A chat

[Wayfarer]

"Keep going Ursana! Thats it lad, keep it up!"

 

Cheering Ursana on as the lad did another lap of the track, Aran stretched forward to his toes before laying back against his Faith. Tree was always there when he needed it, always willing to support him and shelter him. Now that was real faithfulness. He was sure that Ursana was far from happy with the arrangement, thinking that Aran should be sweating it out with him. Of course, Ursana had a very skewed idea of fairness as well, something he was working on as it were.

 

Besides, it gave him a chance to think. It had been an interesting week, especially with how things were between him and Cairma. They remained friends, but there was a closer thing between them. They put that on hold though, at least until Cairma could sort out how she felt about it, because Aran knew exactly how he felt about it. Or rather, how far it could go. He knew he felt differently about it than most people he was with, it brought a closeness that very few other things ever did. But it didn't hook him the way it did others, it was just another way of showing closeness, friendship.

 

That probably wasn't the best way to explain it inwardly, but Aran knew what he meant. The problem was whether Cairma could accept it as that, and nothing further. He had a suspicion that she probably wouldn't, never fully. Therein lay the problem, because if she did go further, then when he was close with someone else she'd be jealous and more importantly, hurt. The exact thing he didn't want.

 

Daemon.

 

Raising an eyebrow as he saw the man walking his direction, the thought of running crossed his mind. Daemon was not a man that sought out his company, he had other things to keep him occupied, like his wife and children. A few older guards and warders perhaps, but that was it. That meant there were very few reasons that the man could be walking towards him. Unfortunately, the practical side of him knew there was very little chance of outrunning him. So instead, he waited for the man to come within speaking range as he wore a bright grin.

 

"Daemon, so good to see you. Why don't you have a seat?" Aran gestured to some room next to him where Daemon could rest his back on the trunk. "What brings you here?"

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

[Ghaul]

A week has passed from the dance at Arie's Inn, and Daemon had never seen Cairma so .. well so genuine happy. And of all the people he knew in the Yard, Cairma was the one who almost matched him when it came to emotionlessness. However she was also the one who deserved the most to be happy. She has had a hard life, and it was about time things go her way for a change.And Daemon knew who was to 'blame' for that - Aran. Cairma haven't said anything, but then again she didn't need to. Daemon had a head on his shoulders and knew how to use it. And here he was now, on the look for Aran, determined to find the man. And once Daemon set his mind and will to soemthing, it was rare for him not to achieve his goal.

 

Daemon found Aran leaning against a tree, watching over another man who was running laps, probably his trainee. As expected, Aran did not payed any attention to him until Daemon was close enough for him to hear Aran, without the man having to shout.

 

 

"Daemon, so good to see you. Why don't you have a seat?" Aran gestured to some room next to him where Daemon could rest his back on the trunk. "What brings you here?"

. As always the man had a big grin on his face.

 

Daemon leaned against the tree, next to Aran.

 

"I thought I drop by for a chat Aran"- he pointed towards the man running laps. - "Endurance training?"

 

Daemon Ronshor

 

ooc: I thought of a bit of small talk before they move to the main subject

[Wayfarer]

Laughing, Aran held out a hand flat and wiggled it side to side. "Sort of. He needs the endurance training true, but there are other ways he could do it. On the otherhand, this one doesn't require much focus. It gives him time to think, and he needs that currently. I've set him a question to answer and he's struggling with it." Grinning, he turned to Daemon then frowned before looking up. "You really need to sit down old man, or you're going to put a crick in my neck."

 

Daemon eyed Aran with his typical emotionless face on. "Old man?!? I will assume that slip off your tongue by accident. And it is not my fault you did not grow taller. And about the endurance training. You could always tie weight to his limbs, it will do wonders for his speed, endurance and strength."

 

Laughing at Daemon's comeback, he shook his head at what Daemon said. "I don't want him doing that yet, he'll tire out more quickly until he adjusts. Like I said, I want him able to think for now." Pausing, he decided it was best to get it over with. "But I doubt you're here to talk about my teaching method. Whats on your mind?"

 

Daemon didn't look at Aran, he continued talking. "About a certain mentee of mine, who has gone quite a character change recently. She is a lot happier right now then she used to be before. And I have a feeling that a certain Cairhienian is to 'blame' for all this. So I came to thank him." Daemon hand landed on Aran's shoulder. "Good job Aran, Cairma finally came out of her shell."

 

Well, it wasn't going to be an angry fatherly reprisal. After having lived through a few of those, Aran was more than happy to not be on the receiving end of another. Grinning, he reached up and patted Daemon's hand. "She wanted to, just needed a hand was all. Besides, underneath that shell is a nice girl. I don't know what led to her hiding there beyond a hint or two, but whoever knew her before she came here wasn't kind I think."

 

"Yes, not kind at all from what I know. She has been through a lot, and obviously she never had a friend in the true meaning of the word. Until you came along that is."

 

"That was because she didn't talk to anyone. I plan on changing that." Grinning, Aran nudged Daemon's leg. "You should try that yourself, spend all your time with the other old coots and not enough with us younger folk. Surely you can get a night off to drink the night away with us? I'll even promise not to tie your bootlaces together while you sleep."

 

Daemon's face and voice remained unchanged, but he was not going to leave himself in debt to this youngster. "Tie my bootlaces together while I'm asleep? First of all there is not a way you will get me drunk, and second even asleep I will get will get wind of your intentions. You youngster do not know the first thing about sneaking up to someone! And speaking of a night off to drink, you do not plan to do that very often do you? It will be bad for the discipline, and think of the example you'll set"

 

Aran laughed, maybe Daemon wasn't as observant as he'd thought. "I thought you were a little more astute. Look, its a case of balance. Some people do not drink at all, therefore some people have to take up the slack. Its just my duty to make up for those who don't. Besides, its a wonderful example, people should drink often, helps build tolerance."

 

"Well how noble of you to take that duty on yourself. Though why is it I have the feeling that you do not get nearly as drunk as you, shall we say, act like? I must admit though, the Tower Grounds do need a lad like you, to stir up some trouble. Who know may be I finally have a successor in the trouble making department."

 

Aran snorted, Daemon a troublemaker? "Daemon, I'm sorry but while I'm sure that you're under the impression you were a wild child, I heard David stirred more trouble than you. And he's Sei'Tsorovan, says it all right there I there I think. Successor to troublemaking indeed, even Cairma would laugh if you told her that."

 

"Well true, David was the more trouble, but they did not called the Brothers Trouble for nothing. True I did not have your conquests, but I have given a few Sedai a few more gray hairs"

 

Grinning, Aran decided to let the old man claim what he did. Besides, it might even be true, not that Aran could believe it. Daemon was too quiet, too responsible. Then again, maybe thats what a wife did to a man, it was almost enough to make Aran shiver. "I think we can safely say we're in a different league. I doubt you've had a Mistress of Trainees break your hand outside of a spar."

 

After some thought Daemon agreed "Yes, you're right. I have never been seriously hurt by another tower guard outside of a spar. So you win there. And I was never the ladies' man you are. It seems many eyebrows go up whenever you walk in the mess hall."

 

Aran laughed. "I didn't feel like I'd won at the time. But yes, I suppose I am, not surprising considering how pretty I am." From a man who looked eminently ordinary and all in all rather forgettable, those words could only be a joke.

 

Daemon would have laughed had he not been in the Yards and his Tower Ground mindset. However, the conversation have turned towards what he initially wanted to make sure of. "Well obviously your charms are limitless Aran, as many women in the Tower would say. Among the Tower Guards they are rumors that you have many... friends. Cairma is not that kind of friend though, right?"

 

Aran grinned as he looked up. "You sure you don't have a club on your person somewhere? If you mean have we slept together, no, I haven't had her in my bed. I'm not about to change, and I don't want to hurt her, so thats out unless she can accept the fact that I won't settle with one woman. Since thats unlikely, at least for sometime, then that won't be happening."

 

"No I do not have a club on me so rest assured Aran. And there was no need to tell me that Aran, all I needed to know was that you do not want to hurt her. I'm glad to see that my judgement of you turned out to be true, Aran. Despite all they say about you, you're really a good man"

 

"Good man?" Aran laughed at that, that was something he was not used to being called. "Don't be absurd, if you tell other people that they'll think you've gone senile on us. I thought you still had a few good years left in you."

 

Daemon's look could have passed for that of a partner in crime, had he put any emotion in it. "Who said I will tell anyone you're a good man? I will keep that knowledge to myself and tell the others what a scoundrel and womanizer you are. I do not want to ruin your reputation."

 

Aran chuckled, it was the best he could hope for. "What a delightful old fellow. You know, you if you haven't already you should go bother Cairma for awhile. Ursana is about due to finish his running and that means I have to be vaguely responsible and try and educate him. Otherwise Ginae will try and break my other hand."

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

 

Daemon Ronshor

Tower Guard