01-15-06 3
Characters involved: Darklett & Zoe_Lang.
Salamandastron: Leaders' Office
Keeping in tune with the last day or so, Darklett hasn't been seen around very much, especially for the last half a day, because from the early evening last night to just now, he hasn't left his dormitory. When he enters the Leaders' Office, he's carrying a scroll, which, as he enters, he casts a glance at that he wishes could set it on fire. As a result, he's not paying much attention, and is standing half-in and half-out of the office, very hesitantly.
Zoe_Lang is sitting with bended head, propped up with one paw held to her forehead. She's reading from a scattering of parchments across the desk - no doubt the other officers' general weekly reports. The opening door's interruption warrants a glance up, at best, and only the most cursory acknowledgement of Darklett. However, when he doesn't speak up, or step up to the desk she looks up once more, removing her spectacles in order to peer at him curiously. "Darklett?"
"Colonel." Darklett salutes Zoe, then heads toward her table, lifting up the roll of parchment he'd written. "Report of the march yesterday, Colonel." He places it on her desk, his paw staying on it a couple seconds, before retracting as he takes a step backwards. With a look to the door, he does a half turn, as if to leave, then checks himself, staying right where he is, paws behind his back. He's not sitting, which is a break from the usual case of his regular reports.
Zoe_Lang pulls the rolled parchment to herself, slitting the seal with a small knife she keeps handy for such a need. She unrolls it, weighting down the curling ends with pebbles. She holds up a finger to him, the signal to wait, while she replaces her spectacles and gets to reading.
Darklett doesn't even look to be breathing right now. His eyes are all around, the cieling, the walls, the desk, the Colonel... But that's the only part of him that seems to be moving, save for his throat, which bulges with a nervous swallow every couple seconds as he watches Zoe read.
After what might seem like forever, the Colonel's eyes cut upwards, taking in the anxiety-ridden buck. Without saying anything, she grunts and looks back down. Reeeead.
Darklett stands perfectly still, paws still folded behind his back. His nerves are... on edge, to say the least.
Eventually the pebbles are removed and the parchment rerolled. A drawer is opened, and the parchment placed inside. Sitting forward, she steeples her fingers, resting her mouth against their tips. Her eyebrows are raised. "Lieutenant Oxeye arrived jus' before dawn the day aftah the attack. He reports that Jarril's force, of those that escaped, are bein' tended at Halyard Tavern."
The apparent held breath from the newly appointed Major is let out at this, though it's not all at once... The relief is, of course, only partial. "That's good news," Darklett comments, the small bit of speech a little outlet of his nervousness.
Zoe_Lang inclines her head. "Thought it might be." No more is said for the moment, her gaze intent and searching. Finally, her head jerks in a slight upwards nod. "Yer dismissed, Majah. I thank ya for the timely report." She waits, expectantly.
Darklett is shocked. So, it's only natural that he doesn't respond right away. Instead, he just stares, wide eyed and mouth slightly open. "...Y... yes, Colonel!" A shaky paw is brought up to salute again, and slightly off-balance steps are taken towards the door. Darklett slips out quietly, his form slumping against the wall just outside the door, and his eyes closing. "Damn it," he mutters to himself, nudging off the wall and heading towards his dormitory.
