Lan on fashion

Arinna Katal

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I recently finished rereading TSR, and a particular detail has really stood out this time: the bit about how Nynaeve has started wearing basically only blue, green, and white because those are Lan's favorite colors on women. I've probably read this book 20 times, and my brain has simply absorbed this information and moved on. This time, however, I can't stop thinking: how the eff does she know this?? Does he treat her differently based on what colors she's wearing, or does he ogle women more obviously when dressed in those colors? Because it doesn't seem like Nynaeve would put up with the first, and she definitely wouldn't put up with the second. So are we to believe that someone got Lan, a character for whom "stone-faced" is the most commonly used adjective, to opine on women's fashion??? How much oosquai did he need to drink before talking about dresses, and who Healed him from the alcohol poisoning that would have otherwise resulted in his death?

I have legit been bothered by this for a solid week!!!
 

Nadezhda al'Lanahrin

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I just assumed that Lan told Nynaeve this at one point. I believe they talked a lot ever since they fled from Shadar Logoth. Though, I suppose, when is the question. It's been my belief that Lan wasn't that stone-faced when it's just been him and her. Or, maybe, they're just his favorite colors and she just started wearing those colors for him.
 

Arinna Katal

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I totally see him being more open with her in private conversations (which is what we see in the ones shown in the books!), but I just cannot imagine that conversation ever happening without mind-altering substances lol
 

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When you're paying special attention to the special attention someone special is giving you, it's not actually difficult to determine when they like one thing over another.

I'm reminded of when I was growing up (before things got crazy :p): My mother could tell when my dad was kinda meh about something she cooked, because he'd say "Thank you, that was delicious," afterward. However, if he pushed himself away from the table and said "You can make that any time" that meant he really loved it. This wasn't something they ever directly communicated to each other about or that he did intentionally, she just picked up on the pattern, and it proved to be a solid one. Hidden language, you know?

I always figured something similar happened with Nynaeve and Lan re: the dresses.
 

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I always assumed that they must have had conversations outside what we saw, otherwise how could they possibly be in love so quickly? It annoys me because it feels like such a sudden thing, like he looks at her twice cause she can track well and nek minit they want eachothers babies. :cheeseeni: So surely they're talking outside of what we see...
 

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So are we to believe that someone got Lan, a character for whom "stone-faced" is the most commonly used adjective, to opine on women's fashion???

@Arinna Katal you litterally made me laugh out loud when I read this. Which was a problem because I was drinking at the time. The LOL turned into a Cough/Cholk Laugh Out Loud. Well done.

And I really want to see the Lan of the upcoming TV show to have strong opinions on women’s fashions.
 

Jocasta Braithe

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When you're paying special attention to the special attention someone special is giving you, it's not actually difficult to determine when they like one thing over another.

I'm reminded of when I was growing up (before things got crazy :p): My mother could tell when my dad was kinda meh about something she cooked, because he'd say "Thank you, that was delicious," afterward. However, if he pushed himself away from the table and said "You can make that any time" that meant he really loved it. This wasn't something they ever directly communicated to each other about or that he did intentionally, she just picked up on the pattern, and it proved to be a solid one. Hidden language, you know?

I always figured something similar happened with Nynaeve and Lan re: the dresses.

This is a freaking adorable story.
 

Arinna Katal

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@Arinna Katal you litterally made me laugh out loud when I read this. Which was a problem because I was drinking at the time. The LOL turned into a Cough/Cholk Laugh Out Loud. Well done.
loooooool I do what I can! (I'm sorry about the choking, though!!!)

When you're paying special attention to the special attention someone special is giving you, it's not actually difficult to determine when they like one thing over another.
I agree, but I wonder if Nynaeve wasn't maybe coming to an incorrect conclusion based on limited data. As in: "I could tell Lan liked the dress I wore today; the dress I wore today is green; ergo, Lan really likes green dresses" in some sort of attempt at establishing a transitive property of dresses. My brain has immediately jumped to trying to figure out how many dresses she would need in how many different colors in order to have sufficient data to flesh out her Lan's Favorite Colors analysis--why yes, I AM a scientist, why do you ask?

This is a freaking adorable story.
Agreed! :)

I'm very direct and open so like Nadezhda I always assumed they just talked about things combined with what Jaryd said.
But that's the thing: these two are famously not very direct and open. They're struggling against their feelings--Lan is struggling against his feelings for Nynaeve; Nynaeve is struggling against her feelings for dresses that aren't good, stout Two Rivers woolens--so I don't see them discussing this in a direct, open way. (And, to be extra clear because tone is hard on the internets and none of y'all know me, this is not me attacking you or anything--like I said, I've read this book at least 20 times and never gave this detail a second thought! But now that I've given it MANY thoughts: I think it's weird and will die on this hill, and also I want to make jokes about it.)
 

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They're struggling against their feelings--Lan is struggling against his feelings for Nynaeve; Nynaeve is struggling against her feelings for dresses that aren't good, stout Two Rivers woolens--

I am dying. I snorted water out my nose. Send help.
 

Arinna Katal

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I am dying. I snorted water out my nose. Send help.
I'm really here in search of people to appreciate all of the excellent WoT jokes I come up with, let's be real. :D
 

Arella Mathara

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@Arinna Katal, I get what you're saying but this is literally about dresses. It could have come up in random conversation and Lan just making a comment. I mean, Nynaeve could have commented on Moiraine wearing blue and Lan just saying "it's a nice colour" and Nynaeve putting a lot into it.

Most likely it's just RJ cutting corners imo
 
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This time, however, I can't stop thinking: how the eff does she know this?? Does he treat her differently based on what colors she's wearing, or does he ogle women more obviously when dressed in those colors? Because it doesn't seem like Nynaeve would put up with the first, and she definitely wouldn't put up with the second. So are we to believe that someone got Lan, a character for whom "stone-faced" is the most commonly used adjective, to opine on women's fashion??? How much oosquai did he need to drink before talking about dresses, and who Healed him from the alcohol poisoning that would have otherwise resulted in his death?

I agree, but I wonder if Nynaeve wasn't maybe coming to an incorrect conclusion based on limited data. As in: "I could tell Lan liked the dress I wore today; the dress I wore today is green; ergo, Lan really likes green dresses" in some sort of attempt at establishing a transitive property of dresses. My brain has immediately jumped to trying to figure out how many dresses she would need in how many different colors in order to have sufficient data to flesh out her Lan's Favorite Colors analysis--why yes, I AM a scientist, why do you ask?

[...]But that's the thing: these two are famously not very direct and open. They're struggling against their feelings--Lan is struggling against his feelings for Nynaeve; Nynaeve is struggling against her feelings for dresses that aren't good, stout Two Rivers woolens--so I don't see them discussing this in a direct, open way. (And, to be extra clear because tone is hard on the internets and none of y'all know me, this is not me attacking you or anything--like I said, I've read this book at least 20 times and never gave this detail a second thought! But now that I've given it MANY thoughts: I think it's weird and will die on this hill, and also I want to make jokes about it.)

:rofl I'm totally here for this. This entire conversation has me highly entertained! :D
 

Arinna Katal

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Most likely it's just RJ cutting corners imo
Oh, this is 100% what I think is happening here. Of course, these are fake people that he made up in his head, so he got to make up whatever details he wanted, but this one just made me go...WAIT A SECOND I don't buy this one!

:rofl I'm totally here for this. This entire conversation has me highly entertained! :D
The Lan Fashion Preferences Truther Society is here to serve!
 
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The Lan Fashion Preferences Truther Society is here to serve!

See now I want to see a video series where we have someone from the Tower dress up as Lan and provide fashion commentary on the clothing from the new show. :D
 

Arinna Katal

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If Nynaeve hosted a fashion event based on Lan's tastes, would it be a LAN party?
 

Arinna Katal

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If Nynaeve hosted a fashion event based on Lan's tastes, would it be a LAN party?
If all of the models were male, it would be a Man LAN party (I’m so sorry)
 
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