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| March Chores (ota) (Mess halls); come relieve the boredom! | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 17 2005, 04:31 AM (132 Views) | |
| Shaya | Mar 17 2005, 04:31 AM Post #1 |
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Shaya let out a heartfelt curse as the water sloshed over the bucket yet again and soaked her right sock till it felt like her foot was swimming in her shoe. She had half a mind to throw the bucket down and drown someone in it, preferably the person that had come up with a task such as this. Not only were the tall windows all but impossible to reach, meaning she had to somehow drag up a bucket of soapy water on a less than stable ladder, but also she knew the effect of her efforts would be gone with the next rain shower. For now she was only doing the inside of the windows though, she would worry about how to clean them from the outside later. Reaching the far side of the Mess Hall, she put the bucket down and gave a sigh as she looked up at the endless row of windows that went all around. She fervently hoped some other novices and Accepted had been assigned to the task, for it would take her all day by herself and she was already very tired after a day of classes and other chores. She tentatively rolled her shoulders and neck, in hopes of relieving some of the tension that seemed to be caught there. Meanwhile the bucket of hot soapy water stood next to her, giving off little puffs of steam, as if to taunt her. The water actually contained a mixture of warm water, vinegar to which a few shavings of soap had been added to make the dirt come off more easily. Brushing back her hair, she sighed and took hold of the old stepladder and managed to drag it over and position it underneath the first window. Picking up the bucket, she carefully put her foot on the bottom step and winced as it creaked loudly when she put her weight on it. At least I wont have to clean these windows if I fall down and break my neck, she thought wryly. Manoeuvring the bucket in one hand and holding on to the ladder with the other, she managed to get to the top and put the bucket on the little plateau. Plunging her hand into the still hot water quickly, she took out the sponge and squeezed out the excess water. As soon as she applied it to the top of the window, the water ran from the sponge down her arm, soaking the side of her dress as well. Shaya sighed again, there was just no good way of doing this, so she might as well try and get it over with as soon as possible. Squinting against the incoming sunlight, that seemed to have decided to work against her as well, she quickly cleaned the first window, drying it off with soft piece of leather when it was clean. |
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| Aryatha Kalden | Mar 17 2005, 06:36 PM Post #2 |
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Retired Novice
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Washing windows is a chore? Aryatha thought to herself on her way towards what they called the Mess Halls. She had seen servants scrubbing her own windows during the summer, but it this was spring and there would be rain comming down at any time to wash away any work that might be done. There didn't seem to be any logic in this 'chore' and Aryatha wondered if perhaps the person who thought of making novices do it for a chore was near death. Or they wanted to make life as a novice even more difficult than it already is. Though she had not been a novice for long, only two days in fact, but she had already discovered that novices had to work hard. There were chores, classes in both the One Power and otherwise, along with all the regular parts of life like sleeping, eating, and the time in between to get from place to place. With it all, Aryatha was surprised that novices could had any free time at all. How they managed to fit it all in was beyond her though she was sure that she would figure out that secret soon enough since she too would have to balance all of that. There was also the mystery of how, or why for that matter, of novices getting in trouble. With all of their daily activities I'd guess that they'd have to do them at night and that would cut into their sleep. With a confused look on her face, Aryatha continued down the hallway. Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt an ich on her right arm. Growling, she quickly scratched it only to find that her other arm was now wanting to be scratched. Blast this novice dress! Whatever it was made out of, wool maybe, it was terribley uncomfortable and she wondered if perhaps some of the other novices dipped it in itching powder to play a joke onher. If they did, they are so going to get it. Her face still in a snarl, Aryatha looked down at her feet, which was much easier now since her dress was a few inches too short, and watched them move out only to be covered up by her dress as she took the next step. It soon bored her, however, and she looked up to see where she had ended up. Surprisingly, she had been heading in the generally right direction though she knew that she should have turned at the last corridor. Turning around and doing so, she smiled slightly when she saw up ahead the doors that led to the Mess Halls. As she passed through them, she quicly spotted the novice up on a ladder washing the windows. It didn't really look safe and she was tempted to turn around and pretend she did not know to come or where. The girl up there looked tired though and Aryatha hadn't done any chores or classes yet and was not. Walking slowly as to get out of that much more window, she stepped behind the girl before speaking. "Do you need any help?" she asked hoping that she didn't scare the other novice for speaking suddenly. It wouldn't be good if the girl fell off and broke her neck. Then I'd have to do all these windows all by myself. She immediatly admonished that thought knowing that it wasn't kind to only wish for the girl's life so that she could get out of a few simple chores. After all, what was so hard about washing windows? |
<center>![]() Talents: Milking Tears, Healing Listening to the Wind Member of the Staera Family</center> | |
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| Shaya | Mar 21 2005, 08:06 AM Post #3 |
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Shaya gave a little start as a voice underneath suddenly spoke up and balanced herself on the ladder. Looking down, she saw a young girl with long brown hair, wearing a novice dress much like herself. Shaya could not recall ever seeing her in one of her classes and so she concluded the girl had to be fairly new. Putting the sponge back in the bucket she pushed up the sleeves for what seemed the thousand’s time and peered over the top of the ladder with a friendly smile. “Hi there. I was getting worried I would have to do all these windows by myself.” She climbed down the ladder and extended her hand to the green-eyed girl across from her after wiping it on her skirts. “My name is Shaya. Are you new to the Tower?” She already knew the answer to that question she thought, but it seemed like the appropriate thing to ask. The brown haired girl seemed a fair bit younger that she herself was, but then most the novices were about that age. “As you probably noticed, they have little compassion for anyone new and throw you straight in at the deep end.” She looked up at the windows that were still to be done and wished she had not. “But at least it should go somewhat quicker with both of us. “ She pointed at one of the large storing rooms at the back of the kitchens. “I think there should still be another stepladder in there. Are you ok to use one, or are you afraid of heights?” She realised she must be overwhelming the girl with all her questions and paused with a smile to give her a chance to reply. |
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| Aryatha Kalden | Mar 21 2005, 01:22 PM Post #4 |
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Retired Novice
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“Hi there. I was getting worried I would have to do all these windows by myself.” The woman's words drew Aryatha from her thoughts and reminded her that she was not alone in the large room. She wondered for a few moments whey she was drifting off so much, but quickly pulled herself away from those thoughts so she would not get lost in them again. When the older woman held out her hand to her though, she was quite confused. She had seen men shake hands all the time, but for a woman to do it? To shake hands with someone that could be commoner? But I will need friends in this, White Tower. If I can get another one under my control things will be easier for me. Putting on a smile, Aryatha took the hand offered to her and shook it lightly. At least the girl had had enough thought to wipe it on her apron first. “My name is Shaya. Are you new to the Tower?” Aryatha nodded and the other woman didn't seem surprised. Do I act new? She kept a pleasent face on, but was inwardly in deep thought. How could someone already know just by seeing her that she had recently arrived? Perhaps it was the way she walked into the room? Thinking back, she remembered that she had a been a bit proud and eager about it. Girls who had been a while were hesitant to go because they hated chores and their pride had already been stripped from them. But I will keep mine, she thought with a nod of her head. There would be no Aes Sedai making her bend knee for the rest of her life. Only the Amyrlin Seat and the Keeper of the Chronicles were worthy of being curtsied to. The rest were just the lucky ones that had made it through their training and nothing more. “But at least it should go somewhat quicker with both of us, “ The woman, Shaya, said once again bringing Aryatha back to the task at hand. This was no time to be loosing herself in her thoughts. That could come later when she was working on her own or when she was in her room going to sleep. Shaya pointed to a door that Ary guessed led to some sorage rooms she told her get another stepladder and then asked if she was afraid of heights. Having never really been very high up -her balcony in their estate was probably the highest- she wasn't sure, but she didn't think so so she shook her head. As long as she didn't stare at the ground she would be just fine. Giving herself a mental nod as to not confuse the woman, she turned and walked in the direction of the storing room. When she reached it, she opened the door and sneezed at the dust that came out. If novices had to wash windows why not have them clean out the storing rooms also? While wondering about this, she looked around until she saw a small stepladder that the other novice had mentioned. It didn't look to sturdy, but neither did Shaya's so she wasn't too worried. Besides, if they were that bad they would have broken a long time before she came. After picking it up, she moved quickly out of the room and shut the door. Her dress was now a light gray color and she didn't even want to think about what her hair or face. This must be done, she thought while moving back towards the novice who was once again washing windows. When she arrived, she put the thing down near, but not too close to, Shaya's and looked up at the woman expectantly. "Do I need another bucket or can I share yours?" She hadn't thought to grab another bucket for herself while in the store room and she certainly didn't know where she would be allowed to fill it up especially since it didn't look like they were using simple water. With a small sigh, Aryatha put one foot on the first step and winced when it creaked. Light this thing had better not fall! Waiting for a reply, she took another step and took a few deep breaths to steady her breathing. This was not going to be a fun experiance. |
<center>![]() Talents: Milking Tears, Healing Listening to the Wind Member of the Staera Family</center> | |
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| Shaya | Mar 23 2005, 04:28 AM Post #5 |
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Shaya duly noted the other girl’s hesitation in accepting her outstretched hand and filed the information away with the picture she was forming in her head about her fellow novice. She raised a questioning eyebrow as the girl did not bother to offer her name in return, but the conversation moved on and Shaya let it go. She herself had been extremely suspicious and reluctant to socialise with anyone when she came to the Tower. After a while it just seemed like too much of an effort to constantly stay guarded and distant with everyone. She still danced around the truth about her past when pushed, but hardly anyone asked these days. She even had to admit to the fact that there were a few women she even considered her friends, even though she knew she would someday have to leave them behind when she fled the Tower. That day was far off though, for she was nowhere near learning all that could be learned and so she pushed the thought away. She watched the woman move towards where she had directed her and after a few moments she did indeed return with the stepladder, that she positioned next to Shaya in a manner that suggested she was not very familiar with the whole thing. Shaya smiled to herself and wondered if that was what she had looked like when she first came to the Tower, seeing she’d never done a day’s worth of working with her hands. "Do I need another bucket or can I share yours?" Shaya had already been returning to the top of the stairs and now looked down over her shoulder. “I think it would be more practical if you got a pail of your own. There should still be plenty of hot water in the cauldron over the fire, just make sure the water is as hot as you can stand it. You can add some vinegar and soap shavings from the counter next to it.” She paused briefly to make sure her new assistance seemed to be all right with those instructions. “Just be careful with the soap and the knife though, the knife is sharp and the soap is hard and tough, it might put up a fight.” She gave a vague smiled and continued to the top of her ladder. The water in her own bucket was beginning to cool down rapidly and Shaya knew from experience that it would leave stripes if she let it cool down too much. She also knew she would be doing them all again if some Aes Sedai decided the job had not been done well enough and so she cast a quick look about. Determining that there was no one else around beside the new novice, she filled herself with Saidar and made a tiny weave of Fire to briefly heat up the water again. The tiny weave actually cost her a bit of effort, as her ability with the element was very weak, but she only needed a tiny bit of it. She tested the water to see if it was ok now and quickly released Saidar. She glanced over at the other woman to gauge her reaction. Only a wilder would be able to see the glow around her, most novices had to learn to channel first before being able to see it. And then they could only see the glow if they were holding the Power themselves of course. |
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| Aryatha Kalden | Mar 23 2005, 02:24 PM Post #6 |
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“I think it would be more practical if you got a pail of your own. There should still be plenty of hot water in the cauldron over the fire, just make sure the water is as hot as you can stand it. You can add some vinegar and soap shavings from the counter next to it,” the woman said looking over her shoulder from where she stood on her ladder. The other novice continued after a moment. “Just be careful with the soap and the knife though, the knife is sharp and the soap is hard and tough, it might put up a fight.” Put up a fight? After a confused moment, Aryatha mearly shrugged and thought over what else the woman had said. The only knife she had ever held was the one that had once hung on her belt, but the other could not be too hard to control even if the soap was as hard as a rock. Nodding to herself, she let herself memorize the words, but only just so she would forget them with time. Who would want to remember this decades later? Certainly not me. That was not important though for she needed to begin her work and standing there would not get it done. In response to the words, Aryatha nodded and looked back over the storage room with a grimace. She had been hoping she wouldn't have to go in there until she was done, but it seemed she would be having to make another trip. With a put upon sigh, she walked back to the doors and pulled out a piece of cloth she had placed up her sleeve to cover her nose and mouth. When she opened the door, she moved right over to where a few pails sat thankful that she had remembered where they were. Moving quickly, Aryatha stepped out of the room, closed the door, shoved her cloth back up her sleeve, before moving towards the cauldron that sat not too far off. She noticed that Shaya had moved up next to it and was looking at her almost expectantly. Was there something I missed? Confused once more, Aryatha mearly tested the water and found it was much hotter then she had expected. She frowned for a moment thinking about how far along the other novice was with the windows and how hot the water still was. Unless her water was boiling hot, and even so, I do not think the water would still be this temperature. She guessed that the girl had done something to it to have it keep its heat even though there was nothing to keep it so. There was no use standing there like an idiot however. She lifted her bucket and awkwardly put it into the large couldron so she could get some water. It was a bit difficult to lift it again after it was full up with water, but she managed somehow. She moved over to the counter that the girl had mentioned and set her bucket down next to it. Indeed, there was a few large bars of soap and one small knife. Looking at it, Aryatha quickly detmined that Shaya was right when she said it was quite sharp. I will have to be extra careful. That proved difficult, however, for the she had never held a knife other than her belt knife and was unused to having to use them to cut things. She had to put her full weight on the knife to cut through the block of soap. What is in that thing? It might as well have been a rock! She stared at the large chunk she had cut off and wondered how small the pieces had to be. How were they expected to make shavings anyways? Moving the knife over to her smaller, but still large, piece, she put her weight down and hissed when she realized that she had forgotten to move her hand. The cut was small, but it stung and Aryatha did not want it to become more of a problem than it already was. Leaving her bucket near the counter, she walked back over to where Shaya was and cleared her throat so the woman would notice her. "I forgot to move my hand," she began sheepishly while trying to keep the pain from her voice. "Should I just try and clean it somewhere or what?" She did not know where any clean water would be besides the Kitchens and she had a feeling that if she went there she would be stuck with more chores than she could finish. While waiting for a response, Aryatha watched the steady flow of blood move down her finger and to her hand. Was there any way to stop it from bleeding before she cleaned it? She had not been taught much of healing people's wounds since she was a noble and had 'more important things to learn', but now she wished that they had taught her how to do more simple tasks. Knowing how to sew up wounds and keep them clean does not help in this situation, she thought bitterly. |
<center>![]() Talents: Milking Tears, Healing Listening to the Wind Member of the Staera Family</center> | |
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9:38 AM Jul 11