A REALLY boring afternoon (Attn: Pia Sedai Queen of My Heart)

[Wayward_fool]

Ray-ray poked at the strange tapestry hanging in the middle of the waiting room. It had strange creatures running around it. And it reminded Ray-ray of some of the nightmares she'd had recently, after rather overeating during evening meals. Her right hand clutched tightly around a note the Cook had written for her. Something about being sure to curtsey when in doubt and not speaking when not being spoken to. Something Ray-ray would have to work with. She was rather opinionated.

 

"Please sit and be quiet, child. Pia Sedai will be with you shortly." A girl in rainbow handed Accepted dress spoke from behind an age darkened bureau piled high with paper. "If you break anything, there will be an uproar. And that would not be pleasant."

 

Ray-ray wrinkled her nose and sat back down with a sigh. This was rather boring. Her mind was a confusion of hurried instructions and whispered promise of welcoming her back if she had problems at the Novice quarters. Ray-ray was not altogether convinced that that was the best route to go, but it was always nice to nod politely and hope for the best. This wait was starting to irk her. People generally gave her a sweet in exchange for a long wait. When her mom made her wait, she would get a candied apple. Or in the winter, a hot cup of chocolate and a sip of spiced wine. She pouted in thought at that. Those were good memories. Light burn that Ravene Sed-

 

"You're next."

 

Ray-ray started from her thought and got off her bum hurriedly. “Yes, Accepted.” She curtseyed lowly and walked towards the gilded door that was the entrance to the office of the Mistress of Novices. An entrance, the Cook had mentioned Ray-ray would probably grow familiar with. Whatever that meant.

 

“Come in.” A voice announced barely as Ray-ray’s hand raised to knock. These Aes Sedai were probably gifted with Foretelling, the Cook had said. Ability to know things happening before they do. Ray-ray did not quite buy this, but then again, it never hurt to believe the worst.

 

She pushed open the door with a grunt. The heavy doors did take an effort. Maybe it helped Novices build muscles. If this was a place Novices visited frequently, it wouldn’t be a wonder if all of them had biceps the size of a cow.

 

“Pia Sedai.” Ray-ray wasn’t sure how to pronounce the name. Was it Pi-uh? Pi-ah?  Just Piah? Light only knew. “My name is Regalia Frantelle, but you can call me Ray-ray. I am one of the new Novices. And I was tested by Pranatarakapasaya Sedai.” Now THAT name was a mouthful. But Ray-ray had practiced. At night. When the spankings had stopped. And she was permitted a sweetie from the Cook. Now it was a trick she used to impress her friends with. Saying it ten times, at alarming speed, almost to the point of having a tongue cramp. None of her friends managed without somehow choking on their tongue, or coughing fitfully, or on one memorable occasion, fainting from lack of air.

 

“Come and sit here child.” Pia Sedai was a rather beautiful woman, slightly graying at the sideburns with angular features and beautiful, beautiful dark brown eyes.

 

“Yes, Aes Sedai.” Ray-ray curtsied again and walked forward with as much grace as possible. Only to fall flat on her face, tripping on the edge of the carpet. Red faced and flustered, she scurried forward to sit down.

 

“I am sowwie.” Ray-ray blinked away the tears of shame that burned at her eyes. She wiped them away and sat straight. “I am not used to such beautiful offices. And beautiful tables. And chairs. And such nice cushions.” She rambled, trying to calm her fluttering heart. “The Cook said that I have to try my best and not be a let down. I am trying.” She took a deep breath and looked up at the Mistress of Novices. And her slightly amused smile. “Sorry, Pia Sedai.”  Ray-ray looked at the woman expectantly, having no idea what was going to happen now.

 

[Lavinya]

Pia eyed the flustered young girl with a fair amount of amusement, which she wisely hid behind her patented Aes Sedai calm. It would not do for the mistress of novices to be seen taking joy in her new intiates' misfortune. She silently surveyed the girl, thinking of the word sent ahead by Pranatarakapasaya regarding her newest find. Blast that woman for her ridiculous name, any one with common sense would adopt a shorter nickname, but the woman was dogged.

 

"I have been expecting your arrival, Regalia. Word of your ability to channel arrived some time before you did." Pia rapped her fingers lightly on the pristine polished desktop. "I have also heard of your...exploits." The slight emphasis on the last seemed to have its desired effect as Regalia's flush deepened somewhat. Pia at last allowed a smile to brighten her face. Squarely placed atop her desk was a giant tome, ancient yet tended with reverent care. A weave kept it in such immaculate condition, though looking at the severely ordered nature of Pia's office, it was a wonder it didn't maintain it's condition of it's own accord, in fear of its mistress. Pia drew the heavy book towards her and opened it with care, flipping through the pages until she arrived at the most recent entry. Every novice of the tower was recorded in this book, from herself some two hundred years ago to the previous mistress of novices and beyond. It was rich in history, and Pia loved it so.

 

"As you have been found with the ability to channel, you will become a novice today. Officially." Pen and ink were produced with a flourish, and Pia levelled her dark eyed gaze on the whippet of a girl before her. "Please state for the record once more your full name, age, and place of birth." The pen nib scratched softly across the parchment, Pia's handwriting neat and precise like everything else about her. Not even a strand of hair dared escape it's confines in the bun at her nape. When Regalia had finished speaking, she signed her own name and dated the entry, before setting about the task of drying the ink and reweaving the keeping upon the book. This, she placed into the drawer of her desk, designed specifically for its keeping.

 

"Welcome to the White Tower, novice Regalia."

 

 

Pia Tovisen

Mistress of Novices

:-*

[Wayward_fool]

"Welcome to the White Tower, novice Regalia."

 

Ray-ray heard the words, but found that they came from far, far away. She remembered the day, many years ago, when Ravene Sedai, the dreaded yellow that her mother served so well, welcomed her to the White Tower as well. Before disappearing with her mother in tow, leaving her in the care of the kitchen attendants. Ray-ray's eyes blurred slightly with tears. She missed her mother, and the Aes Sedai in front of her for some stupid reason, reminded Ray-ray of her. Light, I will have to control myself. What is wrong with me? It's not like I haven't been in the Tower for ages.

 

Ray-ray looked up at the Mistress of Novices. She really was pretty. Perhaps… No, that was REALLY not a good idea. “Thank you Pia Sedai. I am very pleased to be enrolled as a Novice.” She tried to school her features a little. There. Better.  Ray-ray took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and smiled. It took quite an effort. “Is that all, Pia Sedai? Or do you have more for me? Or may I leave?”

 

Ray-ray’s eyes wandered the room. It certainly looked immaculate. Her own perception of Aes Sedai had always been nothing short of miraculous. Probably strongly influenced by the opinions of the Cook and the other kitchen attendants. Especially the Cook. Ray-ray always found the woman strange. For she spent her time acting as if the Tower was hers, but then spent the rest of her time expounding of how the Creator truly favoured the Aes Sedai. She almost fainted when Ray-ray told her she was to be enrolled as a Novice. To think a future Aes Sedai, right under her nose! Someday turning into some kind of semi-demi-god-like creature.

 

Ray-ray’s thoughts snapped back to the present as she heard the Mistress of novices say something. “Pardon, Aes Sedai? What did you say again?” Ray-ray hoped she didn’t appear too rude.

 

[Lavinya]

“Is that all, Pia Sedai? Or do you have more for me? Or may I leave?”

 

At this prompting, Pia launched into a lengthy description of the many rules that applied to novices, and the behaviour expected of them. There was quite a good deal to know, from classes and meals decorum, to curfews, areas that were out of bounds, to how to appropriately greet an Aes Sedai that passed by in the hall. Not far into her spiel, however, Regalia's attention began to obviously wander. Pia frowned, waiting for the girl to bring her eyes back to the woman speaking to her, but the rude chit was too busy ogling the orderly room.

 

"Regalia, are you listening?" Pia's tone was somewhat irritated, which at least managed to catch Regalia's wayward thoughts. "You will need to work on your attention span, child," Pia admonished. "If you have not managed to grasp a concept of what I just told you, you will have to work it out for yourself, and quickly. Assuming you want to avoid a trip to my office for something a good deal more unpleasant than a cup of tea and a chat." It seems the information that had been passed to her regarding her newest novice was spot on - the child was rude, flighty, and rather disrespectful. Nothing Pia could not train out of her though, on this she was confident. It just took a firm hand and sometimes equally firm spankings.

 

Giving the girl one last firm look, Pia rose and opened a tall cupboard, withdrawing from it two clean and folded white dresses, a pair of slippers, stockings, a shift, and a belt, all in the same unrelieved white. "This is what you will wear from now on. Keep them clean and well mended in your own time. Failure to do so will result in discipline. They should fit or close enough too, if they do not you may visit the tower seamstress and she will see about fitting you." Pia placed the pile of garments in Regalia's arms and returned to her desk. "Now, do you have any final questions?"

 

Pia Tovisen

MoN

[Wayward_fool]

Regalia wrinkled her nose at the question. She had about a billion questions, many of them inappropriate and most of them she would save for later. Right now all she wanted to do was move in. Most of her life she’d had to share her room with other kitchen attendants or on one memorable occasion three of them at once.

 

“No, Pia Sedai. I only with to be on my way and possibly get started on being a Novice. My belongings are still in my old room in the Kitchen Quarters, so I shall go and get them. Unfortunately my mother is not around to know the good news, but perhaps I will not need to tell her after all.” The thought of her mother gave her a lump in her throat. She’d always be Ray-ray’s point of annoyance. “But I have no worries, she will probably find out eventually, and probably make up to me.” She sighed inwardly. She really did not want to have to explain herself. She felt like she spent far too much time doing that.

 

“Well, maybe perhaps this, Pia Sedai, are Novices allowed visitors? Or rather, is it alright if I never have to entertain any visitors? It’s really only so I can focus on my studies.” She nodded earnestly and blinked rapidly, her long eye lashes fluttered.

 

It was not that she hated her mother, but at this moment in time she really would prefer not have to entertain her mother’s incessant nagging and constant inquisition. Tugging on her sleeves, she leaned forward, perhaps Pia Sedai would let her have a break. 

 

[Lavinya]

Pia didn't register any more reaction than a slight raising of her brows at Regalia's question, but it did provoke some questions. "Visitors? You will scarce have time to mingle with the other novices, let alone entertain visitors. On freedays, perhaps, but otherwise you have no need to worry about anything interfering with your studies." Pia filed her questions away in her mind for future pondering and pulled a fresh piece of foolscap from a drawer to pen a swift note.

 

"Go collect your things, then give this to the first novice or Accepted you see - she will show you to your room and direct you to the right classroom. As the day is still young, and you have lived at the tower for some time already, I see no need for you to settle in. You shall start learning immediately." The Gray sister passed the folded paper to Regalia and motioned for her to rise. "Remember Regalia, you are no longer a scullery maid, but an initiate of the White Tower. Let your behaviour and tongue reflect that, yes?" Her mouth took on a slightly sardonic twist as she dismissed the girl. "And do work on your curtsey." With that the door clicked shut behind the tower's newest novice, and Pia set about investigating her. There was precious little she did not know about her girls, and what she didn't she learned quickly.

 

 

Pia Tovisen, MoN

[Wayward_fool]

((OOC: *sighs* Missed the Raising. Oh well, might as well have a thread to myself. DONE!))

 

Regalia wrinkled her nose as she exited the Mistress' office. Her eyes glanced to the left and right of her. It was a dull morning indeed. She knew most of the Novices would be in lessons and the Accepted were hardly going to be hanging around waiting for her. The few she knew were assistants to various Aes Sedai, and that did not bear thinking of. Clutching her note tight, she set off towards the direction of the Novice Quarters. She was bound to meet someone coming the other way.

 

Around her the White Tower was quiet. The air was dusty from age, and Regalia could not help thinking about her first encounter with the Mistress of Novices. The woman was formidable, but Ray-ray had met many like her. She was not at all cowed by the Aes Sedai's serenity and presence. In fact she looked forward to more encounters with her. Already in her mind, Ray-ray made an inventory of the office. Various fragile looking items in the room looked ready to break. If she was spanked, her hands flailing about... well, she could hardly be blamed could she? The Cook had warned her about pranks and "naughtiness" as the woman put it, but Ray-ray knew it had to be a privilege of being a Novice no? After all, what else was there to do besides make her presence known? It was not a place to be lost in.

 

Sighing, her rubbed her nose absently. The Novice Quarters loomed before her. She had seen many a Novice doing chores in the kitchen during her time there. Most looked unhappy. She would not stand for that. It was a time to rejoice. Regalia Frantelle, Novice Extraordinaire, would not be one of those lost souls. The Light willing, she would be Aes Sedai.

 

[Amadine]

*bump*