"Twa Recruitin' Sergeants Came frae th'Black Watch..." LP 11/6-7/20

Ol'random · 2020-11-13 03:14:54 PM

Sgt. Adrian,
Sb-Lt. Lossow,
and Mjr. Varus.

IC'ly this takes place in just before/after the LP left Redwall in September/October

A beautiful late-summer, early-fall afternoon. Major Varus Trinius Visurgis Swiftbuck is standing at one of the many windows of Great Hall, holding a parchment in his paws, and awaiting the arrival of two younger bucks: one, his son Adrian, and the other, one... He checks the document again. A "Lossow." Not familiar to the elder buck. He reads over the orders again.

A whirlewind of greetings, well wishes, congratulations, and farewells had swept the newly made Sub-Lieutenant Walter Lossow along hi time in Redwall. He had seen the abbey at a distance countless times, but only since the Badger Lord Ciocan arrive with his hares had the young hare been inside (sent as part of a detachment to greet the badger and upper officers who had come along). Lossow had reconnected with several old friends of his, many of whom he had not seen in at least three seasons. And now he was probably late - but he'd had to get his new uniform just right, and he pauses at every polished surface he spots to admire the silver epaulet on his right shoulder and bronze starburst on his collar. The saber was nice too - not quite made for him, but it was a gift given by one of the older officer's of the 68th who had acted as one Walter's mentors, and he was thankful for it. Finally, the young hare sees the major and quickly comes to stand before him with his boot heels clicking together as he makes a sharp salute.

"Sah! Sub-Lieutenant Waltah Sydney Lossow reporting fo' duty, sah!"

Adrian, on the other paw, has been speaking to Lord Ciocan in private for most of the morning, debriefing the extent of his and Monty's journey south and back again. The Badger Lord seemed especially interested in the adder-worshipping cannibal cultists in the ruins of Loamhedge. On exiting the guest room the badger was occupying, he'd been stopped by a younger Private to inform him that his father wanted to see him. So, dressed in his replacement dress uniform, he makes his way to Great Hall. Meanwhile, Varus doesn't even look away from the window yet. "At ease, Sub-Leftenant," he says, "Or ya'll bust a gasket..."

Lossow does relax, though only slightly. "Of course, sah." The excitement he feels at what he assumes is his first assignment is clearly visible from the way he rocks ever so slightly on his heels.

Varus humms, looking down at the parchment again, as Adrian arrives. "Sah," he says, considerably less wound up than the other, younger buck, whom he side-eyes. Varus finally turns from the window. "Sahgeant Adrian, you already know yahr ordahs, per yahr own wishes, won't be changin' f'r th' immediate future. 'Owevah, there's a slight... change t' yahr ordahs..." He looks at Lossow. "Sub-Leftenant..." he checks the paper again, "Lossow... Will be joinin' yahrself an' Corporal Montgomery..."

"Sah." There's a moment where Walter is visibly confused. He'd missed exactly what Adrian's assignment was. "Permission to speak?"

Varus raises a paw. "One moment." He looks at Adrian, who seems mildly aghast. "I'm afraid Sub-Leftenant Lossow will be yahr superiah, but you *do* 'ave th' more field experience." He looks back at Lossow, "And it is 'oped that y'll learn ta lissen t' yahr subordinates, Sub-Leftenant..."

"They're my patrol then, Sah?" Lossow vaguely remembers Adrian and Monty left all those seasons ago, and the realization of what he's been assigned to slowly dawns. "Oh." The word is quiet as it's choked out, but the junior officer somewhat bounces back. "Right, right, good Sah, very good!" It really wasn't, but he was smart enough to not say that in front of the major - or the sergeant who was rather intimidating, if Walter was being honest with himself. "And of course sah! I did pick up a few things with the 68th, of course, so I'm not completely helpless, eh wot?" He laughs, nervously.

Adrian side-eyes the younger buck, that is now inexplicably his superior. Varus clears his throat. "Technic'ly, yes. But, I remind y', lad, that Adrian 'ere is both oldah 'n' more experienced. Yahr bein' sent out with 'em in th' 'ope that y' pick up leadahship skills, wot."

Lossow dips his head. "Of course sah. Of course." He can't help shake the feeling its to get rid of him, however (he could've sworn he hadn't done that badly on his officer exams. Right?). "Well then sergeant," The younger hare offers his paw. "I'm Sb-Lt. Waltah Lossow, at you'h service - I don't suppose you remembah me from back at the mountain, but I was a few classes behind you'hs, I think, wot. And Monty."

Adrian sticks out his paw, too. And shakes. "Sahgeant Adrian Swiftbuck." He gives the paw a squeeze, as if to gauge the other buck's strength. "We'll get along fine," he lies smoothly. "An' I remembah yah."

When Walter feels the other buck squeeze he smiles, squeezing back just as hard. He's spent too long with old veterans to not be wary of mind games. "Of course. Though," he shrugs, forcing a chuckle, "I'd rathah hoped you didn't! Wasn't quite the best leveret student back then, if you understand me, sergeant."

Adrian looks at the other hare, as Varus notes the awkwardness. "Well, y' certainly seem t' 'ave grown up, though," Adrian replies.

"As have you!" Internally Lossow wincess. "Eh, I mean, you look like you've gone to hellgates and back, wot." That wasn't much better. At least now he's trying to be friendly. "Both you and Monty have plenty to tell, no doubt."

Adrian smiles. Is it genuine? "Aye, we do," he says. "We'll tell you, too..."

Now Lossow's worried. "Ah, yes, I'll look forward to it then."

Adrian releases Lossow's paw then, and he salutes. "Yes, Sah," he says. Military to the core, even if he doesn't care for the turn of events.

"Right then sergeant." Lossow returns the salute smartly, before turning to the major who has been no doubt watching their interaction the whole time. "Well, sah? Is there anything else?"

Varus hrmms, and nods. "Yes. Yahr 'eadin' north, per Adrian's original plan. Try not t' get yahrself killes, Sub-Leftenant."

Lossow nods, slowly taking it in. "Well then, I don't plan to." A beat as he realizes what the sounds like. "Die that is. Would nevah live it down, eh, sah?"

Varus doesn't chuckle. "No, y' wouldn't, Sub-Leftenant," he answers. Adrian, meanwhile, looks at the younger buck again, wondering how this is all going to work out.

Lossow is wondering much the same, an whether or not the sergeant will cause problems (or, worse, himself would cause problems). "Majah, sah, if that's all, might me and the good sergeant be dismissed?"

The old Major nods. "Yes, yahr dismissed..." He looks at his son. "Be careful out there... Come 'ome safe. We'll be leavin' Redwall in about a week..."

* * *

A week or so later...

* * *

It's a cool, overcast day in Mossflower, so most beasts at Redwall Abbey are choosing to stay indoors, as the nip of autumn enters the air. Newly-minted Sergeant Adrian Swiftbuck is no exception. He's been doing his level best to avoid a certain younger Sub-Lieutenant the past couple weeks or so, both before the Long Patrol left, and now after, too. Does his father not trust his judgment enough that he felt the need to send along a Leveret-sitter?

That sub-lieutenant, for his part, wasn't trying to avoid Adrian. It just happened that way. Walter could tell the sergeant wasn't all that fond of him, though he's become more and more certain that the reason had more to do with what the junior officer represented more than Lossow's actual character. Or so he hoped. He didn't mind the distance between the two of them, especially since that painfully dreadful first meeting, but now... Lossow was looking for the sergeant and so far has had very little luck asking the abby beasts.
"You seen Adrian around? The tallah hare, you know?"
A beat as the order member answers.
"OF COURSE he bloody well isn't me, obviously."
The outburst from Lossow carries over the abbey grounds.

Adrian ear-perks. Yes, he certainly heard that. He moves to stand, to try and flee into a deeper part of the Abbey, but the military hare in him makes him stand his ground. He has to face Lossow sooner or later. Better make it sooner. He moves toward the door to Great Hall, and scans the grounds, to pinpoint where the other buck is coming from.

It came from the orchid where despite the weather a few abbey beasts could be seen gathering what fruit is ripe, as well as the hare Adrian dreads to meet.

"Right, right." Lossow barely looks back at the mouse he was talking to - or the rather cheeky and frankly RUDE remark from the middle aged and scar covered squirrel with a northern accent lounging in the tree branches above him. "Thank you." The sub-lieutenant says withers much dignity as he can muster and makes his getaway. He passes by the great hall at first not noticing Adrian looking out from the great doorway, but something makes him pause and turn. "Ah. There you are."

Adrian stands straighter. "So I am," he replies, "...Sah." He looks at the other buck. "You wished to see me...Sah." Whatever his feelings, he won't let it be said that he's insubordinate... Yet. "I am all ears...Sah."

There's a moment or two where Lossow simply observes Adrian, trying to judge his mood. "Right, sergeant, at ease..." He finally says. "I shall cut to the point - prepare you'h subordinates be ready to leave Redwall at dawn two days from now, and take that as a formal ordah, sergeant."

Adrian mhmms. As he suspected. "Two days, sah. It... Will be done." His face is unreadable, but there is an unspoken tension. As if the Sergeant feels it would have been better to do something differently. He leaves that unvoiced. "Pahrmission t' speak freely, Sah..."

"Of course." The words are cordially enough but Lossow can't shake the feeling of caution around Adrian. "What do you 'ave to say, sergeant?"

Adrian relaxes, slightly. "We're still 'eaded north, Lossow. Got a bit of a personal mission from mah fathah, an' I won't let ordahs or missions, or even superiah officahs get in th' way o' that. This is a personal mattah, an' I won't discuss it furthah."

There's another bout of silence as Lossow takes in the statement. "Fine then sergeant - I was ordahed north same as you- but let me say something of my own: you may do what you will fo'h this personal mattah, but mark my words well." The sub-lieutenant stands straighter. "If you'h ordah the othahs into 'eedless dangeh fo'h this personal mattah I will step in. Am I understood, sergeant?"

Adrian bristles slightly, but he nods. "Well undahstood, Sah." He knows he's taller than the Sub-Lieutenant. To give this moment to the younger buck, however, he slouches, slightly. He's not ready to needlessly antagonize his superior officer, just yet. They have days of walking ahead to take care of that. The older buck relaxes again. "Pahrmission t' still speak freely..." He doesn't wait for the reply. He has to get off on at least something of a good footpaw with this officer. "I will obey any an' ev'ry direct ordah, Sah. I will also nevah question yahr authority in the presence of the lowah rankin' membahs of our pahty. 'Owevah..." He holds out his right paw, "I would like t' offah mah leadahship expertise *in private*, whenevah necessary." His mother always said, 'You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.'

"Well..." The sub-lieutenant is still cautious. "I was expecting that, sergeant, so carry on." Not completely true, but Lossow doesn't think Adrian needs to know that. Or why. "As I don't 'ave much else to say besides prepare fo'h the trip, I'll take my leave of you - unless there's anything more you wanted to say?"

Adrian is disappointed when Lossow doesn't shake paws. He was hoping the open gesture would defuse the tense start to their working relationship. He doesn't express dismay, however, and just drops his paw. "All I c'n say is that I... look forwahd t' servin' undah you, Sah." It's a lie. He will chafe at losing the leadership position, but he has to salvage this somehow, or they'll all be miserable the next several months. He mustn't push too hard, though.

Lossow , for his part, had completely missed the offered paw until after Adrian drops it. Mortified with his face blazing crimson he offers his paw. "Sorry 'bout that." He mutters sheepishly and as quietly as he can while still being able to be heard. Louder, he adds, "I look forward to serving with you as well, Adrian!" The sub-lieutenant still seems horrified at himself and will try his best not to bolt from the scene in embarrassment. "Right, right." Whether or not the older hare does shake his paw, Lossow takes a step back with the words. "I'll be going now - be seeing you sergeant!"

Adrian does take Lossow's paw, and gives a firm shake, but it's not unfriendly. He doesn't smile, or laugh at the younger hare's embarrassment. "Right, Sub-Leftenant." It wouldn't do for the subordinate to use his superior's first name. "I'll get th' othahs ready..." And he disappears back into the Abbey.

title is from an old folk song "twa recruitin' sergeants"

Last edited by Ol'random (2020-11-17 11:06:18 PM)

BlisaMarshmellow · 2020-11-16 10:46:33 PM

this is so hysterically awkward x'D i laughed pretty hard at it

(edit: stupid phone keyboard)

Last edited by BlisaMarshmellow (2020-11-16 10:47:08 PM)

Redwall MUCK Forum

Redwall MUCK is an interactive, multiplayer text game set in Brian Jacques' Redwall universe.

Visit RWMUCK.ORG for more info!

#1 2020-11-13 03:14:54 PM

"Twa Recruitin' Sergeants Came frae th'Black Watch..." LP 11/6-7/20

#2 2020-11-16 10:46:33 PM

Re: "Twa Recruitin' Sergeants Came frae th'Black Watch..." LP 11/6-7/20

Board footer