05.03.09 - Offer Most Persuasive

Location: Halyard Tavern

Characters Involved: Brenden, Darcy, Taye, Darklett, Sidney, Audri, Soclose

Brenden pushes his way through the door to the tavern with a large sack over his shoulder. He's not wearing his uniform today even though he does have his sabers, instead it's just a pair of tan pants and a dark red shirt. He looks around for one doe in particular as he heads towards the bar.

Darcy isn't on duty at the bar - she hasn't been for the last two days. As Brenden enters the tavern she's just moving away from it, a drink in hand provided to her by the 'tender on duty. She heads for the office.

Brenden spots the doe moving away from the bar and gets a smile on his face as he heads towards her, "'Ey...Dahcy. 'Ow yah been?" He seems different, he actually seems happy and chipper.

Darcy pauses a few steps shy of the office, giving a glance off toward Brenden. Her ears angle back. The hand not holding her drink sports a bandage wrapped around the palm. "Bloody dreadful," is her slightly smirking response. "If you're here for a drink.. I'm not on duty."

Brenden glances down at her paw and gets a frown, "What 'appened tah yah? Are yah alright?" He sets the sack down and goes to reach for her bandaged paw forgetting about why he really came for the moment, but he stops himself, "May I?"

Darcy draws her hand away with a slight scowl at him. "I'm a healer, Keita's a healer, I /really/ don't need your help figuring out that I was bit by a spider."

Brenden just gives her a look, but he shakes his head, "I didn' mean any offense. I like tah see tha work of othah's." He remembers the sack and reaches over to pick it back up, starting to get his smile back, "Anyways, I came tah ask yah if yah'd like tah go for a walk on tha beach 'n 'ave a picnic...but, if yah not feelin well still, I still 'ave some good food from tha mountain..."

Darcy cocks up a brow, looking skeptical. "Don't you think it's getting a bit late for a picnic? Or is this going to be one of those 'watch the sunset' things?"

Brenden shrugs, "I don't see it as bein too late. But I 'aven't eaten yet and I figured it was too early fah suppah and maybe yah'd like it."

Darcy's ears flicker back. "You do realize where I live, right? It's this thing called a tavern..."

Brenden nods, "Yeah..." But, he wasn't going to let her deter him, "I just thought yah might like some food from tha mountain since yah come tah visit theah so much. And I'd like tah 'ave suppah with yah."

Darcy looks a little perplexed. "You think I take a two-hour walk every day for.. the food?"

Brenden shakes his head, "No, not at all." She really was making this difficult. "I wanted tah 'ave suppah with yah Dahcy."

At least she's not throwing a drink at him. Darcy lets out a slow exhale. Ergh. ".. sure. What the hell."

And his smile from earlier is back. "Do yah want tah sit out heah 'n eat?"

Darcy glances around. Nnh where is Keita. "Sure," she answers distractedly. "Sure, fine, whatever." Don't mind her, it's spider-induced grump.

Wandering in from the street is a rather annoyed squirrel. "'m gonna punch those two when I find them." Audri surveys the seemingly empty tavern which only worsens her mood as she limps towards a table in the back, muttering under her breath.

Brenden nods and takes a step back towards the tables and motions towards one of the booths with his head, "Wanna sit ovah theah then?" He wasn't going to let her grumpiness get to him, he'd just have to try harder to cheer her up.

Darcy takes a step in that direction buuut Audri comes in. Distraction! She lifts her brows toward the squirrel. "Who and why?"

Speaking 'those two', one of the likely subjects wanders down the stairs at that very moment! Or. Limps, anyway. He's wincing, too, one paw on the wall as he comes down to the main floor of the tavern.

Audri blinks, gaze shifting to Darce. "Sid, for one 'n one of the dock hands. 'n because Sid is a bloody git 'n the other just..." She trails off, flopping into her seat. "Can I have somethin' to drink? Besides cider?" Ooh, and there's a limping Taye. :\

... Who promptly tries to /stop/ limping as soon as he sees Audri. He paints on a grin. "Hey, Aud!" he greets.

Brenden glances over at the squirrel and tilts his head. He sets the sack of food down on the table and turns one ear to them as he takes out what he brought. When another is heard coming down the stairs he glances over and frowns at the limp, "LT?"

How is it Darcy has been here weeks and not seen Taye? Like, at all. Her muzzle breaks into a bright grin. "Taye! /Hey/!" she greets the Lieutenant, then gives Audri a glance. "Heh, I'm not on duty, but - what do you feel like?"

"I saw you limpin'." Aud comments, scooting over to make room for Taye while trying to hide her swollen ankle. Darce catches her attention again and so begins the lip chewing. "Umm...a brew? Maybe."

What? What limp? Taye snorts, heading over to Audri and sliding in beside her. He nods to Brenden. "'Ey, mate. How's it goin'?" And to Darcy! He grins. "/Hey/. See ya find yer buck, here." Aha. Heh. Heeeeh.

Darcy's ears drop back. Grr, Taye. "... /not/ my buck. Seriously." Grr. She gives Audri a nod. "I'll sort you out a house brew.. Want a drink, Taylor?" Haha.

Brenden follows Taye's look to Darcy and his comment to her, then he shakes his head to him and shrugs, "Eh. Can't complain I suppose sah." He sits down in the booth he was at with the sack of food. He stopped pulling what he brought out of it, so much for the dinner with her.

Audri hehs, punching Taye on the arm. "Pushed it too much didn't ya?" She mumbles, glancing in the doe's direction. "Thanks Darce."

"Oh, Aud. Stop bein' such a worriah. M'fine," Taye chuckles. And he holds up his paws in apology to Darce. "'Ey. Sorry. THat's what I get for assumin'."

Darcy gives Taye a smirking expression as she heads behind the bar. "As a matter of fact you were a recruit along with my buck, I'm pretty sure... not bossing him around." Was that a jab at Brenden? Maaaybe. She pours out a tankard for Audri and carries it over.

Why was this a good idea in the first place? Brenden wasn't sure. So for now he'd just sit in his booth and listen since he didn't have anything to say.

That gets Taye another punch for his arm. "'m not a worrier." Aud shakes her head, arms folding over her chest. "I don't need you havin' a bum leg cause o' that race."

"S'not a bum leg. The leg's just /fine/, see?" And he stands, hopping up and down in place. "S'fine." Psht! And Taye glances Darcy's way. "Oh yeah? Who?"

"Harper," is Darcy's response. Her brow furrows a little and her hand presses to the top of her belly. Ouch.

Brenden looks over at Taye when that name is mentioned, but then he starts to repack the sack of food he brought. Probably end up giving this to one of the homeless around.

Audri doesn't seem convinced, head tilting slightly. "If its not a bum leg, then walk. To the door 'n back." Ha! And with that, she takes a sip from her tankard.

"Oh yeah? No kiddin'? Harper?" Taye glances at Brenden, then. Little sympathetic glance. Sorry, mate. Aaaand Audri. He squints at her. "/Fine/. I /will/." And he starts towards the door, doing a fair job of not favoring his 'bum leg'.

"Mm-hm." Darcy gives Taye an appraising look as he heads toward the door and back. Healer's eyes. "Good to see you, Taye. I'd about forgotten what you look like," she says with a grin.

Audri draws a leg up underneath her as she sips her brew, keeping an eye on Taye and his walk. Hrm. "Maybe its not.." She quietly concedes, frowning.

Brenden also looks over at Taye, watching how he walked. He'd not say anything right now, but he would have to ask the LT about it later on.

What a talented buck! Taye turns back around and starts the way back. Smile plastered on his face! "See? Told you."

"Hm," is Darcy's comment.

"Yea, yea. Stop your gloatin'." Audri grumbles, setting her tankard down. Interesting stuff this brew.

Brenden didn't think that he'd have dinner with Darcy now. He turns his gaze to the door for a moment before he looks back at Taye.

Darcy leans into a chair a little, giving a slight 'nn' of discomfort and glancing Brenden's way. Heh. "Hey, you want a drink?"

Taye makes it aaaaall the way back to his seat without limping! It's a feat! "I'd like somethin' t'drink," Taye pipes up.

Darcy gives Taye a pretty smirk. "I already offered. It's expired, now you have to go /limp/ and get it yourself."

Brenden blinks when Darcy asks him something and he looks over at her. That was unexpected to be honest. He considers for a moment before he nods, "Yeah...please. Whiskey..."

Audri is keeping quiet now, focusing on her tankard. Until Darcy's comment which gets a chuckle.

How did he miss a /drink/ offer? Taye mutters under his breath and hauls himself up again, heading for the bar. Nngh. "Sure, hassle a poor buck," he mutters.

Brenden also gets up and walks towards the bar to make it easier on Darcy since he knew she wasn't feeling very good.

Darcy stays where she is until the pain passes, then heads toward the bar, going behind it. She makes a gesture at Taye. "Hey, no, it's fine, I've got it. You go kick back." Brenden gets a glance, and no such comment.

And suddenly Aud's all alone in the back. Greeat.

It was almost like she was saying things just to be jabs at him and Brenden had no idea why. So he continues up to the bar with her.

Oh. Okay! Taye stops, glances back. Turns! "Yay?" he grins to Audri. Heads back over to her. He is /almost/ limping.

Darcy sorts out a drink for Taye, and a drink for Brenden. Meanwhile this isn't her shift and she hasn't started on her own. Brenden's is passed to him and she goes to deliver Taye's, then sinks into a chair at that table. "Uhg. So hey, Taye - how've things been?"

Brenden mutters, "Thank you," to her before she walks away. He turns to look at her back for a moment before he takes a few coins out of a pocket to put on the bar. He sits down at the bar and takes a /long/ drink of the whiskey.

Audri isn't paying attention anymore as she's studying her ankle, giving it little pokes and jabs. Taye does get a tiny smile, looking back to Darce. "I think she still wants to visit with ya."

No Brenden? Taye quirks a brow as he seats himself, watching his private seat himself at the bar. Huh. Distraction! He glances at Audri at her words, though, and then to Darcy. "Things? Oh. Good. Y'know. Same old!"

"So getting hurt," Darcy says with a smirk. She leans back, sips her drink. "Yeah, I got a bloody spider bite the other day. I'm /still/ feeling it."

Brenden takes another long drink of the whiskey, trying to figure something out.

"No kiddin'? I hate spidahs. Nasty little buggahs," Taye says with a shake of his head. Sipping his drink.

Audri has finished her drink off, eyeing the door while the two converse. Chewing her lip, she glances to Taye than back again. "I'm..gonna get some fresh air. Leave ya two to catch up." She gives his cheek a quick kiss, before sliding out of her chair to walk somewhat slowly to the door.

"Stupid git took up residence in my bag. Don't /ask/ me how it got in there," Darcy says, shaking her head a little. Her ears angle up. "Alright, Aud."

Brenden glances over to Audri and gives a small wave, "'Ave a good night." Then he focuses on his drink, waving to the bartender on duty for another. Liquid comfort.

Taye's eyebrows go up. He glances after Aud, quirking a brow. Huh. "Night, Aud!" he calls. And... back to Darcy. "Well, keep yer bag away from me, then."

Audri smiles, waving to the trio. "Night.." Is mumbled as she slips out into the street.

"Don't worry, Keita beat it to a pulp," Darcy answers with a shrug. After Audri's gone she gives Taye a smirk. "So what happened to your leg this time?"

Taye snorts. "... Same damn thing," he mutters. "Just aggravated it a little bit, s'all." He shrugs.

Soclose walks through the tavern door as a patron steps outside, his feet tap-tap-tapping on the floor. The osprey moves to a table somewhat away from the torch stands and kicks away the waiting chair, sliding into the space left behind.

"The healer in me is wanting to take a look," Darcy says with a grin. "The 'tender in me suggests lots of booze. Great remedy. Take your pick?" And... osprey? She blinks, looking up. What.

Taye's ears twitch. "... Booze. What're you...?" And the buck glances around. And... osprey. His shoulders jerk in surprise.

Darcy just.. stares. She says sidelong to Taye, "Wasn't it a.. osprey? That chucked Dark?" She tilts her head, examining the bird, then the door. Huh.

"... Yep," Taye confirms. And takes a long drink, finishing off his current one.

Brenden was too busy to notice the osprey at first, but when he turns around to say something to Taye and Darcy he notices the bird. His eyes get wide and he blinks a few times before he looks back at the bartender with a slightly nervous sounding chuckle, "Wha' 'ave yah been puttin in mah whiskey?"

Darcy lifts her drink, finally, to take a few swallows as well. Big bird. Her ears quirk. "Hey," she aims at Soclose carefully.

Soclose appears to be an elephant in the room, yes. "Ha-hum!" he mutters, hunching over and studying the ceiling with glossy eyes, then the patrons, "Eve-ning, eve-ning, yes. I am here, not to steal the silverware, but to eat. Is this not what we do here?"

Taye doesn't say anything. His head turns from the bird, to Darcy. It's like tennis.

"If you can pay," Darcy points out. "Ah.. I have a question." She gets up, out of her seat, and approaches the bird a few steps.

Brenden turns back around and watches the scene.

Taye quirks a brow. "Uh, Darcy...?" Tentative call.

Soclose's eyes transfix upon the hare, "Pay? Has I not been given my reward? Everyone here has questions!" He quiets down and croons, "As long as you do not ask why... and whereabout...well, maybe I can answer."

Darcy tilts her head a little. Taye gives a glance but she continues forward, to stand on the other side of Soclose's table, facing him. "How long would it take you to fly from here to Redwall?"

Brenden keeps quiet and watches the two closely. He glances at the LT for a moment then back to the pair, making sure to keep his paws away from his blades for now.

Soclose's eyes go half lidded as he tilts his head and considers, "Redwall? What would convince me to fly to Redwall?" He blinks and remarks, "Might make me late for dinner."

Taye jut subsides, watching and listening to the pair. No blades here!

Darcy lifts her brows. "I might be able to... depending on what your answer is. How long?" Her fingers lace behind her back casually.

Brenden looks back at Taye with a 'this is interesting' look, but only listens now.

Taye returns the look with a shrug and a nod. Yep!

Soclose responds, "A matter of some hours, with the right wind." Socose croons thoughtfully, and rasps, "You would have me take a paper, no doubt." His muttering becomes crass, "Have I not already gotten my reward? I should should have stipulated no whys, no whens, and wherefores, but I did not."

Darcy shakes her head. "No... I'd like you to take me. If you can carry me..?" Her expression is smiling, hopeful.

And Brenden droops visibly. But he tries to recover and hoped that it wasn't noticed. Darcy and the osprey probably didn't, so no worries there.

Soclose looks Darcy down and up, "You, and all your things?" He ruffles his feathers and preens them down, "I have seen bigger fish, but you are no fish!"

Darcy shakes her head. "Just me. As is. I'd need you to fly me there... and maybe back tomorrow?" Her lips purse a little. "I'd make it worth your while... And there's good fishing in Redwall's pond."

Taye does! He quirks a brow at Brenden's reaction. And then turns to Darcy. "... Maybe you oughtn't, um. Do tha'."

Brenden lets out a small sigh and nods in agreement, "I don' think it's a good idea eithah..." Just remember Darklett!

Soclose's talons scrabble upon the tavern floor and he mutters, "Open your eyes, or kick me you would and that would be a cruel trick for us both." He croons in a sing song tone, "Perhaps you could fit yourself in a sack? I could carry a sack quite some distance."

Darcy gives a glance back to the two bucks, but ignores their cautions. "I'd.. prefer to, you know. Sit on you? But I'm sure I could find a sack big enough."

Taye shakes his head. Meh. This is /not/ a good idea. "She's gonna get 'erself killed," he mutters.

Brenden hates to bring it up, but he does, "Remembah tha majah..."

Soclose's eyes open wide, "Sit on me?" he says incredulously, "no--why would I allow such a silly thing?" He glances about at the rest of the patrons and back to Darcy, "Another bird would pinch you off right quick! Eh, lets talk about something more reasonable, like my reason to go on this trip in the first place?"

Darcy's ears twitch at Taye and Brenden, but - they're ignored. "Because.. it'll be good exercise for you," she reasons. "And when you bring me there, and when you bring me back, I'll get you the most massive delicious meal you've ever had. Like a really.. /big/.. fish pie?"

Brenden frowns at her. He doubted she would listen to what he had to say no matter what it was.

Taye just. Drinks. That seems like the smart thing to do. "... Does. Crazy. All of 'em." Headshake.

Soclose's eyes blink, "Ah-hmm? Fish pie sounds fancy." He croons, "Your offer is most persuasive to my stomach, I will wait for you to get your sack."

Darcy's muzzle spreads into a wide grin. "I'll be /right/.. back." She turns, giving Taye and then Brenden a smirk - and heads up the stairs.

Brenden steps closer to the osprey and lets out a sigh, "Listen...yah get 'er theah 'n back safe...I'll give yah whatevah yah want on top 'o what she gives yah..."

Soclose glances at the stairs, "What could be up there?" His eyes droop suspiciously, for a moment and then he looks back to see another one of the hares has approached, "I anticipate--not a problem, no concern!" Snapping his beak once he continues, "I could tell you stories of how long we osprey have carried our meals across the wide waters, perhaps perhaps you could tell me what her reasons are, and we will see who is telling the truth?"

Darcy heads back down the steps with a cloth sack draped over one shoulder - large enough to hold her. She's petite, anyway. "Uhh. Taye! Can you tell Keita where I've gone and I'll be back soon?"

Taye perks up. He's been too busy staring at the osprey to pay much attention to anything else. He glances around. "... Hm? Uh. Yeah. Sure. I c'n do tha'. If she hits me, though, I'm comin' for you."

Brenden takes a step back, one of his paws going into a fist when the osprey snaps his beak. But he gathers himself back up and nods, "It still stands. Just do that fah me please?" He looks back to Darcy and steps back. He gets a concerned look on his face, "Please be cahful...."

Darcy gives Brenden a smirking glance. "Don't /worry/, it's not like I'm going off to war. Just... flying!" She grins. "I'll be back before you know it."

Soclose says to himself in a sing-song tune, "Crafty I am...am I re-ally?" He looks up as Darcy comes down the stairs again. "Yes, that should be nice," he notes, seeing the large sack.

Taye lowers his head into his paws and shakes it. Ugh. "Yeah. So an osprey just dropped Dark from a /little/ distance... but it's a good idea t'let one carry you. Righ'." Mutter.

Darcy gives Taye a look. "And he is /still/ /alive/ too. Ah.. hm. Yeah, tell Zoe too, just so she doesn't expect me around." And a gesture is made at the door as she addresses Soclose, "Ready?"

Taye glances up, waving a paw vaguely at Darcy. "Yeah. Yeah. I'll tell everyone. They'll want t'plan yer funeral, m'sure."

Brenden frowns and shakes his head, "Just be cahful please Dahcy..."

Soclose sidles out from behind the table, and shuffles towards the door. "Oh, the sooner done, the sooner dinner." He glances outside, "The winds are flowing off the land now, so our flight will be well."

Darcy rolls her eyes, and takes a few steps over toward Taye. She gives him a quick kiss on the corner of the mouth. "You are just /so/ sweet," she teases, and heads out the door. There's definitely a spring to her step!

Taye's eyebrows shoot open. Huh. A kiss? For him? His eyes shift briefly to Brenden and... he shrugs! Heh? Heh. Heh. "Sorry... 'bout Darcy dyin' 'n' all, Bren." He cracks a smile.

Brenden frowns at Darcy, then gets a down look about him as he turns to head towards the bar where the whiskey was.

Well, Taye's attempt at humor fell flat! He... shrugs. Stands up and limps over to one of the high windows, glancing out. Seeing if he can see Darcy and the bird, yet.

Brenden takes the final drink from his whiskey and motions for another. "She still safe sah?" he asks the LT.

Taye shakes his head. "... Can't see 'er, mate. Sure she is, though." Sure he is. He turns, limping back over to the bar. He sits beside Brenden. "I take it things didn't go so well, eh?"

Sidney pushes the door open and steps into the tavern, shaking his head. "I just saw the oddest thing..."

Brenden shakes his head and takes another long drink of the whiskey, "Terribly would be moah like it sah." He gets his drink and takes a long pull from it and turns to give Taye a fake smile before he turns to Sidney, "Dahcy gettin carried off by an osprey in a sack?"

Sidney tilts his head a little, considering Brenden. He smirks. ".. I was going to say, an osprey eating something out of a sack. Was that Darcy?"

Taye shakes his head slightly, at Sidney. Don't joke with him! Warning looks. They are passed. In the form of a small shake of his head. Nono, Sid. Don't. Live to see another day.

Brenden narrows his eyes at Sid for a moment before shaking his head, his look softening, "Not funneh Sid." Then he takes a long drink from the whiskey and chuckles to himself.

Sidney gives Brenden a curious glance, hands held out a little in a non-threatening gesture. "Hey, man, she's fine. No eating, not that I saw anyway."

Taye shakes his head, lowering his muzzle to his drink. "Heh," he mutters. "... So, um. Bren! I beat Sid's arse in a race the othah day." Conversational!

Brenden looks over at Taye, then to Sidney with a slight grin, "Oh yeah? That 'ow yah got 'at limp sah?" Why wasn't he fighting mad with Sid?

Taye's eyes jerk Bren's way. Shupt! He gives the slightest shake of his head. "What limp?" Psht! No limp here!

Sidney rights the toppled chair that was knocked over by the osprey, carries this over, and sits in it, backward, at Taye's table. His hand sneaks out to catch Taye's drink and pull it toward him. "Taye? Limping?" He looks disapproving.

"Bren's beside 'imself with grief. Ignore him," Taye promptly answers.

Brenden laughs and reaches over to punch his LT in the arm, but, because he's half drunk his hit slides off his arm to the side.

Sidney aims a smirk in Brenden's direction and shakes his head. Odd. "You know I challenged Darklett to a boxing spar too," the private comments.

Which makes it less a punch, more a knuckle rub. Odd! Taye smirks at Brenden, shaking his head. "Think /you've/ had enough." His ears perk. "Oh yeah? How'd that go?"

Brenden shakes his head as he rights himself in his seat, "'Fraid not sah. Still a lot moah whiskey in this bah." He gets a slight smirk as he takes another drink and looks at Sid, "Bet that was fun. How'd yah do?"

"He kicked my arse," is Sid's grinning reply, shaking his head a little. He leans a little toward Taye while touching his muzzle, showing the newly split lip. "And that's /with/ going easy on me. I did manage to topple him though! ... once."

Taye smirks, admiring the 'war wound'. "Yeah, m'surprised he didn't black both yer eyes, too. I woulda."

Sidney gives Taye a broad grin. "Oh yeah, you want to have a go too? Sure you won't hurt yourself, old man?"

Brenden chuckles, "I'd like tah see that."

Taye rolls his eyes ceilingward. "Already beat you /once/ this week. You wanna try for a second?"

Sidney shrugs, leaning back with Taye's drink still in his hand. "It was luck, Taye. I mean how else could a cripple like you win a race?" The delivery comes with a wide grin. Joking!

Brenden laughs along, his sorrows all but forgotten.

Brenden adds, "I don' think yah could beat 'im sah."

Oh. OH, these two. Taye's teeth grit. He looks from one to the other. "Yeah, you just watch it, Bren, or I'll have t'teach /you/ a thing or two, too." He shoves at the drunk buck's arm.

Sidney snickers, and shakes his head, taking a swig of the drink and lowering it a little. "Easy, Taye, no need to get your bloomers in a bundle..."

Brenden laughs again, "Any time yah ready sah, any time." He's clearly a little more than tipsy at this point.

Grr, argh. Taye looks between the pair, eyes half-narrowed. Tsk, insubordination. "... Yeah, yeah."

Sidney finishes his drink. Which was once Taye's drink. Actually he leaves a little at the bottom and pushes the tankard back toward Taye. "So how about it, Lt.?"

Brenden grins at the older buck, "I don' think 'e's got it in 'im Sid."

Taye grabs the drink. He's not too proud! He drinks it. Sets it down, pushes it away. "... You want it, you c'n have it t'morrow."

Sidney gives a slight exhale. "I see how it is. Past your bedtime?"

Brenden chuckles again and pokes at Taye, "Yah do get tired eahly when yah get old. That what it is sah?"

Oh, they are just annoying. This is what he gets, when he's nice. Bah! "You just keep talkin'," he mutters, hailing the bartend for another drink.

Sidney shakes his head, he knows when to lay off a little. He reaches to bat Brenden's hand away. No poking the Lt.! "Hey, that's enough of that," he sniggers.

Brenden claps Taye on the shoulder, "Oh calm down sah. We's jus' playin." Then he motions that he'd like another as well, though he probably didn't need it.

Grr, argh! He squints at them. Squintily! "Gits, both a you." But he seems to have subsided from being pissed, and is just waiting on his drink to ease things up the rest of the way. It arrives! He pays! He drinks!

Sidney doesn't steal the drink this time, but orders his own. "Hard cider."

Brenden smiles when /another/ whiskey is placed in front of him. Now that the playful banter has gone down a little, he starts to think about the recent past and his smile fades somewhat.

Taye has to work on forgetting being called old by bucks only a season or two his junior. So he doesn't say anything for the moment. He's got to put some of this alcohol back! When he's satisfied with the amount he's consumed, he sets it in front of him. Looks between the pair. "... Hm."

Darklett pokes his head in, ears flicking to and fro as he steps forward, in uniform and looking like he's wearing that uniform rather proudly, yep. Oh wow, what a motley crew is here. He sneaks up behind Taye aaaaaaand... Grabs the back of his chair and starts tilting it backwards.

Which is perfect, because Taye /just/ put his mug down. He makes a sound like a squawking chicken and grabs for the table, eyes widening. "What the!" He looks around and - "Dark! You jerk." He grins. "How's it goin', Majah? Sit 'n' have a drink!"

"You got it, Lieutenant!" The major slides into a chair next to Taye. They haven't had a chance to buddy-buddy up yet! So here it is. "Hey, gimme an ale!" he shouts to the nearest tender.

Taye gestures to Sidney. "Sid was just tellin' us how ya wiped the floor with 'im." The Lt. grins.

"Ohh. Oh yeah." Darklett chuckles, glancing over at Sid with a roll of his eyes. "It took until I'd knocked him down twice for me to learn that while /I/ was having a friendly spar, /he/ was trying to knock me out."

Taye snorts. "Yeah, well, he's kinda thick like tha'." Headshake. "He's been tryin' t'get me t'have a go with him, too. He likes pain."

"He's feisty. Gotta give him that." Darklett grins. "Not much technique or quickness, but..." He chuckles, brows raising towards the private. "Feisty!"

Sidney sips his newly arrived drink, then gives a grin toward the Major. "/Obviously/ I like pain. Haha, no, me and Taye raced and he just got /lucky/ and beat me. You, on the other hand.. I will happily name you the victor. My lip's still swollen, you arse."

"Yeah, well, he's somethin'," Taye snorts. He plucks up his drink for another sippy-sip. "So you just get done visitin' with yer family or sommat, Dark?"

"No, no, I did that first thing." Darklett gets his drink and downs a good amount of it. Catch up! "Just stopped by once I got off duty 'cause I heard you were here." Buddy-buddy! "Speaking of you and Sidney racing, though... How'd your leg fare? Running full speed again?" Hope!

Taye takes advantage of his mug to take a few seconds. Then he's nodding. "Oh yeah, I def'nitely ran full speed. Beat 'im, didn't I?" Psht.

Sidney snorts. "You got /lucky/. Anyway I heard something about a limp earlier..."

Brenden has more or less tuned everyone else out while he was lost in his thoughts. The drunk buck looks over at Taye to say something, then he sees the major. He gets a smile on his face, but doesn't interrupt their conversation more than to just say, "'Ello majah."

"How do you get lucky in a race?" Darklett wonders, smirking a little. However, limp? Nn. "What about a limp?" The major eartilts towards his lieutenant before glancing towards Brenden. "Evening, Brenden. Enjoying yourself?"

Taye shakes his head. "Nothin', Dark. I tripped ovah a chair 'n' everyone's goin' on about me limpin'. Guess they're just too used t'seein' me with a limp, heh." The buck shrugs. Then nods to Bren, in indication. "I think we need t'find him a new doe, Dark. He's all depressed 'n' whatnot."

Brenden chuckles drunkenly and nods, "All things considahing sah...I'm drunk."

Sidney comments, "Bren here is drinking himself into a stupor because an osprey just took off with Darcy..."

"Aahh..." Darklett sips at his mug, offering to Brenden. "Well that's a good thing, friend. Can't go trying to get with does that aren't yours to take, don't ya know?"

Brenden shakes his head. There was more to it than that, he just didn't feel like going through it all right now, "More to it than that sah. But, Ah'm drunk 'n 'at's a convahsation fah when Ah'm not."

Taye just shakes his head, burying his muzzle in his mug again. Sad sap. He takes a drink, then clears his throat. "So! What d'ya think, Dark? Could I wipe the floor with Sid?"

Sidney snorts. "I know leverets who could wipe the floor with me..."

"I don't know, Taye. Can't remember how good you are in the ring..." The major grins, glancing over at Sidney. "You're too hard on yourself, Sid! I think you could surprise a few hares in there. You hit harder than you'd think just by looking at you, probably 'cause your arms are so long or something."

"My arms are long?" Sid shakes his head with an amused chuckle. "Should I be thanking you for that remark? Ah, Dark, you know I've been thinking about that talk we had?"

Taye's ears twitch. A talk they had? Taye is intrigued! "What talk?"

Darklett browraises. What talk- oh that one. "Yeah? You sticking around, then? I'll beat you up if you don't."

Brenden falls quiet again and just listens to them. He certainly wasn't a boxer and he knew nothing of talks.

Sidney gives a quiet heh. "I'm not sure. Trying to think up some way I could... go sailing. Without leaving the Patrol, you know?"

Aha. That talk. He doesn't interrupt!

Darklett nods. "...Well, you could /ask/ for leave, but you're not an officer." Darklett shrugs. "Besides, I don't know if--" He halts here, taking a drink... "I don't know if they'll even let you stick around in the Patrol. Don't want our hares leaving and coming back as they please, you know?"

Sidney's muzzle twitches. "That's my problem... so I have to choose."

Ah well. That was a brief drink with the Major! Taye watches him go, turning back to Sid. "So sailin', huh." That's deep, Taye.

Sidney quirks his brows, and gives a glance back in Taye's direction. "... still haven't shown you the ship," is his response.

Brenden speaks up slowly, "Ah don' like boats..."

"I don't care much for the last one I was on." Since his first jump onto that one wasn't so successful. "But in general I don't mind 'em. Aud's always liked sailin'," Taye says with a shrug.

Sidney shrugs, thumb brushing the edge of his mug. "I was born on a ship.. spent most of my life at sea before I wound up here. So I miss it, you know?"

Taye nods. "I c'n undahstand that."

Brenden continues to sip on his whiskey, listening to the two.

Sidney considers his mug with a bit of a frown. "So yeah.. I told Dark on the way back. It's tempting, is all."

Taye nods again. "Well, you know. Talk t'Dark when he's got a little more time on 'is paws. He's good fer ideas."

Sidney shrugs. "Maybe if I ever make Lieutenant.."

Taye quirks a brow. "Maybe what?"

Sidney quirks his brow in return. "I'll be an officer.. and I can take a leave sometime."

"Oh, yeah. Well, that's true," Taye nods. His wits are a little slowed by alcohol!

Sidney leans back a little, shutting his eyes. "But who knows if that'll happen anyway."

Brenden finishes his drink and pushes the cup away. He turns to the other two hares, "Yah know...I think I'm'a 'ead back tah tha mountain. No use....uh....yeah. I'm'a go back."

Taye glances at Brenden. Chuckles. "You might want t'sleep it off here, mate. Nevah hear the end of it if ya end up gettin' yerself offed by some vermin while you were drunk 'n' I let ya."

Sidney observes Brenden with a snort. "Keita makes most her money off Patrollers too drunk to go back, probably," he snickers. "Pay up and pass out, mate."

"Just about guarantee it, Sid. Why d'ya think she's got such late hours?" Taye smirks.

Sidney shrugs, cracking one eye open. "'cause she's her own employer? Doesn't have to get up early for duty of any kind?"

Brenden shrugs, "If yah say so." He reaches into a pocket and pulls out some coins to pay for his drinks and a room.

Taye snorts. "Okay, maybe tha', too," he concedes. And reaches over to pat Brenden on the back. "Good lad."

Brenden nods to Taye and asks in a hopeful manner, "Sah...would yah mind if Ah stick 'round 'eah tomorrah 'till Dahcy gets back?"

Taye nods and shrugs. "Yeah, sure. No problem fer me. Go ahead."

Brenden claps the Lt. on the shoulder, "Thank yah sah. Ah'm'a jus' go slep now," he says as he motions towards the stairs.

Sidney grunts. "... and I'm still sober enough to make the walk back. Dammit."

Taye glances Sidney's way, smirking. "I'll walk back with ya," he offers. And then rubs at his shoulder where it has been clapped, rising from his seat. "Night, Bren."

Brenden waves over his shoulder, "'Night.." And he goes upstairs.

Sidney finishes off his drink, and pushes up out of his seat. "Just you and me again, Taye..."

Taye chuckles. "... Yeah." He sighs, waving Sid on towards the door. "C'mon, ya blightah." And he heads on out.

Sidney shakes his head in a tired, bemused fashion as he follows.