01-10-06

Characters involved: Jarril, Darklett, Taye, Quinten, & Terrance.

Salamandastron: Library

Shifting through some scrolls, Jarril is covered in a fine layer of dust as he scans over some old reports of various battles long ago vanished to the past of times. Giving a wrinkle of the nose as some particles of dust land there, he gives a sneeze before giving a rub of his nose with a paw and goes back to it again. After a time he checks his mug and finds that it is empty and scowls at it as though it was a dangerous vermin before going back to reading some report of a long deceased hare.

Darklett steps into the library, previously humming, but stopping as soon as he enters the typically quiet place. Starting for a shelf on the far end of the room, he stops, shakes his head, then heads towards another, looking up at the top shelf. "Hm..." He takes a step backwards, keeping his eyes up on the books up top, squinting to see their titles, then shaking his head in failure. Looking back and forth, then all around, behind him, around the corner, the hare "Hm"s again.

Taye enters the library with a small book tucked under an arm. His head is down and he's whistling as he moves to the obsessively clean librarian's desk. Without looking around to see who's about, he plucks the book from under his arm and tosses it lightly into the returned books basket. An act that he wouldn't dare perpetrate if the librarian was actually at the desk.

Jarril blinks and looks up from his scroll with a slight frown at both Darklett with a shake of his head and then seeing Taye just whistle, the major coughs and looks at them both for a moment in disbelief. "Alright, what has the librarian done ta get ya ta do break the rules?"

Darklett disappears behind a shelf, and returns carrying a chair above his head ten or so seconds later. Placing the chair down, he stands up on it, watching Taye enter the room for a moment, then reaching up to nab a book off the top shelf. He starts sliding the one he wants out, but... Four more are coming right along with it, so he stops. "Hm." Hopping down off the chair, he goes to find another one.

Taye's ears twitch and he turns. Mm? He blinks at the major, then salutes. "Sah! Majah. Good t' see you." He pauses. "Uh. Nothin'. I just, um. Wasn't thinkin'?"

Jarril hmmphs. "Hmm, seems to be a lot of that with the young ones lately." He looks at his scroll and rolls it up slowly, being careful with the old parchment. "So how goes with the patrol? The major keeping ya lot on ya toes, I hope."

Darklett is missing for a few more seconds again, but returns with yet another chair, not putting this one down quite yet... He's evaluating the first chair, then looking at the one he carries. Perking his ears, he turns to the other two hares in the library, making sure he's not disturbing them.

Taye inclines his head. "Oh, aye. Majah Dunyan's keepin' us on our toes, sah." He steps towards Jarril, to make communication easier. Also, there's that whole 'disturbing folks' thing. Which Darklett isn't doing, given Taye's failure to notice him. "Still 'n' all, patrols aren't s'fun s'when you've got a fellow runnah for yer superiah. Majah Dunyan's a fightah, y'know."

Jarril grins. "Oh he toughen you up and all." The major says moving the scroll to the side carefully, before giving his paws a pat causing dust to move into the air. "Still on sick ya know, it take a colonel ta get me back on duty now." The major frowns for a moment and shrugs that one off. "But none have so I ain't that needed at the moment." He leans back in his chair and smiles. "Want to head up to the bar, need ta get my throat with something wet after all this dust and all, plays havoc on ya bally throat, wot." The major coughs slightly and pushes his chair back.

Darklett thinks for a moment, then looks up, putting the second chair on top of the first. "Hmm..." He looks around, and still sees the other two, in direct sight should they look in his direction. >.< So, he gives up. Putting the chair back where it was, he comes back and... leaves the other chair where it is, walking over to the other two. "Hey, did I hear something about a drink?"

Invited to the bar by a major? Well now, that's grin-worthy. He then looks around, and Darklett is at first only given a quick glance, and he's prepared to give just as casual a salute. But something catches eye, something which causes his grin to widen and his salute to sharpen. "Sah!" That is, "Majah! Wow - I mean, congratulations. I hadn't heard." The things that he's eyeing are none other than Darklett's shiny new majorly adornments.

Jarril looks at Darklett and frowns at him, moving his gaze to where it's behind the hare. "Hmmm, up in rank but not in common sense I see." He gives Darklett a sly grin and rubs his chin with a paw. "Now, what to ask for in not mentioning this little plan of yours ta Colonel Zoe. I be sure she be happy to know you would break something if you fell off that." He nods towards the two chairs.

Darklett gives an awkward grin in Taye's direction, rocking on his footpaws for a second at the praise and stuff from the runner. "Well, ya know, erm..." He shrugs, the mini-scolding from Jarril at least bailing him out of that one. :P "Hey, but I didn't do it, did I, Jarril? She always said I needed to read up more on stuff anyway..." Returning the sly grin with his own, he pats the other major on the shoulder, completely ignoring the bribe offer. XD

Jarril shakes his head. "Yeah, but not at the risk of breaking something. Anyways, age has rank here." The major snerks as he moves away from Darklett. "You put those chairs back the way they were and ya can get us the drinks all night and we call it even."

Taye smirks, looking between the two majors. Such a situation would've had him sweating a season ago. As it is, he's as relaxed as a kitten. He waves a paw at the two at Jarril's words, and breaks into a jog towards the remaining chair. "I'll take care of it, sahs. Go on up, I'll be righ' behind you."

Jarril gives Darklett a look and shakes his head. "You know, I need to teach that young one a few things one day. Come on, since you got out from some work." The major heads off towards the door, completely forgetting that the major hasn't done any work for a season or how long it's been since the bloodthirsters were defeated.

Darklett rolls his eyes at Jarril, still grinning. "Alright, I'll g-..." But there goes Taye! "...Alright! Uh... Actually, I'll wait back for Taye. Head on up, sah, I'll get you a few drinks when I get up there." Turning back towards Taye, he waits for him. "...So! You like?" He straightens up, showing off his uniform with a biiiig grin.

Taye trots back over to Darklett, slowing as he nears. And by that appreciative smile, it's obvious that he does. "It's bloody brilliant, sah. When'd you get it? The promotion?" He rocks forward from heels to toes, peering with squinted eyes at the shiny new medal on his chest. "... Nice."

"Heh, just a few days ago." Darklett shifts his shoulder forward to show off the pin. "Thanks... Let's go up to get those drinks, eh?"

Taye stands back, with a firm nod. "Aye, that'd be good. Don't want t'leave Majah Jarril waitin' too long. Knowin' him, he'd give us latrine duty or somethin'." Pause. "Well, me anyway." With a small grin, he turns for the door.

Darklett nods with a laugh, looking over his shoulder, still a little paranoid of Jarril, though he's got the same rank. "Let's go."

Salamandastron: Recreation Room

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Salamandastron *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

The recreation room for the army of the Longpatrol. Here soldiers come to

relax after a hard day's work and the officers come for a game of cards or

a quick drink by the fire. The room is quite large, having to deal with a

lot of hares at one time. Along one wall there is a large worktop with

some cuhsioned stools lining one side of it. On the other side of the

worktop there stand many kegs and bottles, lined so that they can be

easily opened by someone standing on the inside of the bar but well out of

reach of the rowdy hares on the other side. There are a few woollen cloths

on the bar and mats in front of each stool. The next thing nearest to the

bar are the round tables, each with 4 chairs around and a lantern in the

middle of each one. There are a couple of slightly larger oval tables with

8 seats around, obviously for larger crowds. The other end of the room is

littered with armchairs, comfortable armchairs, each pair with a small

table in between. The armchairs are near the fire, used to heat the room

and provide extra comfort for the relaxing soldiers.

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Visible Exits:

[Out]

Darklett pops on into the Recreation Room in good spirits, Taye following behind him. "Alright, what're you drinkin', Major?" He trots up to the bar and hops on a stool, drumming knuckles on the bar, signalling to Nev to come down and tend to him once he's done with his other patrons.

Jarril is at one of the tables out of the way as he replies back simply. "Usual, normal ale, big tankard as well." He goes back to looking about the room for a moment, giving a nod to hares that he knows and those that he doesn't.

Taye hops up onto the stool next to Darklett, looking content. He fumbles in a pocket and digs out two coins, which he pushes across the counter-top with two fingertips. "I'll have an ale too, if you'll throw an ordah in along with Majah Jarill's."

Darklett nods, waving a paw over his shoulder in understanding of Jarril's order, and finally getting Nev's attention. "Three ales, three of the largest mugs ya got, Nev." He digs in his pocket and pulls out a couple coins, setting them on the bar alongside Taye's, and shoving all of them forward.

Meanwhile all that is going on, one of the hares from Jarril's patrol heads towards him and sits down at the stool to the table and begins to chat, with the major nodding his head slightly from time to time. "Well, I haven't decided yet..." Few moments later, the major frowns. "Well, I don't care what he thinks, it's my decision on that one." Leaning forward, he gives a look to where the bar is and then back again. "Okay, okay. I'll sort it out." He frowns and nods. "Alright, I come ta a decision on matters in two days time or after that whenever I find a colonel." He leans back in the chair and see's the other hare get up and walk off again while he looks to see how the drinks are coming along.

The door opens and Quinten sticks is head around the doorjam, he goes wide eyed as he sees the Major and starts to back back out again, moving his paw to pull the door shut behimd him

Taye nods his thanks, leaning forward with chin in paw as he watches the drinks be prepared. He turns to glance at Darklett. "So... ya given any majah ordahs yet?" Ah ha, ha. He made a funny. Cough.

Terrance blinks as he approaches the entrance to the rec room just as Quinten closes the door. You hear a quick conversation muffled by the door before Terrance pokes his head through. Not seeing any vermin he walks all the way in and then walks to an unoccupied table out of the way after nodding to any beast who takes notice of him.

Darklett lets out a nice, grateful sigh as Neville sets the three rather sizeable ales before him. Shoving one to Taye, he nods and mutters a thanks to the bartender, turning over his shoulder to go carry a mug to Jarril, seeing the last parts of that conversation, then the other hare getting up and leaving. Hesitating just a moment, he stands and carries the drink over to the other major. "Why don't you come sit at the bar with us, eh?"

Tossing out a smirk to Jarril as he sets the mug down near him, he turns and heads back to the bar, just in time for Taye to utter that -terrible- pun. He groans accordingly. :P "...No, not really. Waiting for that, still, heh." Drink, drink!

Quinten watches terrance walk over to a table and as no ones shouted at him or himself he scurries after him peering over at the Majors and Taye,

Jarril doesn't reply back but stays sitting comfortably at the table and away from most of the bustle of hares pushing to get their orders in, the major smiles and begins to take swigs of his ale quietly.

Terrance looks towards Taye and then scratches at his cheek. The cut that used to be there is all but healed, the remainder of the scab not too visable. "Hey there Taye" the fighter recruit calls out before nodding to Quinten.

Quinten looks at Taye then at terrance and sits down in a chair folding his ears back "am...i even meant to be in here?" he asks worriedly the small hare looking out of place

Taye does indeed drink! Heartily. He pauses long enough to consider the unsociable Jarril with a tiny frown. Ah well. He spies Quinten and Terrance in this glance, however, and to these two he waves. "'Ey, Terr!"

Terrance looks towards Quinten and offers a reasuring smile, "Aye chap, ya can be in 'ere if ya like." He then looks back towards Taye, "How's it been goin' chap? Haven't seen ya around much, eh wot."

Darklett sips at his mug, just grinning to himself. He'd actually gotten off his promotion high, but Taye restarted the whole thing with that whole fascination thing before. So, forgive him if he's a little spaced out in daydream land. :P Sip, sip.

Quinten shuffles on his chair and looks about idly at the bustle of hares, ears standing up to trying and make out conversations from the background noise looking rather silly as his ears barely reach up to Terrance's shoulder from his sitting position.

Taye shrugs, tipping his mug to Terrance in a 'cheers' motion. "I've been around. How ya been, how ya been?" Pause. Oh! "I've been a'right, thanks." He thumbs a paw at Darklett over his shoulder. "Look-it him! All shiny 'n' new with the majah badges. Fancy that, eh?" He grins widely.

Terrance chuckles and nods, "Aye, I was there when tha colnel gave the shiny stuff ta 'im. Ya should o' been there for the speech the mess hall demanded" he says with a grin. "Been doing good myself. Tom and gang keep at least a staff lengths away from me now."

Darklett is still caught up in his own daydreams, casually sipping and staring off into nothingness, until he hears Taye say 'majah,' darting him to attention. "Hm? Ah-... uh, yeah, heh." He drinks a little more meekly, turning his head about and shrugging humbly. "Was a pretty good speech, wasn't it? Was it? I don't... really remember." Lots of drinking that night, see. :P

Taye looks around at Darklett, laughing at his modest attitude. He pshts, shaking his head as he returns his attention to Terrance. He shares a look with the recruit, and a secret and smug grin. "Is 'e, now? Good o' him to finally learn some sense."

Jarril finishes his drink and heads out of the bar.

Terrance chuckles and nods to Darklett, "That it was sah. 'Specially when ya weren't given any warnin' an' all." Looking back to Taye he smirks and nods, "Aye, that he did. Must o' finally hit 'im."

Taye looks around at Darklett, laughing at his modest attitude. He pshts, shaking his head as he returns his attention to Terrance. He shares a look with the recruit, and a secret and smug grin. "Is 'e, now? Good o' him to finally learn some sense."

Darklett folds his ears over forward, the spouting mouths of the two younger hares bringing a little more attention to himself, due to his promotion. He deals with it with smiles, nods, and suffering through rough pats on the back by hares much bigger than he. "Yeah, thanks. Thanks, heh." At least he loosens up a bit now. "Wonder if I'm gonna get to pick hares soon."

Taye had just taken a drink at Terrance's words, and he snorts laughter. Snorts, but doesn't spray. Instead, he coughs, doubling forward and pounding at his chest for a moment. His eyes water. Erhem. He siiits... up. Blink. Wipe eyes. "Um. Yeah. I wondah."

Terrance grins at Taye's reaction, chuckling quietly himself before looking to Darklett, "Pick hares for what sah?"

Darklett is slightly startled at Taye's sudden predicament... After all, he doesn't quite get the joke for obvious reasons. "...Erm, pick hares for my command. You know, 'cause I'm a major. You alright there, Taye?"

Taye's head bobs in a series of quick nods. "Aye," though he sounds like he's got more than a frog in his throat. "I'm fine, sah." He grins, still, though he hides it in his mug. "You thinkin' on anyone in particular, so far?"

Terrance covers his mouth while scatching at his nose to hide his own grin, perking an ear as he listens. He's got a couple of seasons until he'd be picked but he can always hope :).

Darklett sighs, turning around and leaning his back against the bar, sipping slowly, holding the mug to his lips for a good amount of time. "So far as I know, most the ones I'd like to have in my patrol are taken. You, Buckthorn... All I have in mind right now is Niveus, and a few recruits that still need some training."

Fortunate, really, that he's already got that mug there to hide the whole 'grin' thing. He clears his throat and takes a sip, and when he lowers it he's managed to curb it. "Well, sah... there's always that patrol transfah request thing you leaderly folks c'n do." He shrugs, lightly.

Terrance raises his ears as he mentions recruits, curious if he might be among them. But he's got a couple of seasons still.

Darklett drums his knuckles against the bartop again, considering this. "...Hm. Think Jarril'll let go of ya, though? It's not like you're just any old Long Patroller." Taye can take that how he wants to. ;) "Terrance, are you in the second half of your training yet? Talked to Dandelion lately?" He looks quite worried that he's gonna have to scrape the bottom of the barrel for hares. :P

Terrance looks towards Darklett and says, "Not quite yet sah, should be movin' up in a couple o' months though. Feel like I'm ready to now though, wot wot. Haven't seen Dandelion around much outside o' classes eithah sah."

Darklett murmurs to himself a second, then shakes his head. "Taye, if I can get you, would you want to switch over to mine? I'm gonna tell you right now," he continues, turning to the side to face him. "You're gonna be my number one runner if you switch. So, uh. Think about it, a little. Lots of responsibility you're gonna carry." He stands up, and takes a sip from an only half-empty mug. "Hm, looks like I need to give it a little thought, too. I'm off to my dorm, you two keep outta trouble." He grins, chuckling and offering a wink to both hares.

Terrance nods and says, "Always sah" coming to attention and saluting before the major heads of. Dropping his salute he looks back to Taye, "Number one runner eh?"

Taye was in the middle of another drink - they seem to be catching him like that a lot tonight - at Darklett's words. He pauses that way, his head coming up slowly and his eyes peeking over the edge. Slowly, he nods. Loooower the mug, lad. "... Evenin', sah. I will." He forgets even to salute, and looks around at Terrance. "Numbah one runnah..."

Terrance grins, "Looks like you're well on your way ta becomin' a lieutenant."

Taye scruffs at his headfur in thoughtful silence, leaving it to stand up in all directions. He's grinning in a rather dazed manner. "... Hey, ya nevah know..." He tilts his mug, taking a drink which is really just a big sip. He's not much of a drinker - yet, anyway. He then stands, scruffing at his headfur s'more. "I need to get to bed. Up early for sentry duty, blech. You wanna head back to the dorms with me, or 're you gonna stick around for a bit longah?"

Terrance looks around, "Not much reason ta stick around here so I'll come aye." He then hms, "Well they probably are short lieutenants too so maybe there's an opening..."

Taye idles towards the door, shoving his paws in his pockets. "Yeah... maybe. Well. I guess we'll see. I dunno if I c'n switch patrols on Jarril like that. Mayhaps if he retires." He shrugs and pauses at the door, opening it for him.

Terrance arches a brow, "Retires?" he asks before walking through.

Taye steps out after him. He yawns, and manages on the end of it. "Aye, he's thinkin' about retirin'. He deserves it, sure 'nough, if anyone does."

Terrance nods, "Aye, he's been in long enough" he says before heading downstairs

Salamandastron: Corridor to Dormitories

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Salamandastron *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

After a short distance from the Second Level intersection, the passage widens out to a rectangular hallway in which six or seven hares could walk abreast. Placed at regular intervals are the doors to the dormitories. The doors are staggered so that a torch burns across the hall from every cherry wood door.

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Visible Exits:

[L]eaders' [C]orrider [F]ighters' [D]ormitories

[H]ealers' [D]ormitories [R]unners' [D]ormitories

[G]uests' [D]ormitories [L]everets' [D]ormitories

[T]rainees' [D]ormitories [Out] To Level Two Intersection

Once in the dorm hallway, the two have reached the point where they must part ways. Taye pauses by the runners' hall. "Yeah, well... Guess we'll see what happens. I'll have t' think about it. He shrugs, pushing the door open and halfway stepping through it. "Night, Ter. See ya t'morrah."

Terrance nods, "Night chap. G'Luck with tha patrol stuff."