.'

Lexiane runs a hand over her bald head.

Catisune says 'Even up here, tales of Myrtle's ignominy reach my ears.'

Lexiane grimaces.

Lexiane says 'Myrtle is trying her best, I am sure, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune says 'Do not lie to me, dear.'

Lexiane says 'She just seems to like fire quite a bit, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane says 'Well, I am not sure sure, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane says 'She just burns quite a few things, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune says 'I can smell lies as others can rancid meat.'

Catisune points to her large nose.

Lexiane blushes.

Lexiane says 'Yes, Aes Sedai. I would never lie, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane says 'I always tell the truth, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune says 'Well, you might, until we use the One Power to compel you otherwise.'

Lexiane gasps in astonishment.

Lexiane says 'Compulsion is a forbidden weave, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune says 'Someday, you may swear an a rod wrought from the One Power that will prevent you from lying.'

Catisune says 'Is that not compulsion?'

Catisune quirks an eyebrow.

Lexiane thinks hard.

Lexiane says 'Well, I do not think it is, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune says 'Explain.'

Lexiane says 'Because I would have chosen to swear the Oaths, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane says 'Compulsion removes choice, but the Three Oaths are not required of any woman who trains here.'

Lexiane says 'Only those who are given the option and choose to accept the responsibility of becoming an Aes Sedai, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune says 'That is the custom of the Oath Rod, yes.'

Catisune 's eyes narrow dangerously.

Lexiane says 'So it is not taking away your free will, Aes Sedai, as compulsion is.'

Catisune says 'But I wonder if that were its original use.'

Lexiane ponders life, the universe, and everything.

Lexiane says 'Do you think it was originally made as a punishment, Aes Sedai?'

Lexiane says 'Or to stop those who have a compulsion to do improper things? Evil things?'

Catisune says 'Many ter'angreal from the Age of Legends do not have apparent or intended use.'

Catisune says 'The use of others we have cobbled together like bad shoes.'

Lexiane says 'Ah, I have read that, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane says 'That we are only able to guess at their use, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune says 'Who can say what that Rod was meant for? Only now it is meant for Aes Sedai.'

Catisune says 'Do you understand?'

Lexiane says 'Yes, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune seems to suffuse her question with valences of meaning.

Lexiane says 'Meaning changes from time to time, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane says 'Moment to moment.'

Catisune says 'Is there an objective truth? I wonder.'

Catisune taps her lip thoughtfully.

Lexiane says 'Just as the poem we discussed today, Aes Sedai, brings forth different things in us all.'

Lexiane screws up her face in thought.

Lexiane says 'I have trouble believing in an objective truth, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane says 'We understand that we all experience things differently, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune says 'Why should you believe in that which does not exist?'

Catisune says 'Many here will coach you toward their own objective truth.'

Catisune says 'But a bit of skepticism --'

Catisune wields her spindly finger before her like a knife.

Catisune says 'Is healthy, dear.'

Lexiane nods eagerly.

Lexiane says 'Yes, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune says 'Do not tell your teachers I said so.'

Lexiane says 'I have been hoping to go through the Arches, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune smiles as a co-conspirator might, eyes large and watery.

Lexiane says 'So that I might continue my studies further.'

Catisune says 'Why shouldn't you? Are you not ready?'

Lexiane says 'The questioning on my own, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane says 'I believe I am ready, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane stands to her full height.

Catisune says 'Prove it to me.'

Lexiane says 'How should I, Aes Sedai?'

Catisune says 'Don't you know how?'

Lexiane screws up her face in thought.

Lexiane says 'May I recite a poem, Aes Sedai?'

Catisune says 'Never ask me that again.'

Catisune says 'Only recite it to surprise me.'

Catisune smiles, and the gesture crinkles the corners of her large, watery eyes.

Lexiane says 'Breathing in, breathing out,'

Lexiane says 'Moving forward, moving back,'

Lexiane says 'Living, dying, coming, going'

Lexiane says 'Like two arrows meeting in flight,'

Lexiane says 'In the midst of nothingness'

Lexiane says 'Is the road that goes directly'

Lexiane says 'To my true home.'

Lexiane closes her eyes as she finishes her poem.

Lexiane breathes deeply.

Catisune shows uncharacteristic emotion as she applauds the Novice's performance.

Catisune says 'Well, you are smart enough.'

Lexiane smiles again, this time a small and sad one.

Lexiane says 'It is a poem about dying, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane says 'But it is also about becoming something.'

Catisune says 'They are all poems about dying, dear.'

Catisune says 'To live is to write poems about death. To die is to become them.'

Lexiane says 'I would face my fears, Aes Sedai, and bind myself to the Tower further.'

Catisune says 'Graven upon your bones?'

Catisune says 'I hear you are quite the prankster.'

Lexiane nods solemnly.

Lexiane blushes.

Catisune says 'Tell me about that.'

Lexiane says 'I dabbled in it, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane says 'I brought frogs to a golden-haired novice.'

Lexiane says 'She set frogs about.'

Lexiane says 'After Damena Sedai had me kill sixty of them, I stopped.'

Lexiane says 'I liked frogs before, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune says 'Has Damena ruined the taste?'

Lexiane says 'I feel guilty when I see them now, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane says 'Knowing what I did to them.'

Lexiane says 'That it was my fault, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane says 'I feel that responsibility, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune says 'A bit of butter will make that all more palatable, dear.'

Lexiane stifles a giggle.

A young woman in novice whites stands here. Her large, doe eyes a deep
brown. Her head is shaved bald, and shines when the light hits it.

Lexiane is in excellent condition.
Lexiane is healthy.

Catisune says 'Well.'

Lexiane says 'I would continue down the road to my true home, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane says 'If I were deemed worthy.'

Catisune says 'Ask me a question, and, mind you, upon it hinges your future.'

Lexiane pauses a moment.


Lexiane says 'Why are we here, Aes Sedai?'

Catisune says 'Because the Pattern wills it and the Wheel has woven it. We are all captive to that weft.'

Catisune says 'Does that sound trite to you?'

Lexiane says 'It leads to more questions, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane says 'Does the Pattern have will?'

Catisune says 'Its will only reflects the great struggle, dear.'

Catisune says 'A shadow falls over the Pattern, but there is still light.'

Catisune says 'The Pattern does not have will.'

Catisune says 'But you do.'

Lexiane says 'Yes, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune says 'Have I bored you terribly?'

Lexiane says 'No, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune says 'Remember that I can smell lies.'

Lexiane says 'I quite enjoyed our conversation, Aes Sedai.'

Lexiane says 'Though I do have more questions than I came with, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune says 'I shall submit you to my sisters for consideration.'

Lexiane curtsies deeply.

Catisune says 'Do not disappoint me, child. Or do--but it must be a magnificent display.'

Lexiane grins broadly, showing all of her teeth.

Lexiane says 'I will do my best, Aes Sedai.'

Catisune says 'I will ask for that and more before we're through.'

Catisune says 'You are dismissed.'

Lexiane curtsies deeply once more.

Lexiane opens the carveddoor.

Lexiane leaves south. vv

The carveddoor closes quietly.

[Raeza]

I have awarded Catisune and Lexiane; please visit the silver-haired sister.


(Edited to add for transparency/record-keeping:)

Rplizer +1 qps : Y
Extra meticulous edit +1 qps : N
Length bonus +1-2 qps : N
Summary: +1 qps : N

Total:
Catisune: 3 rpqps
Lexiane: 2 rpqps