Dressed to... dance?

[Wayfarer]

Whistling a happy little tune, Aran had returned from the city with two boxes in hand. It was the night of the dance that Daemon's betting had landed him, and he had to admit he was looking forward to it. Cairma was a nice girl, and more to the point, he'd won the right to pick her dress the day after Daemon's bet which was why he was carrying two boxes. He'd deliberately put off obtaining her dress as long as possible, in case it crossed her mind to search his room in advance to find out. Not that she was that sort of girl, but desperate people did desperate things, and Cairma was not keen on the dance at all from what he could tell.

 

Of course, that could do with the fact he'd been dropping hints of putting her in the most scandalous dresses he could think of.

 

Reaching his room, he sat the boxes on his bed and opened them up. Taking his own boots off, he tossed them aside and took up the shoes he had picked out for Cairma. A good two inches, the black leather was amongst the best to be found, but it was fairly stiff. Then again, that was something he could fix...

 

Wincing as he took the heels off, he placed them gently alongside the dress he'd picked out for her and closed that box. He could wear heels with ease, but it had been quite some time and they'd just been a mite smaller than comfortable. But, they were worn in and that was the main thing, she wouldn't be so likely as to hurt herself.

 

Looking to the other box, a grin split his face as he reached under the bed and pulled out a sack. A sack that he'd cut a hole in either side and at the top. On Cairma, it'd reach just below her backside, not that she would wear it. Her reaction nevertheless would be priceless, he chuckled at the very thought of it as he placed it in the empty box and closed that up in turn. Now it was simply a matter of time....

 

It was two hours before they had to leave when Aran reached Cairma's door with both boxes. Going down a few more doors to reach the end of the corridor. He placed the genuine box on the other side of it so she wouldn't be able to see it. Returning to her door with the sack box, he knocked on her door to find it quickly opened. Clearly she'd been waiting for awhile. "Your dress, but please, don't open it out here where others can see. Just take it inside and look it over, I think you'll find it rather stunning."

 

Pushing the box into her arms and closing the door on her, he quickly raced down the corridor as quietly as he could, took up the other box and went back to Cairma's door. He wanted another box to offer her before that door opened or he'd no doubt be on the receiving end of that monster of a blade of hers.

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

[Guest Arie Ronshor]

She had spent the week dreading today. Aran's teasing and the thought of what he might make her wear had broken through her concentration more then she cared to admit. After spending a grueling day in the yard with Daemon, she usually was forced to the Yellow Infirmary because she kept missing steps, and was hit - a lot. But because of her bloody pride she had her sprained ankles healed so that way she would still be able to dance. Of course, if no one wanted to dance with her, than it was of no fault to her.

 

Waving off the end of her lesson, she left Daemon to head into the Barracks, a dark cloud hanging over her head. Leaving Beast in her room by the door, she headed to the Showers, bring a special soap that she bought while Aran was busy pretending to contemplate dress designs. Rose Soap, from the west. Even though the majority of her did not wish to go, part of her was excited. She would get to meet other Tower Guards, and who else might be there. Even though she would have to dance, it was the lesser of an evil since it could not be any different from dancing through the forms... could it?

 

It had been well over 10 years since she was last at a dance. back in her home down, during bell-tine, she was still too young to stay up late, but of course she would sneak out and dance with her brothers. Even with all the embroidery her mother made her do the next day did not take away from her smile for that week. A slight pain of homesickness crosses over the back of her spine, but it did not stop her from scrubbing herself clean with the rose soap and humming softly to herself.

 

But as she waked back to her room, dressed, drying out her hair and then headed to the dorr way that lead between the barracks. She waited, knowing that Aran lived in a sepereat part of the building, but that dreaded feeling returned. Not even a moment since she returned there was a knock at her door.

 

"Your dress, but please, don't open it out here where others can see. Just take it inside and look it over, I think you'll find it rather stunning."

 

He quickly ducked out the door, as if to avoid anything she might throw at him. Relaxed enough from her bath, she slowly opened the box. Pulling out the burlap sack. Cut with holes, and actually a decent length... or not.

 

A gut wrenching feeling returned a thousand fold, and for once seriously regretted ever meeting the man. She liked him, he made a good friend. But did he seriously expect her to wear... this??

 

Completely uncharacteristic, she started in silence at the 'dress'. And without notice to anyone around, tears rolled down her cheek. How could he..!?!!??

 

 

Cairma Vishnu

TG

[Wayfarer]

Waiting outside with a grin on his face, he was tense and ready for the door to fly open. His first move when it did so to dodge to the side so she'd miss with her first slap, or possibly stab. That was until a few seconds passed, no sound at all. Hesitating as his grin slipped a bit, he put his ear next to the door. Nothing, not even footsteps, was she that furious that she was trying to decide what weapon to use?

 

After a little longer, and still nothing, Aran tested the handle quietly and found it was unlocked. Turning it, he slowly pushed it forward, ready to pull it back if he was attacked to give himself a second or so to explain. Still nothing. Aran was beginning to sense that something had gone awry, or something was about to go awry for him depending.

 

Light.

 

This reaction was something he hadn't expected. A prank was meant to be something to be joked about later, but this clearly wasn't going to be one of those pranks. Standing side on to him, he could see tears running down the side of her face. He'd clearly strayed onto something he hadn't planned to. Closing the door behind him, he walked over to her as he spoke with the box infront of him.

 

"I didn't expect you to... Try this box."

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

[Guest Arie Ronshor]

She looked to him, with a sudden very eery silence in her head.

 

This man made her cry.

 

And her brothers were not here to make him pay for making her cry.

 

Whispers in her head took over her, and even though her eyes still teared, her mind was hollow. Turning to face him, in one extremely quick movement, she knocked the box from his hands.

 

CRACK

 

The slap rang through the room, but not before she leaned in close enough and brought up her knee, hard, and then shoved him out the door. Slamming it into place. Running back o her room before she did any more damage to something that was not hers. The box on the floor forgotten.

 

 

Cairma

 

Ooc: hey girls!.. bet you wanted to do that to him a few times!

[Wayfarer]

It was Aran's turn to cry, if he could have cried. As it was, he was in far too much pain to actually shed tears, though he was certainly glassy eyed as he lay slumped on the door opposite Cairma's. Both of his hands resting on his crotch, both his legs wrapped around his hands, his body curled over his legs, his head resting on his knees. His colour wasn't all that good either, in fact he didn't really have any colour, pale as a sheet his breaths were coming in rather shallow at first as if breathing lightly would somehow make it less painful.

 

It took a couple of minutes before Aran was able to force himself to his feet. Thankful that no one had walked by, at least that he'd noticed, it was with pure will that he managed to get to his feet. To say that he ached would be an understatement, throbbed might have been closer to it as he took a couple of steps towards the door and put his ear to it. This time he could hear something, sniffling, definitely a mistake on his part.

 

Knocking on the door led to him being yelled at to go away, so he got out his picks. He'd never had to pick a lock throbbing so, but he managed it nevertheless and helped himself into the room, and was sure to close the door and lock it behind him as quickly as he could manage.

 

Not that he didn't question the wisdom of that decision. Cairma was sitting on the bed, sniffling with tears running down her face. While this was terrible in itself, the other point that particularly grabbed Aran's attention was her sword, Beast, as she called it. The reason this was of particular importance was that she was hugging it, and now she was giving him a look that said she was going to use it on him if he didn't disappear yesterday.

 

Holding up a hand, he managed a painful step forward as he spoke. "We should talk."

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

[Guest Arie Ronshor]

Ooc: You asked for it... (A little Inner Arie demon mixed with Cairma demon) .. I love mentally disturbed characters..

 

"Why are you trying to make fun of me?

You think it's funny?

What the **** you think it's doing to me?

You take your turn lashing out at me

I want you crying when you're bloody down in front of me."

-Thoughtless (Korn)

 

Ic:

 

*whack*

Move through he forms.

*whack*

Ignore the pain.

*whack*

The pain is nothing...

*whack*

to what you will do to him next.

 

Cairma struggled with the rage within her. Never had she felt it outside of the rings of the Yard. Never directed at anyone. Never this, vile. The young child that had once been so insecure about her surroundings was stripped bare and beaten by a demon within herself that she thought she could control.

 

Into her room, she locked the door and pulled the one thing that she could familiarize herself with, the one thing that might help her control the hate and hurt. Curling up on her bed with tears stinging her eyes, she held Beast as close as she could. Fearing to embrace the void of emptiness. Afraid to let the demon within her loose.

 

She found 'it' there. After all the pain endurance. She had not sense of right or wrong within that place. Only a place of calm, hatred, and seductive destruction.. Life was so easy to destroy. The power within it.

 

But the strongest thing in life is knowing when to step down.

 

but when have you ever stepped down? you would fight a grand master knowing you would die in the end because it was a fight. You could not say no.

 

I will die by the sword. This sword.

 

You will destroy everything you touch. You always have. No one wants you..

 

 

*Knock Knock*

 

No, don't' come in.. it's not safe, I'm not safe...

 

"SOD OFF!!"

 

He will hurt you more... that's what friends do..

 

"noo.." She whispered into her arms, her tears running down the sheath of the blade. It's not like this. She couldn't' understand it. It was just a dress...

 

He was mocking you..

 

Cairma looked up as the door swung open, revealing a rather pained Aran. The void came easy then. Her face steeled despite her sniffling nose and tear stained cheeks.

 

"If you value your limbs, you will leave." Her voices was cold, like Aes Sedai ice.

 

Holding up a hand, he managed a painful step forward as he spoke. "We should talk."

 

"There is nothing to say." Her eyes never left his. His were hurt too. but she did not see it in the void. Not in this place of emptiness.

 

"Lets hear it."

 

Her head tilted a little as she leaned a bit forward, stretching out her legs. She hand gripped Beast with a familiarity, almost seductive if it didn't bleed lethal intent.

 

"Here what, Aran? About why i am so upset?" Her voice was low, un-naturally low. Usually warmed, even when she was grumpy, nothing changed her voice unless she was mad. She wasn't just angry. She was furious. "You are but a fool in pretty clothing. You waste your time with games and place your own need for fun above the thought of others." She seethed at him, moving Beast out of her line of sight.

 

"Did you once ever think of how i would feel?"

 

 

Cairma Vishnu

TG

[Wayfarer]

Well, whatever this is, it isn't just me at least. Not much of a consolation with her upset, but it did mean there was something that needed fixing. Wandering over to the box on the floor as she asked him what he'd thought she'd feel, Aran winced as he bent and picked up it up. Light, but it'd been a long time since someone had managed to land that sort of blow on him. "I figured you'd be a bit outraged, open the door and ask me what on earth I was thinking, at which point I could surprise you with the real dress I'd picked out."

 

She was reserved and grew silent, staring at the box as if it were a disease. The voice resided only a little as she drew out of void, unable to maintain its lulled song. She did not care about him, or the silly dance. Surely he would not make her go after such an unkind prank. Her voice still cold, but withdrwn as she spoke.

 

"I don't want to know what you put in it."

 

Laying the box on the empty bed that would have been taken by another guard if Cairma had a roommate, Aran decided to stick his head in the lion's mouth. Wandering next to her where she sat, he sat down on the ground next to her feet as gently as he could before looking up at her. "Maybe not, but I want to know something. You're not upset just over this in itself, something else is going on. And I'm not going anywhere."

 

"I.. i..." her word started out as if she was going to say something. Anything. But the gesture itself was her undoing. Although she did not want him near - the very opposite - he still broke though her defense line. Her comfort zone. And she didn't like it, at all. She snapped her mouth shut, refusing to say anything until she could at least form something of coherency in her mind. She would Not babble like a child! Taking a deep breath, she did not look at him.

 

"I don't know."

 

To say that her reaction to his words was revealing would have been an understatement. While he didn't know what it was that was working away at her, what he did know allowed him to make some conjecture. Now was the time to field an idea or two and see where it took her. "You do know. If I were to guess, I'd say whatever it is is the same reason you stay away from people. Maybe you did something to someone, but I think someone did something to you. Am I right?"

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

[Guest Arie Ronshor]

"...Maybe you did something to someone, but I think someone did something to you. Am I right?"

 

 

Her back stiffened, as she gribbed her sword. laying it down, she looked at him, thousands of emotions runnig across them.

 

*laughter*

 

"What happened to me before i came to the yard is really none of your business, Aran. I think you should leave now."

 

But his reaction to her caught her off guard. He smiled brightly, like sunshine and daisies. "Nope." Cocking her head to one side thoughtfully, she looked at his face, and then down to where his hands were still cupping himself. Sighing sadely, she hung her head a little and moved to get off the bed, leaning Beast against the bed frame.

 

"I've just been tricked many times by people that i trusted. I can not read people very well at all. And i'm easily used that way. it has caught up on me more than one occassion."

 

She lookde to him with a sad look. "Nothing has ever been done to me physically. Not like some of the horror stories. But in some ways, I Envy them, because they would know what the signs are better than i ever would. I got away by luck."

 

"My secrets are not worth telling. Nor is my life worth any more than that sword by the bed. I came here to be able to protect myself. Why? i still dont' really know. But in all honesty, Aran. I'm really sorry you got hurt, but i'm not worth wasting your breath on. I never was."

 

 

Cairma

TG

WS 11!! ^_^ w00t!

[Wayfarer]

Listening, Aran made sense of it all as best he could while he nursed himself. So, Cairma had had her trust broken so many times that she'd withdrawn herself from everyone. That explained why her last words as well, because no one had valued her she didn't value herself? But what of Daemon? Daemon clearly thought well of her, but was he the only one? Perhaps the only one that she had allowed herself, which was the true problem. Because she'd shut herself off from everyone, she never allowed the opportunity for anything to change, so she condemned herself to her own loneliness.

 

Not her fault as such, it was a natural reaction, yet it was something that needed to change. Not that he couldn't have walked out the door, he had before on other people. On the otherhand, in those times he couldn't afford to do otherwise, and that was a different life. It was amazing what one could do when one could afford it, though he was going to have to watch himself. Someone might go so far as to say he was developing a conscience, and that would never do. Looking up at Cairma, he forced himself to stretch his legs and remove his hands from his crotch, wincing as he spoke.

 

"You might not think you're worth it, but you're stuck with me anyway. So people sold you out when it was convenient for them, or for amusement, I'm not one of those people. So if you think I'm going to wander off just because I possibly won't have children now, you're mistaken. I'm not even sure if I could manage a wander at the moment."

 

Half grinning despite the pain, Aran put a hand on the bed and used it to help himself up. It was probably better that he stood, at least it seemed to help. Better to suck up the pain than it was to be held down by it. "I'm not asking for your secrets, if you don't wish to talk of them then you don't. Just what was wrong, and I know at least some of it now. Enough to know that walking out the door now would be no different than what has happened to you before. Besides, I do think you're worth it."

 

Wandering over to where he'd put the box, he slipped the lid off and took it to Cairma's bed, setting it down so she could look inside if she approached it. Well, she'd have to pull back the wrapping paper as well, but it was there for her if she would approach it. Words came to mind, but he didn't lend voice to them. Instead, he looked to Cairma and gestured to the box, it all came down to what was going on in her mind after what he'd already said.

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

[Guest Arie Ronshor]

She watched as he picked up the box with rather reserved movements. Did she really knee him that hard? She almost felt bad..

 

Actually, she scolded herself, she felt really bad. In truth, Aran didn't seem like one that would use her. He had an off sense of humour but..

 

Moving slowly to the box, her breath caught in her throat. Her hand started to reach out but was pulled back as the dazzling deep blue silk just beconed to be touched. It was beautiful, silk, Domani silk, it looked like. Walking closer she took her time to finger the fabic, amazed with the softness. She did not cry this time, she she was still at a loss for words.

 

 

"Thank you.."

[Wayfarer]

Smiling, Aran watched as Cairma handled the dress with a sort of wonder that made him wonder if she had ever owned any silk of her own. It was expensive, and not everyone could get it. Either one had to have quite a fair bit of money at their disposal, or they had to know someone. For Aran, it had been the latter that had proved to be the key to securing the garment. Never let it be said that constant drinking and partying in the town did not yield results of its own.

 

"The blue suits you more than the red I think. At anyrate, I need to get ready, it will take a bit of time with my make up and all." Grinning at her, Aran went to the door gingerly and unlocking it, stepped outside. He paused before closing the door and looked over at her. "By the way, there are shoes in there as well, I think you'll find that they're your size. If you're still coming that is."

 

Chuckling at her response, Aran closed the door and made his way back to his room, slowly. Light but it hurt! He just hoped they were slow dances to begin with, or maybe he could have a couple of drinks beforehand to dull the pain a little. In fact, that sounded like a magnificent idea...

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

[Guest Arie Ronshor]

Cairma smiled with a little part of the side of her mouth.

 

"And miss seeing you dance with a limp instead of a sharan dancer, i think not." She said and Aran left with a laugh. She was thankful that he didn't' stay. She needed a moment or two to gather her thoughts and pull herself together. the door clicked shut, and she moved again to touch the dress, amazed by the softness. But if it was Domani Silk...

 

Cairma pulled the dress out of the box.

 

It was Domani cut too..

 

Her cheeks flamed brightly. This was SO worse than ruffles-!! Not only would she be dancing all night, but she will be put on display as well. ....She frowned to herself. There was no way she could strap down her chest with a gown like this, like she usual did when she practiced. The curses of being female and endowed with breasts that always got in the way with sword forms.

 

She took her time arranging the fabric around her, wishing for a mirror. She did not know how well it fit,but it felt snug enough that she wouldn't fall out. The color was beautiful, a rich blue but not dark enough to hide her away in the night. It was a dazzling colour. And Cairma wasn't sure wether to be pleased with his choice or extremely self conscious of it. She voted for both.

 

And lastly, she looked back into the box and pulled out the shoes. Beautiful 2-inch heels, (much larger than she had ever had the liberty or the common sense to wear) a soft black leather were then placed on her feet. She found them oddly comfortable, and again, she was impressed with Aran's insight.

 

He knew her shoe size AND he had broken in the new shoes without ruining the leather. She looked to the door with a quizzical face. Was there more to the mans actions than he was letting on, or was he just that observant. ... or did he borrow one of her shoes? Cairma walked to her closet to find all her boots not-so-neatly piled on top of each-other. Nope, all there.

 

Once again wishing for a mirror, Cairma took a deep breath, tying one of the few 'delicacies' she owned to her waist - a soft beaded pouch decorated with a winged heron sword that was given to her long ago. One of the few 'pretty' things in her possession and part of her past that she had not parted with. Jewelry she had no use for, but ever woman should have at least one purse... Walking to the door, she stopped for a moment.

 

"I'm coming out, and you better not laugh!" She warned and then slowly opened the door, her cheeks pink from her shyness, hoping that the tears had not completely streaked her face..

 

 

Cairma

[Wayfarer]

The first thing Aran did after he reached his room was, well, was to sit down. He then got out his bottle and helped himself to his own personal liquid painkiller. A cup of that helped ease him a little, which was needed for when he stripped. The term 'sensitive' gained a whole new level of meaning with every bump and jiggle. It was definitely unfair, Aran decided, that women were not quite as exposed as men. Well, sure if you kicked a woman there hard enough you might be able to get close to the pain that a man felt, but not nearly close enough. And you only had to be brushed...

 

Which is exactly what Aran tried to avoid as he put a towel on and gathered his things for the baths. While the water was originally quite painful, the warm waters eventually became soothing as he scrubbed himself clean of the day. There was a great deal to be said for the oil he had chosen for his hair as well. In it was mixed a lavender scent, he'd always favoured it and a hint of it always went well.

 

Returning to his room much cleaner and not so sore, Aran garbed himself. Small clothes and socks were the first things to find their way on. Next was the shirt he had chosen, a rich dark purple that matched the fragrance he wore and had matching cuffs. Trousers came next, jet black to match the doublet that followed. With a short collar fringed with the same purple as his shirt, he had enough horizontal slashes in the doublet to mark him of reasonable rank in the court of Cairhien. He'd used it a number of times over the years, it had always been handy to be able to move through the court so.

 

For such occasions he had the perfect boots to match. He'd always taken good care of them, unlike the ones he used for his average day, and they positively gleamed to the point one could see their own reflection in them. Lacing them up, he had but a few more things to add to his garb. His belt used a silver buckle rather than gold, and from it he kept a small dagger at one side and a small pouch of coin in the other.

 

To this he added a second pouch of equal size and a pair of other daggers that he hid inside his doublet. Even his finer clothes held pockets for such items to be held securely, the Cairhienin court was not a place to be unarmed. Neither was a night out in the town, even if it was Tar Valon.

 

His coat was last, as dark as the doublet that he wore. Using buttons rather than laces, they ran from the collar to the waist, at which point it split until it reached the knees. Doing those buttons up after secreting another pair of daggers in it in turn, he went to his mirror and took a good look at himself. Resplendent in black from head to toe, all that was left for him to do was ruffle his short hair, taking advantage of the fact it naturally curled.

 

Grinning to himself, he made his way back to Cairma's room, still at a careful pace no less. Laughing off a few comments from passersby, he was only waiting a few minutes when Cairma's voice became audible. Grinning, the same grin faded to a surprised smile when the door opened to reveal her. He'd figured there was a diamond in the rough with Cairma, but imagination was a poor substitute to seeing beauty realised.

 

"The dress does you even more justice than I thought it would." There was a hint of humour in his voice at the cut of the dress, but sincere in how impressed he was. "Well, you'd best get your coat. Its cold outside, and with a coat I might not have to fend as many lads from you no?"

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

 

 

OOC: Take us to Arie's :D

[Guest Arie Ronshor]

i'll post next there to open it up. ^_^