01.12.09 - Colonel Wameus and the Ridiculous, Revolting Pirates

Location: Redwall Great Hall

Characters Involved: Sivaine, Zoe_Lang, Tameus, Bradge, Darcy, Mayeul, Nicodemus, Flicktail, Brenden, Ender, Dmitri, Magramba, Anselm, Anba_Hor, Harper, Caina

Sivaine makes her way down the stairs, carrying a box of something - rather lumpy somethings - with a sheet messily draped over the top.

Not far behind Sivaine is Darcy, similarly loaded down with a big ol' box of ... stuff. She glances around. "... I just got the ridiculous notion of using the big table for a stage," she comments.

Mayeul comes down from upstairs, and sees Sivaine. He wonders if she's still feeling snappy and decides helping would be a good idea, instead of sitting, "Hello, Sivaine... Is there... anything I can help you set up? I have to say, I'm very... excited about all this." He clears his throat and gets ready to put his things down temporarily to free his paws.

Nicodemus raises to his footpaws.

Flicktail says, "oh looks like we have some mouses...EEP!" Flicktail falls off of Father Nick's lap"

"Knowing Tam, he'd fall off," Sivaine replies, stopping on the bottom step to blink at Mayeul, nonplussed. "..are you?" she asks doubtfully, quirking a brow. Then she shrugs.

Sivaine says, "If you could start pulling the chairs from the table over to.. in front of the tapestry? Ten or so should do."

Nicodemus walks to Sivaine. "You have all in paw, I see. And feeling better, I hope?"

The shouting ourdoors is becoming louder, as if the beasts having the argument are approaching entrance to the Great Hall. At this point individual voices can be made out, and one can almost hear what's being shouted.

Flicktail's ears perk

"He didn't really give many specifics. Uhm." Darcy's eyes flick over to Mayeul. "What I wouldn't give for an actual .. stage. Are we setting up chairs for everyone or having them sit on the floor..?"

Sivaine says, "Ah, Father Abbot. Yes, I.. think- actually, Mayeul, just pull /all/ the chairs out and set ten aside?" She clears her throat and looks back to Nicodemus. "It's just the cough now."

Nicodemus smiles. "I am so glad to hear that. I'll get myself out of your head-fur. Send a runner if you need me."

Flicktail exclaims, "bye Father Nick!"

"She's lucky," Darcy says of Sivaine. With the box in her arms she gives a slight bow to Nicodemus. "Evening Father."

"Well.. thank you. And thank you." Sivaine smiles, faintly.

As he walks out, the father pokes Flicktail, "And you, you're too heavy for a beast my age."

Flicktail says, "yer young father...real youngs"

Nicodemus says, "Young only when compared to the Abbey stones."

Mayeul goes to work pulling out all of the chairs, asking some beasts if they could relocate politely, and sets ten aside, counting them twice. "That's that, anything else?" He eyes Darcy uncomfortably, still jarred from the last encounter.

Flicktail looks atthe two mouses, looking hopefully at them

Darcy sets her things down on the floor with a slight 'oof'. "Siv. Stage where?"

"Hm," Sivaine comments, and makes her way into the hall now that the stairs are unblocked. "Uh. In front of the tapestry. It'll give the right ambience. And.. what, /all/ the chairs?" She blinks at Mayeul. "..well, start putting them in rows, then."

Flicktail says, "um.." he raiseshis paw "Kin I elp?"

Sivaine is a bit busy and doesn't much notice Flicktail's hopeful look. Although. She does glance toward the shouting coming from outside.

Darcy heads to Sivaine and murmurs to her, lowly, "What's our plan for the mountain..?"

Brenden also comes down the stairs, only now, his uniform looks crisp and clean. Can't be wandering around in a wrinkled uniform. He looks around, and catches sight of Sivaine and Darcy starting to set up. With a smile he makes his way over to them, "'Ello theah. Need any 'elp?"

Mayeul looks at the mess of chairs and sighs, moving some to make room for neat rows of others, and this takes a while longer.

"Flicktail? ..well, Mayeul could probably use some help with the chairs," Sivaine points out. Perhaps she doesn't see Brenden. Or perhaps she's letting Darcy field his question.

Darcy glances over at Brenden when he approaches, and gives him a faint smile. "Ahh. ... we need to erect a mountain. In the great hall," she tells him.

Sivaine heads over toward the little group of chairs singled out from the herd. "I've got an idea for that." The box is set down with a suspicious rattle.

Brenden blinks, but nods slowly. "A mountain? Ahh...hmm..." and he looks around for something that he could use to construct a mountain.

Mayeul looks up at Flicktail, "Hello again, mate! I'm just putting these in rows, I'll start the row and you can continue it down over there?" He smiles and gets the first couple chairs in each row set up. He looks at the big table being placed, and hears Darcy. "What about a pole and a tarp of some sort? That might make a good mountain?"

Flicktail smiles and walks over to Mayeul and engulfs him in a HUGE warm hug

"Do you know where there's a pole, then?" Sivaine asks as she starts arranging six chairs in a rough circle, backs out. Then she frowns. "..no, he'll never be able to fit through that," she mutters.

Darcy glances at Mayuel. "That .. may work. The point is it's supposed to be Salamandastron, and large enough to contain uhm. Two beasts. And let them come out. I'm getting this right, aren't I, Siv?" she checks with the mousemaid.

Brenden thinks, and as his gaze sweeps over the chairs, he gets an idea and a smile. He looks back at Darcy, "We could stack tha chairs and covah 'em with brown 'r green blankets?"

Brenden adds, "I think tha best tah make it'd be a dibbun. They's always makin forts and such."

Sivaine looks over. "Right. Without concussions. And.. that's what I was thinking, Brenden." She crouches down and peers between the chair legs, gauging the size of the opening. "..hm. Where's Bradge."

Flicktail says, "Oi must be checkin on me dibbuns..take cares all and if ye see at Zoey Lang don'tteller Oi called er a bunny ;)"

Mayeul oohs, "Ohh, um... Flicktail - I hope for your sake I'm not sick..." In his mind, he's thinking the opposite, and turns his face at an angle, patting the fox's back. "Yes, good to see you, sir..." He answers Sivaine, "Hmm... then you'll need to have a pole strong enough to let the tarp open without falling over." He thinks, "Wait! We all... I mean, I carried a pack with a tent in it when I came to the abbey - I suppose I could change it a bit to make it more, cone-like?"

"Hmm. Siv I .. am leaving the construction in your very industrious hands," Darcy chuckles. She scruffs her hands up into her hair, getting it all messy and spiked up. "Why am I /nervous/ I'm not even in it," she mutters.

Sivaine just grins to herself. And waves a hand in the space. "Hmm. ..I don't think.. tents change shape much?"

Brenden looks at Sivaine and shrugs, "I s'pose it depends on how they's put togethah. I think 'at we jus' need a pole, some chairs, and some blankets."

Mayeul nods, although he could rearrange the skeleton... he lets the others take care of it - and continues helping Flicktail with the chairs.

"You're right," Sivaine nods, standing. She nudges the chairs into a better-looking circle, then hefts one of the remaining four. "..so one of you, find a pole. I've got blankets." She nods to the box, which is piled high with the things.

Brenden nods and starts towards the front doors of the abby, "I'm sure there is one around outside or something."

Zoe_Lang limps down the steps - with a staff! The cane's in the shop, obviously. "What's outside or somethin'?" she queries, approaching the others.

Darcy looks up toward Zoe with something of a grin. "Brenden's looking for a pole. We're ... making your mountain." Smirk. This is just so funny to her.

Brenden walks out the doors of the great hall, closing the door behind him in a blast of cold air.

Mayeul finishes up his end of the chairs for the audience, straightening a last chair then going back to Sivaine, "Alright, anything left to be done? Any minor roles that need to be cast last minute?" He grins, "I'm a good guard, I can stand still for hours!"

Zoe_Lang considers her staff, then holds it up, limping the last few feet. "Would this work?" she queries.

Darcy glances at Sivaine with a curious look. "I suppose we need to set a chair aside for that last bit," she muses, and her eyes cut to Zoe. "Ohh. Oh it just might." Another glance at Sivaine - the official Sala-builder.

"Uh-" Sivaine is a bit busy - she's stacking the last four chairs in a smaller circle, balancing their legs on the seats of the first circle. She looks over her shoulder at Mayeul. "I'm sure you can. ..everything's filled, but.. hm. Want to be a beached whale?" Her gaze flicks over to Darcy. "That does work. ..where did Brenden go?"

Zoe_Lang passes the staff to Sivaine, then!

"Uh. .. outside. To get a pole." Darcy shrugs, eyes going toward the door. She then nods at Zoe. "You better go get dressed. Same for you, Siv."

Sivaine frowns faintly and rocks the chair contraption with one hand. It wobbles, but holds, and she nods to herself. And is suddenly presented with a staff. "Thanks," she blinks, and adds, "I apologize in advance, Colonel."

Mayeul blinks and wonders what this may mean... he's never seen a whale, only heard of them, "Uh... sure... I guess?" He whispers a question in her ear.

"..right. If you'd fetch him back and get him to set up the rest of the mountain?" Sivaine asks, offering the pole to Darcy now. Her ear flickers, and her eye twitches at the close proximity of another beast. "Uh. You lie on the stage and act like a dead lump," she answers, leaning away from the older mouse a bit. "Or you.. sit in the audience and laugh at the funny bits."

Dmitri emerges from the outside, his cloak held close around him. He notices the press of beasts, and makes his way closer, ears perked.

"Don't worry, the shove will only be /partly/ faked," Zoe answers at a chuckle. She mills around, looking. Distinctly nervous. "So when're we..." Starting?

Mayeul gets the sarcasm and nods, sitting back down sullenly. He doesn't notice the figure entering just now, and if he did, he might not think anything of it anyway...

"Fetch him. Right. Finish. Okay." Darcy draws a breath, looks at Zoe and Sivaine. "You'd best go get ready. I'll finish this and get everyone all seated and quiet. Where's our announcer..?"

Creatures of all shapes, sizes and levels of health are beginning to gather in the hall. Sivaine has a funny expression on her face. "Uncle Fen, Uncle Fen, Uncle Fen," she chants to herself under her breath, and looks up at the Colonel. "Darcy will get everyone seated - so. Costumes?" she suggests, hefting the box again.

Ender comes up from cavern hole, his face initially drawn and serious as he sees the group, quickly shaking this off and replacing it with a happy smile. He walks towards the crowd working on the stage, coming up next to Zoe. "This is...quite a production." Oops - but she's heading off to /prepare/.

Darcy grabs a mouse, sends him outside to fetch Brenden back in!

Magramba ambles up from Cavern Hole, drawn by the general clamor in the Hall. Curiosity and mild confusion blend on his face, which is beginning to put flesh back on.

Zoe_Lang nearly jumps out of her skin! "... Oh End." Deep breath and a nervous chuckle! "Aye," is all she says, and then she's going to follow after Sivaine. "Costumes, yeah."

Brenden comes back in, with no pole and his ears flat against his head from the cold. He shakes some snow off of his uniform just inside the door and heads back over to Sivaine, shaking his head, "Can't find anything in 'at snow. Sorreh."

Anba_Hor enters the hall - the black fox is now wearing the skinned face of a red fox... the 'gloves', well, they'd be black anyway. He smiles and pretends to know all, taking a rather discreet seat in the back, glancing briefly at Mayeul before turning his attention to the 'stage'. Yes, much better, not having to sneak about.

It only takes so much time and brainpower to figure out that a stage has been set up as the center of attention. Dmitri makes his way towards the seating area, peering over the heads of the gathered beasts to try and get a sense of just what sort of drama is being produced.

"Right. Blankets." Sivaine plops most of the ones in the box on the floor, leaving one to cover the myserious lumps and bumps beneath. "It's all right!" she calls back to Brenden as she heads.. elsewhere. There aren't changing rooms; some out of the way corner will have to do. "Just set up the rest of it."

Or, the stairs! Sivaine heads that way.

Darcy gives Brenden a quick smile. "We got the Colonel's staff. Can you fix the mountain up, make sure it stays put?" And she gets up on a chair, facing the milling beasts.

Darcy exclaims, "Attention!"

Darcy exclaims, "Everyone take a seat, the play will begin shortly!"

Bradge's got a little box. And he's carryin' it into the Great Hall from the stairwell. He tries to look inconspicuous, making his way to the makeshift tent. He's kinda... Just waiting for it to be finished, rocking on his paws, ever the innocent one.

Mayeul feels... eyes... oh well; he keeps his attention forward and chuckles as some of the dibbuns rush through the aisles of chairs, "Don't knock any of them out of their rows, oh! Shhhh! It's about to start!" One sits next to him.

As does Zoe! She's a follower, not a leader. Ha! She disappears. An arteeest... must prepare herself!

"Bradge!" Sivaine's voice floats down from the stairwell. It is a Summons.

"..never mind!"

"Wait!" Shuffleshuffle. *THUMP*. "Bloody... ow."

Brenden nods to Darcy, and props the staff thats given to him up against a chair. He takes his belt off and uses it to secure the staff in place. He reaches out and shakes the staff to make sure that it's secured. With a satisfied nod he moves over to where all the blankets are and selects one. He spreads it out over the staff, pulling the edges over the circle of chairs to create a small 'tent'.

Darcy glances at Brenden and the 'mountain,' "Is it about done?"

"No, that part's on backwards. Here- /where/ did Tam find this?"

Ender takes a seat towards the front. He's supposed to announce something, he knows that much. What, exactly, he is having a /bit/ of a time remembering. He glances over at the fox. Ai yai yai. All kinds.

"The awful chest o' awful awfulness?" *THUD* "Stop /movin'/!"

Magramba fixes his gaze on the stage, sort of drifting to a seat without looking away. Wonder plays lightly across face. First play? You betcha.

Bradge has a little whistle, sort of glancing over the crowd with a smile. Quiet, quiet is Bradge, just... Holding a box and waiting patiently. "Is it done, sir?" He asks Brenden, which would be the second time he's asked, but if an answer's what you want...

Anba_Hor spots the other squirrel, and grits his teeth. That one... He now wonders whether it might be more worth his while to follow and take care of that one instead. Oh well, he didn't plan on being entertained tonight, so for the time being he allows himself to be entertained.

Dmitri takes a careful seat, setting his walking stick's point between his feet and leaning onto it.

"Do the curly bits go up or down? I can never remember!"

Brenden nods to Darcy, "Yeah....just about...." he says as he makes a few last minute changes. Then he steps back and smiles, looking from the 'mountain' to Darcy, and back. After getting a glimpse of all the beasts in the hall, he takes that opportunity to get off the stage, rather quickly.

"I thought they went /sideways/..."

Bradge sees Brenden dash away, and... Still inconspicuous, he pushes the box under the tent, and quickly scampers under it himself!

"..only for /certain/ roles, I think. Here, this one's yours." There's a faint 'twang.'

"'Wammy' is lucky these are /fake/ swords..." Grumble mutter. Riiiiip. "Damn! Oh well, it'll have t'do."

Tameus slips down the steps, scurries to the mountain-tent-thing, and follows Bradge into it.

"He's lucky I'd rather the audience be dying of laughter." More rustling noises. "I can't see anything. Is it on right?"

Mayeul sees Tameus and smiles, then sees the stranger out of the corner of his eye. He looks back at the stage quickly. Who was /that/? He coughs twice, covering his mouth, and waits for the show to begin.

"S'fine, s'fine! C'mon, let's get out there!"

Brenden moves over and finds a few empty seats, claiming them after he remembered something. He has a slight smile on his face as he waits for the play to start.

Darcy is still up on a chair. She clears her throat. "Everyone, please sit /down/," she says to the audience, and as everyone finally settles into her seats she glances around to find Ender. Nods to him. "Take it away." The doe gets down, slips over to Brenden, and sits next to him.

"..this is really ridiculous." A Novice scurries over to the stairwell with a sheet held up. There are some /strange/ shadows that move behind it as it's angled and edged over to the stage, hiding the creatures behind.

Brenden glances up at Darcy when she sits beside him and smiles before looking back to the strange goings-on behind the sheet.

"Shhhhhh!" And that comes from the Novice. Zoe smacks him in the head with. Something. "'Shhhh'," she repeats. Then a snicker. Then quiet.

The door opens with a small gust of chill air, admitting Anselm, who distractedly closes it behind him. The hare rubs a shoulder sore from sling practice and glances up to notice the stage and pending play for the first time. A jolly laugh rips from the buck, followed closely by an apology as he makes for a seat.

Mayeul chuckles at the antics of the sheet-dwellers, before the entering hare distracts him briefly.

His Big Moment! Ender stands, rickety as anything, and steps onto the very edge of the stage before turning to address the audience. "Proudly presenting a play written by Tameus and Sivaine! With Sivaine playing Ned-dez the Foddsy Fox" - that was wrong - "Colonel Zoe playing Kessy the One-Eyed Fearsome Pirate, Bradge as Delilah the...delightful doe, and starring Tameus as the great Colonel Wameus!" He clears his throat loudly. Wow, that was a lot of awesome remembering. "The play's titled Colonel Wameus and the Ridiculous, Revolting Pirates, and it is dedicated to the co-author Tameus' father Harper." He's a pro! He's going to go on the professional circuit! Beaming, Ender steps down off the stage before calling out "Enjoy!" and taking his seat.

Dmitri's attention is set, almost stubbornly, on the constructed stage. His expression is one of gentle attention.

There's a groan from behind the sheet. "He said my /name../"

Darcy just. Presses her hand to her face. Her expression reads something like 'thank god he didn't mess up'..

There's a another shadow-whack. "Sh!"

Mayeul claps loudly for Ender!

A throat is cleared, and then silence.

On the stage, the great Fire Mountain, Salamandastron, looms! Or... maybe that's just some chairs and a staff with a sheet draped over them.

The Abbey has had a number of interesting visitors over the years, and they've left behind a number of interesting things. That is the /only/ way to explain the.. thing.. that comes onstage, striding along with the confidence of the blind. And /that/ is because of the ridiculously oversized hat with a feather half its length again flopping over Sivaine's eyes. 'Nerdez' - clad in an ornate, motheaten waistcoat with what's obviously a folded pillowcase pinned to the back for a fox tail - growls, and brandishes a toy sword that splintered in half somewhere along the way, leaving the end to flop amusingly. "Aharr! ... ... ..ohgod."

Anba_Hor notices that many of those seated in the audience don't look too well at all, and are stifling coughs. He looks back towards the stage, his fur sweating beneath the skin-tight red fox head. The fire from the fireplace certainly isn't helping. The fox can't help chuckling at the first character. Is that a mouse?

Zoe_Lang approaches the Fire Mountain, looking up - er, down - at it. She is decked out in a ridiculous pirate costume. Her ears are tied back and a set of large, pointed ears have taken their place. Fake whiskers sprout from her muzzle. A long, cat-like tail of yarn trails behind her. The dread pirate Kessy laughs, "Bwahahaha! At last, 'tis Salamandastron! The bane of all vermin!" Side mutter. "... Stay in /character/!"

Anselm goes into a fit of laughter, suppressing it with a paw as best he can.

Darcy snorts out a giggle into her hand.

Brenden immediately starts laughing, was that the /colonel/?

Nonono, it couldn't be. The Colonel's eye patch doesn't have little gems all 'round it!

"So it is!" Beneath the hat, a glare flashes at the laughing audience. "Ah. Uhm." Nerdez launches back into 'his' speech, with all due bombast and pretty good projection. "And we, my peachy piratess, shall be doubly baneful and the bane of the bane of.. it." He trails off, balancing on one leg to leeeeeaaaan in for a kiss. Maybe. There is the suggestion of fishlips, but mostly hat. The feather wobbles.

Mayeul almost covers his eyes... Siv... quite a sight; he imagines what being up there like that must be like, and decides he can't.

Ender kind of...looks. That's interesting. And unexpected. What kind of play is this? He continues to pay /close/ attention.

Brief horror flashes in Kessy's single remaining eye as the fishlips approach and her head inches back of its own accord. No offense Siv! But then! The piratess roughly shoves Nerdez away, snarling. "Yer an idiot! Go fetch me a fish."

It's a squeak. Maybe a shriek. Definitely falsetto. Nerdez stumbles and nearly smacks into a mole in the front row. "At once!" And then he titters like a blushing maiden, practically /prancing/ over to the other side of the stage where a stuffed toy fish - borrowed for the evening from an otter cub - lies. Those who are listening /very/ closely might hear a low mutter of "I hate this place, I hate this place.." before the 'fox' returns, presenting the thing on bended knee. "For you, my sweet siren of the seas," he croons.

Kessy makes a great display of looking disgusted! Her lip curls and she snatches the fish... and proceeds to whack Nerdez back and forth across the face with it! Twin *squeaks* from the fish with each smack.

"Oh! Dear!" The hat is knocked sideways, briefly exposing a mortified expression. "GAH." Nerdez grips it by the brim and jams it over his ears, remembering a hapless wail of "Goodness me!"

"That's for interruptin' my evil plottin'! By bein' stupid. Now I have t'start all ovah again." Kessy brandishes the fish upward -er, downward - toward the mountain. "Bwahahaha, Salamandastron! Soon you will be within my control! Bwahahaha- ... hck!" She chokes on her own spit, doubling forward, red in the face.

Anba_Hor erupts into laughter, haughty enough to almost be one of the pirates in the play. After garnering a few looks from rows in front, he clears his throat and continues watching.

Darcy is by this point biting one of her knuckles to contain laughter.

Brenden keeps on laughing, trying to cover his mouth with a paw so he could still hear. He turns when he hears Anba laugh, but only grins back at him before continuing to watch.

The hat raises. Nerdez fishes in his pocket, producing something clutched in a frilly, oversized handkerchief - more likely one of the /very/ fancy dinner napkins for jubilee feasts - and offers it up to Kessy. "A lozenge, my pulchritudinous pastille?"

Kessy smacks Nerdez's paw away! "I don't even know what ya just said. Stop makin' up words 'n' go announce m'presence t'the puny hares in there!" She jabs a toy sword toward the mountain. "I demand t' see their leadah!" Kessy... demands!

Magramba has been chuckling dryly for a while now, but not loud enough to drown out the disturbingly familiar laughter of the nearby fox.

Nerdez cringes back, then strikes a dramatic pose, sword upraised! ..the end flops. "I shall sally forth on wings of love!" he declares. (Followed by a tiny mutter of 'eugh.') Again, he /prances/ over to the 'mountain,' leans over, and knocks genteely on a chair seat.

Mayeul also recognizes it, and the fox who he had seen earlier... but, well, it /can't/ be the same one, can it? He ignores it for now and continues watching, laughing at the large words from the silly-looking mouse-fox on stage.

There's a light, airy voice coming out of the 'mountain'-tent. It's sing-songy in nature, and calls out from the stage Salamandastron, "Comiiiii-" and then the voice cracks into an ugly squeak. "-iing!" And no more than two seconds later, a head peeks out of it. It's an otter, with... Is that the cloth end of a mop on his head with two fake wooden hare ears stuck into it? In any case, the otter, who might be identified as Bradge, but is herein known as "Delilah," bats his eyes as he peeks out of the tent. "Oh. 'ello." 'Her' voice rapidly changes from high to not-so-high as the young otter-turned hare doe attempts a falsetto.

Anselm laughs along with the play, slapping his knee at the really funny bits, muttering the best words over again to himself. "Wings of love, wot."

"Why hello, good maid," Nerdez returns in syrupy tones, bowing low. Elaborately low. One paw grabs the hat and does a complicated loop-de-loop that /never shows his face,/ while the other ends up behind his back and one leg has wandered off behind him somewhere. "Might I inquire as to-"

Kessy chucks the fish at Nerdez. It bounces off his head with a *squeak*! "Hurry up, ya worthless swine! I have Redwall t'invade aftah this, I can't wait 'round for your courtier's prattle!"

Dmitri arches a single brow. Is that maybe the start of a smile on his lips?

Anba_Hor decides to keep a low profile the rest of the play, and is careful not to laugh above the rest of the audience.

"Yes, my dangerous dove!" Nerdez plops the hat back on his head. "My sincerest apologies, but-" And he grabs 'Delilah' by the arm, dragging - more carefully leading - the delightful doe out of the mountain, backing up with half-broken sword to her throat. The end flops, threatening to catch on the mop-wig. "Your leader or her life!" There is a pregnant pause, then a stage whisper. "..you /are/ important, aren't you?"

"Aiieeeeeee!" Delilah squeals in a high, high pitch, quite distressed as she's dragged out of Salamandastron and threatened by the scary, no good vermin invader!

"That's more like it!" Kessy interjects.

Tameus summersaults out of the mountain! The leveret is clad in his miniature Colonel uniform, all decked out with a toy sword on his hip. Colonel Wameus springs upright and strikes a dramatic, heroic pose, one hand in the air, the other on his hip. "Halt y' v'lain!" Wameus calls out. "Dare n' 'urt m' darlin' doe!"

Mayeul's ear is whispered into by the otter dibbun sitting next to him, and he whispers back, "No, I don't think she's /really/ in trouble, I'm not even sure 'she's' a 'she', lad..." He chuckles.

Nerdez's shoulders - bearing ridiculous mop-end epaulets - twitch at the sound. "Ghk. Never! ..that is, we /will!/ If you don't acquiesce to the demands of my salty sea lily, the dread pirate Kessy!" He gestures with his sword, feather bobbing. "Hello dear." And simpers. You can tell by the tone.

At the sight of the great Colonel Wameus, there's yet another scream from Delilah, though this one cracks a few times here and there throughout some of the longer-held words: "Oh, Colonel! Save me, pleaaaase!"

Ender lets out a /small/ cheer at Tam's appearance. He accompanies this with a tiny half-wave. He knows him!

Kessy laughs maniacally! "Ahahaha!"

"How sweet her call is!" Nerdez moons.

Delilah just can't contain herself under these conditions! "Aieeeeee!"

Nerdez mutters, "No, not /yours./"

Wameus blows a kiss to the comically dressed Novice. "Don' worry, m' dreamish D'lilah!" he just about croons. "'ll save y'! ... an' 'll defeat these 'orrible, awful, no-good rotten sc.. sc-" Uhh. Big word. "Sc'ndrels!" he manages.

"You will /not/!" Kessy snarls, brandishing her sword! Brandishingly!

Mayeul cheers for Tam!

Wameus retorts rather haughtily, "Will so!"

"Boooooo!" yell three dibbuns simultaneously in the front row. And break out in raucous cheering for Wameus!

Darcy is just about crying she's laughing so hard. There are /tears/!

"Just as she says!" Nerdez interjects. He's successfully dragged Delilah off to the other side of the stage, disregarding some trouble when he nearly tripped over his oversized boots.

Anselm speak/shouts "Give'm blood and vinegah!"

Delilah's paw reaches out for Colonel Wameus longingly! "Haaaaaaaalp!"

Kessy strikes a pose, one paw on hip and the other with sword pointed at Wameus' very heart! A brief grimace passes over her expression and a small shake of her head, but then! She manages a sneer! "Arrrr! I am the dread pirate Kessy! I am invincible, immortal! I am the most terrifyin' pirate t'evah sail the seven seas! I have battled the Kraken 'n' burnt cities 'n' defeated the Death God 'imself in single combat! YOU WILL NEVAH VANQUISH ME!"

Nerdez readjusts his choke-hold on the.. doe. "Look, would you /stop/ that."

"And she has wonderful fashion sense!" Nerdez trills.

Kessy makes a face at Nerdez. It is the very definition of contempt! "Nerdez, you dolt. Bring me my fish!" She points to the fish she threw down earlier. "An' don't let go of the hostage or I'll cut /your/ gills, s'well!"

"But.. but my sweetling scallop!" Nerdez - or at least his hat - looks between Delilah and the fish, and manages a sort of crabwise scuttle towards the plush toy. ('I can't believe I /wrote/ this.' Mutter mutter.)

Dmitri arches his other brow, expression now one of mild surprised. His smile widens, just a little.

Delilah, apparently deciding she hadn't been heard in far too long, belts out another enthusiastic, "Oh, Colonel, 'elp me, pleaaaase!" Her voice is surprisingly staying up in the higher registers, with no crackling at all!

Anba_Hor is wondering what is taking the little Wameus so long! He's about ready to steal that damsel himself...

In one sweeping motion, Nerdez picks up the fish! ..or doesn't. "Hold this for a minute, would you?" He passes his sword to Delilah. Then he picks up the fish! And presents it to Kessy. The hat slips over his eyes, briefly exposing a brushy ponytail shoved down the waistcoat back.

"Oh, sure," Delilah offers, taking the sword from the vermin when it's passed to her.

Kessy snatches the fish and whacks Nerdez again, then flourishes an elaborate bow to Wameus. "You may now continue with yer monologue." ... "/Shhhh/!" Hissy whisper.

Everyone hushes in anticipation of Tam's monologue!

"Why thank y' /so/ much," Wameus drawls. He clears his throat, nose stuck up in the air. "Well /I/ 'm Ta- .. I mean, Wameus Sade, Colonel'a th' Lon' Patrol, leader'a th' grrreat.." He makes a sweeping gesture at the 'mountain', ".. fire mountain' Sal'man'stron! 'm d'scended fr'm a lon', lon' line'a mil'tary 'eros reachin' back t' th' ver' firs' 'are e'er t' call th' mountain 'ome!" Deep breath. "I 'm th' ver' /def'nition/ 'a per'lous, an' I. Will. /Destroy/ y'!"

"An' 'e's sooooo handsome," Delilah adds to that monologue, practically swooning into her captor's arms.

The hat turns slowly towards Wameus. There is the faint suggestion of a falsetto "Hmm.."

Kessy leaps forward, to center stage! Or, well. Kind of limpy-leaps! "Well in that case! I challenge you, Colonel Wameus, t'the most historic 'n' histrionic of all battles! The most swashlin' buckle 'n' bucklin' swaash! I challenge you to... A DUEL!"

Brenden starts laughing again, still with the paw over his mouth. When he hears Delilah, the paw covers his face.

"I 'ccept y'r challenge!" Wameus announces. "Y' wretched ninny! If I win -I /will/! - y'll take y'r ship an' y'r crew an' y'r r'diculous f'ppish fox an' leave th' Wes'ern Shore, an' ne'er r'turn!"

"An' Darlin'! Colonel! Set me free! They hafta set me free, too!" Delilah is still swooning.

Wameus pauses. ".. oh yeah. Uhh." He gives the audience a sheepish look and a shrug, the directs at the pirates, "An' y' haft' set 'er free too!"

"/Thank/ you!" The doe waves Nerdez's sword daintily at Colonel Wameus.

Kessy's lip curls in a sneer - which at first threatens to be a smile. But no! Sneer! "Fine! But if I win - which I /will/! - you 'n' all of the Long Patrol will surrendah t'me. ME! BWAHAHAHAH!" She cackles.

The little Colonel Wameus snatches at his sword, whipping it out of his belt! Except that he fumbles, drops it, and releases a short 'hrk!' noise as he does. It's snatches up and he waves it in front of him. "P'pare t' die, y' one-eyed m'screant!"

Mayeul shudders, leans forward in his chair in anticipation. The otter dibbun grabs Mayeul's paw and squeezes!, holding his stuffed otter dibbun.

"Oh, Colonel, /do/ be careful, wot wot!" Delilah places her wrist (not the one holding Nerdez's sword) to her brow in worry.

"Oh, heavens," Nerdez warbles, briefly releasing Delilah to clutch both paws to his breast. "Go with caution, my malevolent milky-eyed maiden!"

'Kessy' winces at the drop! But quickly gamefaces! "I will do /jus'/ that!" Kessy answers without thinking, drawing her sword! Then she pauses, her sword briefly lowering. "... No, wait! No, I won't. But /you/ should!" She lunges at him, her sword flailing!

Wameus lunges forward, swinging his sword! Oh doesn't he look dashing and heroic! The wooden weapons meet with a loud CLONK!

And... they fight! They circle, twirling and clattering their swords together! But then! Kessy wins the advantage, swash-buckling brave Wameus into the front corner of the stage! She raises her sword for a killing blow!

Meanwhile, Nerdez glances down at the sword in.. rather a larger paw than his. "Ah. You know, if I could just-" He gingerly tries to retrieve it from Delilah's clutches.

Almost every dibbun in the place can be heard to shout in protest of the killing of Wameus! Elder beasts manage to restrain many of them...

But as Nerdez reaches for the sword, Delilah screeches and elbows the vermin in the stomach, turning and whacking him /hard/ in the top of the head with the hilt of the vermin's own weapon!

Wameus's eyes go wide as he's cornered! Is this the end of our beloved hero?!

Suddenly Wameus gives a loud, "EEUUULALLIIIAA!!" and /stabs/ Kessy! Well, he shoves the play sword into the pit of her arm, but it looks real enough from .. a.. certain angle?

Anselm is almost on his feet himself.

"Oof!" There's now a sizable dent in the hat. Nerdez collapses to the floor and stays there, possibly for his own safety.

Brenden only blinks at the timely turn of events.

"See, SEE! I will be triumphahhghhhnnrghhh--!" Kessy staggers back, sword sticking out of her middle - okay, okay, it's under her arm, shhhhhhhhhhh - and then... keels over! The dread pirate Kessy is... dead! Waitno. "HURK!" Her arms come up, sword and paw stretching for the ceilng. And jerk! Jerk! Sword falls! "... hck!" And they collapse. Okay NOW she's dead!

"No!" muffles Nerdez, outstretching a paw. "My-"

Delilah cuts Nerdez off by /kicking/ the foppish fox in the side of the gut, and kneeling down and rapping the vermin on the skull with the swordhilt again. "Oh, hush!"

Brenden chuckles and makes a face thats a mixture of a grin and a wince.

Wameus steps on Kessy's head! Then adjusts to have one foot on her shoulder, and gives the 'dead' pirate a kind of apologetic look. Then he strikes a pose! Again! His sword is raised triumphantly, and he gives the audience a brilliant beaming grin!

"Nhrk," goes Nerdez, foot twitching; a paw shoots out to grab Delilah's ankle.

Dmitri lifts his paws from his cane to applaud the conquering hero.

Mayeul cheers as much of the hall erupts in the same! He stands as many others do, clapping and shaking his fists in the air, finally propping the jumping otter dibbun up on his shoulders to see!

Dead pirates don't grumble! Be quiet, Kessy!

Magramba rises and claps with the rest.

"Nnn!" Delilah tosses the sword and grabs a nearby rock-- er, very, very stale scone -- and bashes at the vermin's head three-no-four times! "No! No!" Still screeched in a falsetto.

Anselm pops to his feet, clapping and calling "Encore!"

Wameus stands there, holds his pose. He glances over toward Delilah and clears his throat.

Ender is on his feet and clapping as well, although not quite as insanely as some in the room. He tries to make eye contact with Zoe and/or Tameus, but knows they're receiving plenty of adulation for this moment already.

The dead pirate's head rises. "S'not ovah yet! Shhhh."

"/One/ time, the script said /one/ time-" mutters Nerdez, then goes silent, paw slack.

Anba_Hor remains seated, and while the others clap, he quickly jumps to the empty seat in front of him, the row right behind Mayeul. He deposits something in the hood of the robed mouse, and slips away in the clamour.

"Oh, sorry, m'dear!" Delilah has a tough time of getting up-- the red dress she's wearing is much too long for her. But she manages it! And scampers over to her rescuer! "Oh, Colonel, you've /saved/ me! Thank you!"

Wameus clambers onto a nearby chair, a little off to one side of the stage. He swings his sword back and forth dramatically and hugs Delilah around the shoulders. "B'old! Th' Wes'ern Shore an' all th' lands b'yond 're once 'gain safe fr'm th' forces'a evil.. that uh.. threatened t' o'errun 'um!"

Then Wameus drops his sword. It clatters on the ground as he grips Delilah by the shoulders and pushes her backward into a romantic dip-kiss!

There is conspicuous silence from Nerdez.

The kiss is a /bit/ close to Ender. He backs away a bit and grins, laugghter escaping. Just a little.

Dmitri's brows rise once more. How daring! How romantic! How scandalous! That's theatre.

"Colonel!" Delilah swoons again, holding a paw to her brow. "You're /so/ brave!" And then the kiss, which is met with a squeal! The doe bends over backwards, dipping, dipping... Too far! She falls backwards, thudding to the stage with a rather ungirlylike "Oof!"

Mayeul stops clapping for a moment, and turns around, but nobeast is there. He goes back to clapping and laughs when Tam kisses 'Delilah'. "There ya go, lad, make it a long one!"

Kessy has kind of rolled over, elbow propping her up to watch this last little bit. How could she MISS it? She snoooorts quiet laughter, but it's not like anyone's watching HER anymore!

His girl fell over. Wameus stands on the chair looking perplexed. He glances up, toward the audience, and after a moment gives them the most bright, winning smile he can come up with. "Th' end!"

Anselm claps again, thumping a footpaw and generally being as rowdy as possible. "Bravoh, laddie!"

Mayeul stands once more, clapping and shouting 'bravo! Bravo!' This one would definitely make a good patrol hare one day...!

Darcy is up on her feet, applauding enthusiastically. "Whoo! Yeah! Yeah Tam!"

Brenden stands up and claps loudly for the cast, "Nicely done! Bravo Tam!"

/Now/ they can clap. Kessy rolls over, pops up while pulling off the fake ears and freeing her real! The eye patch is flung off and tossed into the crowd! The real one's underneath. She goes to help Nerdez up!

Ender's relief would be visible - if anyone was looking at him - as Zoe returns to being Zoe. Well, nearly. He continues to clap, slowing down as he ruuunns out of energy.

Dmitri rises to his hindpaws and, letting his cane rest against his hip, claps slow and steady. He peruses the actors, expression searching.

Delilah sits up, her mop-hair off-kilter, the hare ears tilting away from their upright position. She grins anyway, and goes to stand up, slipping on her too-big dress and thudding to her rear end, finally rising on the second try. 'She' takes off the makeshift wig, waving it to the crowd and bowing!

Up Nerdez comes, one hand keeping the precious hat in place as he fumbles for his sword. It ends up being the fish.

Mayeul claps more loudly for Siv! Yaaaaay, Siv!

Brenden turns his head towards Darcy and mutters with a grin, "Someone should run a pull 'at hat off 'er."

Kessy-Zoe comes forward to stand beside Bradge, which will leave Nerdez for Tameus' side!

Wameus is Tameus once again! The leveret stays up on his chair, arms up, beaming and just. Lovin' it. You can tell!

Nerdez is still Nerdez. That hat isn't coming off.

Mayeul makes a move to carry Tam off in heroic fashion. Is there anyone else willing to carry him among the crowd?

Dmitri moves away from his chair, towards the front rows. He may not have a backstage pass, but he can always rush the stage. He comes up to the edge of performance area, clears his throat, and asks, "Might I inquire who wrote this shining example of dramaturgy?"

Tameus erupts into a sudden laugh as he is .. robbed of his bow! "'ey put me down!" he squawks, and cackles.

And there's Ender! The rabbit gets a grin from a certain old doe! She goes to take Bradge's paw and - oh! Their hero has been carried off. "... Bow anyway," she mutters to the three. Haha.

Darcy is about to say something to Brenden but she just .. sags against him, laughing. Near hysterics, really.

Right, /then/ the hat comes off, and Siviane finds herself standing before Dmitri. "..that'd be him." She motions at the leveret. "I added the big words."

Ender was noticed! By /celebrity/, no less! He would mock swoon, but that wouldd almost definitely result in getting trampled. Instead he just...claps a few more times. And laughs. That was much needed.

Bradge takes care not to step on the dress or anything, letting the mop wig fall aside as he reaches out and grabs at the Colonel's paw, reaching up for Tameus's, too, with his other. But by that time, Mayeul's grabbed him and well. He's being prompted to bow, so he looks back and forth between the Colonel and the still-hatted Sivaine, and begins to bow for the crowd, grinning widely. Not a bit of embarrassment here.

Mayeul and the three others carrying him put him back down on the stage!

"So I judge you managed many of your own lines?" Dmitri asks of Sivaine, a mild smile on his lips, "Since they were so... floral?" He notes the bow is coming, and steps back, out of the line of sight. To the victors, the spoils.

Brenden puts his arm around Darcy when she sags against him, without even thinking about it. He's still focused mainly on the antics on stage.

Tameus scampers back over to his fellow actors, taking his spot between Bradge and Zoe, reaching for their hands. Bow time!

Zoe_Lang's catches the eye of the others to time the bow right and - wait for it! Waaaaait for it. She starts to bow!

Tameus dips into a deep bow when Zoe does, grinning ear to ear.

Bradge notices Tameus coming back, and he nods to the leveret, grinning at him enthusiastically and reaching for his paw, his own holding out for Sivaine's as he times his bow with the Colonel's, bowing low and gratefully.

And the hat goes back on, hastily! It is her shield, her aegis. Sivaine grabs Bradge's paw and bows just once with the cast, quite low, then draws herself up. "Not really," she mutters out of the corner of her mouth to Dmitri. "Most of those were my uncle's."

"I've a question, about your source material," Dmitri asks, quietly, when he gets the chance, "Perhaps now is not the moment. You've glory to bask in, after all."

Tameus giggles and beams, looking across the excited, enthusiastic audience - seeking someone out.

And with that, and breaking hold of their paws, Zoe goes over to destroy Salamandastron! Or, you know, get her staff back. Whatever. She limps to the edge of the stage, then, stepping down and off. She makes for Ender - assuming she's not stopped on the way.

Ender spots the fox now, and his proximity to Zoe. Taking a protective step towards the doe, the rabbit /tries/ to quell his natural urges and let the moment go. But he does take the step. And then she's with him anyway. Crisis averted!

Seeking someone? Now who could that be?

The quirk of Sivaine's brow suggests she is dubious about this 'glory' Dmitri speaks of, and her expression is hesitant, not quite sure what to think of the enthusiastic crowd. "Later on," she murmurs to the fox, and with a trace of irony, "I'm not going anywhere." Then she kneels to pick up Tameus. "Here. You can see better this way, Tam."

Bradge clears his throat, releasing the paws and turning to Tameus. "Reckon I-" Ahem! "Reckon..." Bradge puts his paw to his throat, then notices when Tameus is picked right up. Cough, cough. It would appear Bradge's voice is a bit stuck.

Dmitri dips into a small bow, "But of course. Thank you for the splendid spectacle." He turns and moves away from the stage.

Tameus hugs onto Sivaine's shoulders with one arm, stretching upward, looking around through everyone. No one's in their seats now, it's hard to see! But he can't find who he's looking for, and the grinning expression fades.

Certainly not a certain Brother and Father both! Not one who stands - yes, stands - with the support of a certain Colonel's cane and a Novice's arm, besides. Certainly not the one standing over by the stairs, in the veeery back. Certainly not that one.

"A once in a lifetime event, I assure you," Sivaine mumbles mostly to herself, and absently jogs Tam a bit. "Do you see him?" she asks, looking over the audience herself.

Bradge just kind of sidesteps his way towards the sheet and the four chairs, crawling under the shelter of what's left of Salamandastron.

There are people in the way! Tam shakes his head. He's looking in the wrong direction now. "No.. no 'e's not 'ere. His ears droop backward.

"That was.. brilliant," Darcy mutters, still snickering, shaking her head. She gives a smiling glance up at Brenden. ".. hi."

Zoe_Lang is watching Tam out of the corner of her eye, with a /very/ knowing little smile. her ears perk at Ender and then she gives a jerk of her head in indication of the stairs - for Ender's sake. "Look," she mutters out the side of her mouth.

"Well," Sivaine murmurs quietly. "Come on, let's get everything put away, and then you can tell him how it went." With a nod to Zoe and Ender, she edges for the stairs. Must get /out/ of this ridiculous waistcoat.

Soon enough, Bradge is out from underneath the chair tent, changed back into his habit, leaving the dress underneath the shroud of what's left of Sala. The mysteryyyy of theaterrrrrrr...

Mayeul sets the otter dibbun down off of his shoulders, and when he leans down, something falls onto his neck. He reaches around behind him and grabs it. A folded piece of parchment. "Hmm... what...?" He steps out of the crowded area around the stage, and is one of the only beasts outside of the crowd, as he reads the writing.

Tameus exhales and leans into Sivaine's shoulder, both arms around her, muzzle to her neck. He shuts his eyes.

Brenden is still smiling and looks down at Darcy, "Uh..hi." He just looks at her for a moment, lost in some thought or another before he looks back up at the stage and the milling beasts.

Ender /would/ want to hug Zoe...at least...if she weren't still somewhat a pirate. Eeee...yuck. Glancing towards the stairs, he catches a quick glimpse of some...fragile-looking hare. One glance at Tameus and the connection is made. "Oh. But. Th'poor thing's heartbroken." Indicating Tam. "..." What can he even do? He grabs Zoe's paw and works towards Sivaine. Slowly and fragile-ly.

Darcy is silent, looking at Brenden, then clears her throat. "I uh.. I have to get back to work." Mumble.

Tameus's eyes open just a fraction. He sees Ender and Zoe off to one side, smiles at them over Sivaine's shoulder. It's a far-off, distracted kind of smile, and is quickly gone.

Bradge does keep clearing his throat, though. He starts making his way away from the stage, heading towards Cavern Hole on the outside of the assembly, a little grin stuck on his features as he does so.

And then "..oh," goes Sivaine, pace slowing a fraction. It's a very particular oh, a delicate shade somewhere in between 'oh /bugger/' and 'oh /good/.' "Tam," she rasps - that performance took away from her voice - and shrugs the shoulder he's leaning on. "Mhm. The stairs."

Spoil sport! But Zoe /is/ stripping as she goes - the outer layers, at least. A trail of odd sashes and vests, et cetera, trail on the floor behind her. She's looking more Zoe-ish all the time. "It'll swell with happiness all the more for bein' mended, End."

"Hh," is Tam's grunted reply. He lifts his head, turns it. Glances at the steps. The little buck looks absolutely crestfallen.

Brenden realizes that he still has his arm around her, but doesn't move it just yet. Another thought, this one ending in a why not, and he quickly leans in to steal a quick kiss.

Ender slows as Tam looks at them, and then Siv sees. He stops then, letting Zoe walk up next to him. "Jus' give him...a minute..." The rabbit's look is hopeful...willing Tam to see Him. By the stairs.

It's rather crowded. A show just ended! And half of them are going upstairs, too. This does not make for easy sight-seeing. Or father-seeing.

... And there he is, staying back and away and waiting 'til the last to congratulate, but there nonetheless. There's a soft smile about Harper's lips and, though he looks fragile... There's a healthy glint to his eyes long absent. He waits, waits for Tam to see him.

Mayeul freezes where he stands, and he breaks into a sweat. The mouse needs to find somewhere to sit right /now/, but all the chairs are in the audience, on the other side of the room. He slowly goes to sit on the floor, and half-falls, his paw breaking the fall as he takes deep breaths.

One of Tam's ear's tweaks upward. He stills, staring for a moment. "D'ddy?" The leveret twists, leaning upward, trying to see - trying to be sure. ".. d'ddy!"

Darcy is just about to step back /out/ of the circle of Brenden's arm. And then. Ohhkay. She blinks, startled. "... uh. Okay." Her eyes half-shut in a satisfied look, and she smirks at the buck. "... heh. Hi. ... I'm going to, ah. Go upstairs now."

That's all the prompt Sivaine needs. Her expression goes curiously blank; she partially kneels to set the leveret down and rises again.

Brenden nods slowly to her, taking his arm from around her, "I need tah get back tah tha infahmary. Check on tha beasts wot couldn't make it tahnight."

Harper's smile deepens. He doesn't even try to be heard over the crowd - he affirms only with a nod. With assistance, he kneels. Opens up his arms.

And immediately Tam is rushing forward, /sprinting/ even. He ducks past moving legs and tails, scrambles along the most direct route possible with this crowd. The last ten feet are a hard dash and the leveret releases a little squeal of pure, ecstatic happiness as he throws himself into Harper's arms. "D'ddy!"

"Yes," Darcy murmurs in agreement. "... yes. Me too. ... Well let's go then." And she offers her hand to Brenden with a faint little, pleased smile.

The Novice assisting him gives a little gasp as the dibbun throws himself at Harper, but Harper bears it. With only the hint of a pained grunt, his arms circle around Tam. Now would be the point where he lifts him up and carries him around the room on his shoulders! Except not. He hugs him close, resting his chin on Tam's shoulder. Whispers into his ear. "M'so /prouda/ you..."

The word 'Daddy' pierces through everything, and Mayeul looks up blankly at Harper and Tameus, and looks back down at the piece of paper, 'I know who has your father, Mr. Fyrpels. Tell me where Nidlorf is in exchange.'

What? No! Zoe did not just sniff. She clears her throat! Gives Ender's shoulder a smack. "So where's my flowahs fer a good performance, eh?" She smirks.

Brenden smiles even more and reaches out to take her paw, then he starts off towards the stairs to go back up to the infirmary.

And Darcy goes with him! Well. She kind of pulls Brenden along.

All right, this is too much. Sivaine turns back, shedding the waistcoat, the floppy boots, tossing the hat in the box, and starting to break down the set with a brisk efficiency. Well. Not before she knocks on a chair to make sure Bradge isn't still ensconced in the mountain.

Tameus about cries. Wait, no, no. He really is crying. His shoulders hitch and he clings around Harper's neck, and he just cries into the side of his neck, then snuffles tearfully and mumbles, "Y' saw 't? Y' saw 't all?"

Ender smiles, but this is a warm, inviting smile. One of those rare ones he saves for those he loves. He takes a step towards the hare and says "It's winter, Colonel. Best I could find was this." Leaning in just a tad, Ender puts his paw on her shoulder and gives her cheek a small tender kiss. Bringing his face even with hers, he smiles again. "Eh?" ...all he could think of.

Bradge is not in the tent. He's... Gone, nowhere to be found in the Great Hall, anyway.

"Wouldna missed it for all the gold in Mossflower," Harper answers with a smile in his voice.

Tameus croons in a sort of happy-but-crying way, and he's getting Harper's shoulder wet. "... y' 'eard th' beginnin'?" he mumbles, muffled. "Th'.. th'.. what I tol' gran'da' t' say..?"

Oh, okay, she /guesses/ that'll do. Or that's what her pleased-in-spite-of-herself smile suggests, anyway. She nods. "Eh," she agrees with a laugh. And gives Ender a one-armed hug, kissing /his/ cheek.

Sivaine definitely has her back turned on all of this. Definitely definitely, and there's the scrape and shove of furniture being moved about.

Ender doesn't rebuff her affection either. Which is his equivelant of being overcome with passion. "Eh. I should, uh. We should. Um." That familiar blush creeps into his cheeks. "Uh. Look't Tam and Harp!"

Bradge comes back in from the Cavern Hole, wiping his paws off and walking towards the stage with a smile. "Miss Sivaine, I can clean all- ahem, cough - this up if'n ya want." Helpful.

Harper's muzzle turns, and a kiss is placed to Tameus' temple. He gives Tam a squeezing hug, never wishing as much as now that he could lift him and twirl him around. "... I did."

Mayeul lowers his head between his knees, and pulls at his headfur. He knew this would happen - he just... didn't expect it to be such a hard decision. He's now only 90% sure his father is dead - not nearly enough to be satisfied, and at the end of a possible answer, is treason. Father... Treason...

Zoe_Lang gives Ender a knowing look and just smirks. But she does dutifully turn her eye to the saccharin-sweet display going on Over There, as opposed to the one going on Right Here.

Tameus tilts his muzzle to smooch his dad on the cheek, churring at him warmly. "... I love y'," he warbles.

Sivaine's ears flicker; she chances a glance over her shoulder, then looks back to the ottery Novice. "No. I'll take the boxes back," she tells him, reaching down for one. "And come back to help you with the chairs."

Ender has no way...to suggest they head out. But he wants to, so. He walks towards the Cavern Hole stairs. That general direction. Still keeping an eye on Harp and Tam. "We should, ah, find something to eat. Bring some for everyone."

"Well... I reckon if'n ya wanted ta be with ya family..." Bradge's paws are pocketed, rocking back and forth on the balls of his footpaws.

"Love ya too, Tam." Harp sounds so much better! Not croaky! He holds Tam briefly back from him. "Why doncha go on 'n' finish gettin' yer congratulations, now? I'll be here." He smiles.

Mayeul thinks for a moment... if it is indeed that same, awful fox again... why does he want to know where Nidlorf is? Would he be safe making an alliance with him? What does the fox have to gain by killing Mayeul, or perhaps it is a trick from one of Nidlorf's... he crumples the parchment up and decides to do /nothing/. He stands back up with a groan and a 'crack', and makes his way towards the stairs cautiously, looking around at /everyone/. /Everyone/.

Tameus looks at Harper's face with a shaky little smile. "No.. no they's done. I wann' be wit' y'.." He holds onto Harper's arms, lightly.

Zoe_Lang watches Harp and Tam for another moment, but then! Nods to Ender. "All righ', let's do tha'." And she loops her arm in his, allowing him to lead the way.

"It's appreciated," Sivaine murmurs; the look she gives Bradge is not unkind, and the corner of her muzzle twitches back. "But I'm not really a part of that now. I'll help you with the chairs." She starts to head over for the stairs in a nonchalant fashion. Just have to put this box away.

Success! Ender's pleased as punch as they begin to walk towards Cavern Hole. They pass near the father/son moment, and he pauses. "Should I..." Quick glance at Zoe. "I'll let 'em be."

Bradge's round otter ears just flick momentarily. "...Oh, m'sorry for assumin', ma'am." The otter picks up one of the boxes, too, the one with /his/ costume in it, and follows Sivaine right behind.

Harper laughs, nods. "All righ', Tammy, all righ'." And then his eyes slide past Tameus and - Sivaine. He smiles - a surprisingly easy one. No hard feelings? "Brilliant performance, Nerdy."

Zoe_Lang chuckles at Ender. Nods. "Good... now let's get before the young'uns decide not t'let /us/ be!" Mischievous grin. The fogies, sneakin' off like pros!

Mayeul neets Sivaine near the stairs, congratulating her, "Sivaine! Wonderful play! You were very good in-character... um... is there anything I can do to help clean up?" His voice shakes a bit, as he clears his throat.

Tameus's gaze slips to Sivaine, and then Bradge. "Bradge," he says, smiling at the otter. His cheeks are all damp and glisteny, but he's smiling!

Sivaine stops. Looks at him. Blinks. She looks.. nonplussed. "..that. ..that is the /worst/ nickname I've ever- well. No. There was Bottle's," she considers, eyes flicking briefly to the ceiling. "Uh." She glances back to Mayeul. "..thanks." It's cautious. "Bradge could use some help with the chairs again, I think."

"Yes sir," Bradge nods affirmatively to Mayeul. "Jes' give me a moment while I take this costume back up, an' I'll be righ' down to clear the chairs." Another helpful grin comes from the otter's snout.

Harper merely grins, shakes his head at Siv.

Also! The otter novice turns, his attention caught by the ... crying? leveret. He deduces that the tears are happy, though, and he carries his grin right on through. "Great job, Tammy! You did amazin'!"

Mayeul smiles at Bradge, but it fades quickly, "Oh, right. Might as well finish what I started, I suppose..." He goes back and starts putting chairs back at the table.

"Y' di' real good too, Bradge," Tam says with a grin. And he hiccups. He's not really eager to detach from Harper, and anyway, Bradge is carrying things. A hug will come later. "... real good." He leans a little into his father.

Sivaine purses her lips thoughtfully. Then snorts, and yes - that's a grin, there. "So your fever's down?" she asks, shifting the box a bit in her arms.

"Thanks!" Bradge's grin just grows wider, and... He waits for Sivaine to... move... Out of the way of the stairs.

Sivaine moves. She's not distracted or anything. She just smoothly sidesteps, leaving a path for Bradge to get through.

Ah. Bradge slips right by Sivaine and starts jogging up the stairs with the costume box, disappearing quickly in his rush to get back down and help with chairs.

Harper's eyes shift back up to Sivaine and - yes, that's a smile back. He nods. "I feel like've been trampled by a few thousand badgers, but. I feel kind of great, too." His smile widens. "The arts, they are healin'."

Tameus's gaze wanders back up to Harper's face. "... hi." He mumbles. Teary-eyed, still. Things are quieter now. "D' y' haft' go back upstairs?"

Mayeul will probably spend the entire night putting chairs back at the table, at the rate he is working. He's thinking more than he's doing, really, stopping occasionally to stare.

Caina steps into the Hall, the brow over her dead eye perking slightly at the crowd gathered there... For a moment, just a moment, she tries to remember just what it might have been she missed... Something important? Something she should have been there for? Ahwell... She recovers her composure, straightening up and making her way across the Hall to her usual chair, her typical limp a bit more pronounced thanks to the winter's chill.

"Few things could get me to imitate my uncle on such a grand scale again," Sivaine replies wryly, eyes half-lidding. "Consider yourself priveleged. And.. good." Her tone quiets; she looks up into the stairwell. "..good," she repeats.

Harper looks back down at Tameus. He smiles, though it's a trifle subdued, now. He nods. "I do have t'... but just so I c'n recover m'strength."

Bradge jogs right back down the stairs, and goes to grab some of the assorted chairs and carry them right back to the table, shoving them under neatly. Caina is given a bright smile, a nod in greeting going to the fellow orderbeast as he works away at getting all the chairs in order again.

Tameus gives a low noise of protest but it doesn't really form. He nods. "Bu' .. y'r gonn' be okay, righ'? Y'r gettin' better?"

Mayeul oohs and picks up his pace when he realizes he's holding up the otter, "Oh, uh, sorry... I don't know where my mind is at, heh..." He quickly gets the rest of them in their place and sighs, walking back to the stairs.

Caina smiles slightly at Bradge, returning the nodded greeting as she diverts her course to assist with the reshuffling of chairs and whatnot back to their proper places. "I see I missed out on all the fun. Must have fallen asleep and not realized it." She looks around... "It seems spirits are lifted. Always good..."

Bradge's industriousness is starting to bother Sivaine. "Well," she says to Harper again, "Good. Good. I'm.. glad you're feeling better, Harper." That, at least, is sincerely spoken. "I need to get upstairs." And she heads that way.

Harper glances back up to Sivaine, again. "And I do. Feel privileged. Thanks." He watches her go, and then shifts his attention back to Tameus. He nods. "I think so, Tammy. I can't promise I might not feel a little sick for a while, yet... but I think the worst is over."

Bradge's industriousness has never hurt a fly! He glances up at Caina, grabbing a couple more chairs and carrying them toward the table. "You missed a play. It was about some vermin' try'na take over Salamandastron, an' stuff," he explains, shoving chairs under the table.

Tameus smiles happily, nuzzling at his dad for a moment and crooning a noise of affection. "Let's get y' 'pstairs then," he mumbles. "'ll 'old y'r 'and on th' way up."

Caina ahs... "I'd heard about it, pity I missed it." She makes sure her chair at least stays beside the fire... "I might fetch myself some tea, the cold air most certainly warrants it." She tries to see who is shuffling towards the stairs, and who is remaining behind. "...should bring some for everyone while I'm at it..."

"Yer righ', it is a pity. I think you woulda liked it." Bradge smiles, walking back to grab two more chairs, carrying them back over. Grunt labor. "If'n you don't mind, I reckon I'd-" Cough! "Ahem! Scuse me, I'd like some." The word 'some' kind of changes pitches right in the middle of it. He clears his throat again, smiling at the Sister.

Caina nods at Bradge's request as she starts for the kitchens, pausing outside the door to look back at the Hall... "...enough for many," she mutters to herself, stepping into the kitchens.

Harper stands with the assistance of the Colonel's cane - and a paw on Tam's shoulder. "Sounds like a good idea t'me..." He sighs, too. Tired!

Bradge clears his throat gruffly again, placing a paw to his throat as he tries to work out whatever it is is wrong with his voice, all while trying to move more chairs from auditorium format to plain old Great Hall format. Can't wait for that tea. He gives a little sideways glance, though, once it seems the seriousness of the matter is worked out over by Harper and Tameus. "Glad you could make it, Brother 'arper!" he calls over to the hare with a high wave.

Tameus reaches up, hand on top of Harper's, letting some of the adult's weight rest of him. He takes a step up when his dad is ready, ascending the stairs very carefully. "Y' know gran'da' taugh' me some boxin' t'day," he says.

Caina makes her way back out of the kitchens with a tray laden with mugs, a kettle of freshly boiled water, and an assortment of tea flavors for anyone to pick... let them sort what they'd like. She sets it down, taking a mug prepared already for herself that smells of chamomile, and sips at it lightly.

Harper glances back at Bradge. He calls back - though it's weak. "Great job, Bradge! You play a great damsel!" And then he ducks his head to Tam, again. "He did, did 'e?" And up they go.