milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

Cally's back in the bar with her newspaper.

She's frowning at it.

She's doing the crossword puzzle and trying to remember exactly what ichthyologist's study.

If it doesn't occur to her soon, she'll probably have to give in and buy tea. Or something stronger, depending on how the rest of the crossword goes.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A beautiful young man with black hair, and brilliant blue eyes in a long black robe walks towards Cally. He leans down and speaks with her.

"Good evening, my lady. Would you mind some company?"

His voice is pleasant with an intonation of kindness and a touch of innocence.

Cally looks up from her paper, blinking and looking slightly confused because of her concentration on the crossword.

She blinks a few more times when she sees who is standing before her: an extremely handsome man.

It takes a second, but she smiles and sets down the paper, indicating the seat next to her with one hand. "Please, sit."

The young man sits.

"It would be quite rude of me to not ask my lady's name."

He gave a charming grin, and a tiny light flickered in his brilliant blue eyes.

"Oh! I'm sorry," she says somewhat flustered, though she's fairly good at hiding it.

"I'm Cally." She holds her hand out to shake his.

He smiles winsomely, and stretches out his hand to shake hers. His hand is somewhat delicate, a surgeon's hand.

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Cally."

He paused.

"I am Rhalen Lyngar, professor of philosophy at Collam Daan."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," very slight pause, "Professor."

She's having a hard time imagining him as a teacher.

"And please, just Cally. I hold no claim to a title; I'm just a student."

Rhalen made a graceful but unquantifiable hand gesture.

"Please, you are not one of my students. Call me, Rhalen."

"Rhalen, then," Cally says, though that doesn't sound right to her ears either.

"I have never heard of Collam Daan. Is it a large school?"

Rhalen nodded enthusiastically.

"Oh, yes. Though it is focused on research mainly. Using the One Power is the main portion of it, since almost all of the students are Aes Sedai."

Cally nods carefully.

Which question to ask first? Best go in the order Rhalen mentioned them.

"What is the One Power?" she asks curiously.

Rhalen gave a winning smile. His tone became similar to that of an interesting lecture.

"The One Power is the driving force of the Wheel of Time, the foundation of my world."

Cally considers this.

"You mentioned Aes Sedai attend the school. Does that mean they control the One Power? Or simply study it?"

Rhalen made another one of his strange hand gestures.

"The Aes Sedai, the Servants of All as the name means, are those who use the One Power. The Aes Sedai use their powers for the good of mankind. Collam Daan is where the cutting edge research happens."

"It sounds very noble and exciting."

She glances down at the paper she had set on the table.

"Is the One Power like magic, then?"

He furrows his brow.

"I suppose. Though the One Power has its limitations and most people only consider the knowledge of the magician as the only limitation."

He paused.

"Being Aes Sedai myself, I would be highly qualified to say."

"That's interesting," she says, after listening closely.

"Although, I'm not sure I see how philosophy ties into something like that."

Rhalen gives a friendly smile and some quirky hand gestures.

"Being an Aes Sedai does not impede or dictate any career path. We have a specialization and are called on to use it when necessary. Many of us do not make a career using the One Power."

Cally smiles.

"Of course. I guess when I think of something like the One Power, I automatically think that would be the absolute focus of a school." She shakes her head, feeling a bit silly.

She really must remember that something like the One Power would be usual for Rhalen's world; probably average scholarly curriculum.

Rhalen puts his hand to his mouth and chuckles. He then gestures warmly towards her with a grin.

"Do not feel bad, you could not have known."

Cally gives a sheepish sort of grin and fiddles with her pencil a bit.

"Sometimes it's hard to remember many different worlds meet here, not just people from my own. And the diversities within my own world are quite enough to handle," she adds ruefully.

Rhalen gives a warm grin and tucks his black hair behind his ear. He gently brushes her hand with his in a manner indistinguishable from accident.

"Quite understandable. I imagine that I will be utterly confused within two hours. I may very well never get straightened out."

Cally's cheeks get slightly pink when he brushes her hand accidentally. Self-conciously, she moves her hand to her lap.

"Oh, are you new here?" She is surprised; Rhalen certainly doesn't act like he's new.

Rhalen seemed to pay no attention to the blush. He gives an explanatory gesture.

"Yes, I recently entered when I was attempting to enter my office with a notable lack of success. The company is better here than in my office."

The last remark had no hint of flirtation in the vocal inflection.

Cally decides to not consider that as a compliment towards her, specifically.

"There are many interesting patrons," she agrees brightly. "And most of them are nice. If you haven't gotten a drink already, I understand the first drink in the bar in on the house." She smiles.

A few stray strands of midnight hair drift in front of Rhalen's pretty face and he removes them delicately.

"Of course, the opportunity for interaction is unprecedented."