06-26-06

Characters involved: Orcus, Daclon, Zeraph, Jonathon, Keita, Taeura, Vansinnig, Sanderson, & Akakios

Halyard Tavern: Main Room

Giggling like some crazy dibbun that found some candied chestnuts, Orcus steps into the tavern. He twitches a few times and grins beneath his foul helmet. The ermine stares at Jonathon, and his eyes narrow. He then looks over at the other woodlander and snorts in disgust.

Daclon lifts the flagon, sipping from it. The wine isn't bad at all, and while the ferret isn't a heavy drinker, he quickly finishes the flagon. Putting it down, he glances at the vixen. "-Ye- need to watch yor mouth now and then, vixen. Still, I'll see about sendin' out a few beasts for supplies."

Zeraph growls in response at the ermine, chained securely to the wall. The buck looks away, bored-like again and to not have to see the vermin anymore.

Jonathon growls again then curses at the leader

Exiting from the kitchen where she'd been working, Keita blinks in surprise at the fair-sized crowd. Hm.

"Make my day." Orcus grins at Zeraph. "Go for it." He chuckles like a mad fool and hobbles on over to where Daclon is and looks at the fox then at the ferret. "....I'll watch her trap..." He pulls out a odd looking dagger, curved slightly and embedded with strange runes. "...my lord I could use a few more skulls..."

Taeura smiles at Daclon, "It'll be apreciated. Need another draught from the keg? " she says grabbing the flagon.

Jonathon looks toward keita "need help ms keita"

Zeraph stands, watching the ermine talk about taking the vixen's..skull? The hare scowls and shakes his head, staying where he is only because of the length of the chains that hold him. The Long Patroler doesn't look happy.

Daclon scrapes his hook against the bar, leaving thin scratches along the wood. "Aye, one more." He turns to glance at the ermine besides him. Orcus is perhaps the only beast that makes Daclon slightly uneasy, but the fact that he is a seer probably helps out.

"When you pass into the darkness, I'll be sure to take your skull and paint it...as a honor." Orcus leans forwards, letting all others hear it as he stares at Daclon. He grins again and then chuckles once more. His eyes dart to Zeraph. "..I could make a belt from your ears.."

Taeura refills the flagon from the keg and deposits it down onto the bar. She glances at the ermine trying to to let him notice her watching. A smile is still somewhat on her face although with a good dose of apprehension about it.

Keita glances Jonathon's way and with a quirking brow, shakes her head. "No. Thanks." She then steps upside Taeura, her chains clinking together as she does so. Streeeetch. "'Llo. How's it goin' out here?"

Zeraph pins his ears back, though he smiles a little. Stays against the wall. He won't underestimate the vermin, especially if he is in chains and can't do much about it.

Orcus glances at Keita. "No..not fat enough.." He shrugs and sits down, rocking from one side to the next, the odd dagger still in his right paw.

Taeura relaxes some at the sound of Keita's voice. She doesn't look away from her patrons as she speaks. "Well, it's going right well as can be." she speaks.

Jonathon says, "kay"then looks at the hook and then the scrathch in the bar"

Orcus stands up and begin to walk towards Zeraph...

As Keita finishes stretching, she brings one paw down to rest on Tae's shoulder - trying to comfort, perhaps? "Well, that's well 'nough, then." She sends Orcus an odd glance at the comment. "Well... thanks. I think." Blinkity.

Zeraph backs further against the wall, trying to look friendly with the ermine. "Did you..need something?"

Daclon listens half-attentively to the seer, while listening to the hare and vixen talk as well. He has half a notion to burn the village, captives and all, and set out for somewhere else, but the thought of victory restrains him from doing so.

The ermine goes to sniff Zeraph's chest, moving to butt the badger skull helmet against him. He moves to stare right into Zeraph's eyes, the red orbs reflecting the light eerily from the room. "Are you afraid?"

Zeraph nods just slightly. "Well...yes.." His ears remain firmly against his skull, and he shrinks away slightly as the helmet bumps his chest and he is sniffed.

Taeura sighs a moment turning to keita, "I need to go take care of something in the back." She turns and heads for the kitchen.

Picking up a dish cloth as Taeura leaves and she steps up, Keita looks to Daclon expectantly. "Can I getcha anythin', or are ya good?"

CRACK! The ermine's blade slams right between Zeraph's legs right below..well something..important! It doesn't hit him at all as Orcus twists the dagger somewhat, not looking down at it. "You should be..." He cackles, yanks the blade from the wall and walks back towards Daclon.

Jonathon looks toward the two and Screams out stop that had to hurt

Daclon glances at Keita. "Wha.." Then he shakes his head, reaching for his forgotten flagon of wine. "Nah, I'm fine." The ferret seems to be thinking about something else, as he continues to scratch the bar with his hook.

Zeraph stares downward, eyes lareg, then watches the ermine move away. His breathing has definitely become more...erratic. That scared the heck out of the buck. He half nods, going to sit down again.

Keita eyes the scratching of the counter - not that it hasn't a fair few already. "Ahh... d'ya mind? 'Tis rathah hard t' clean the thing with all those scratches in it. An' I know ya like things nice 'n' clean." Nod.

"Everyone you love will die. One by done within my paws...and I'll make you watch...then take your life." Orcus grins, looking at Zeraph. "Don't you love how that works out so very well?" He winks at the buck and sits down near Daclon.

Orcus winks at Keita. "Dinner is what you will be."

Vansinnig grunts as he stumbles into the tavern, wiping at his brow. "Kieta? Oy, ge' me a drink."

Daclon takes a drink from the flagon, glancing absently at the hare. "I don' think it will be that hard ta clean. 'Sides, it's not like ye're goin' anywhere, so ye have plenty of time to clean."

Seeing the badger, Orcus growls slightly as he is wearing well..the skull of a badger. On his head. "Blood and flesh..." He looks at Daclon. "How did that lumbering...thing get in here?" He stands up, chair falling behind him. And yes, his dagger is still clutched in his crooked paw.

Vansinnig glances at Orcus...and grins. "Sit down ya moron."

Zeraph watches the ermine closely, eyes narrowed. Swallows and looks away from the vermin to the new arrival. His mind still lies on Orcus though. The young buck remains huddled against the wall, kness up.

"Shut it woody." Orcus snaps at Vansinnig.

Vansinnig growls suddenly, revealing his gums. "Call me woodie agin an' I'll tear yer tonge out an' feed it to ya."

Keita glances up as her name is called out, and she nods to the badger. Without responding to Daclon, she goes about getting Van a drink, which she then sets in front of him with a half-grin. "There ya g-" Pause. "... Oh." Interesting gums, Mr. Badger.

"That is what you bloody are..badger. Woody." Orcus spits on the ground, growling insanely. "You..are a fool...a fool..." He chuckles and laughs loudly, and tilts his head.

Daclon shakes his head, eyeing the two. "Calm down, both of ye. Orcus, don't insult the badger. He's not always in a great mood. Vansinnig, don't ye have enough sense to not pick a fight with a seer? Sit down both of ye, and get a drink."

"Your already dead...." Orcus stares at Daclon.

Vansinnig nods and grabs the drink, draining it. "Fine, fine. Did I miss the part where there morons bein' inducted into the ranks.

Zeraph watches the two that seem to possibly be about to go at it, ears still tilted back a little. Tugs at his neck chain again.

"You bloody let a /woody/ into the ranks? Then we surely all..will die..and a stupid looking badger to boot..." Orcus twitches, as he stares at Daclon. "..death will come..and I will not see it. He remains, I shall not."

Vansinnig growls and throws the glass against the wall, spilling alcohol everywhere. "Ya wanna die? Keep talkin'. Keep callin' me woodie...-Seer-."

Daclon stands, glaring at both of them. "Will both of ye stop fightin', or I'll sink my hook so far into yer guts it'll take a day to get it out, seer an' badger or not!" The first display of temper he's shown in awhile, that's for certain.

Jonathon says, "why will you kill are family"

"That is what you are, fool. A woody. Bloody accept it badger!" Orcus snaps at Van, grinning like a fool. The dagger gets well thrown..at Zeraph out of anger, towards his chest. "I am not afraid of death..."

Keita follows the direction of the glass with wide eyes, and blinks as it smashes into the wall. She then looks back to the three bickering vermin and... takes two simply huge steps back and away. Woo. "Now, now, all... let's not get in a..." Meep. Her eyes then follow the dagger, as it flies towards Zeraph.

Zeraph is caught in the shoulder by a dagger. Curses and holds the wound, eyes tightly shut. The buck growls unhappily, though it's a good thing he was sitting the way he was, or he'd be dead.

Vansinnig snorts. "Yer all a thinkin' a normal badgers." He pauses to watch the dagger. "Wot the bloody blue blazes 'r ya doin?"

"They are all normal....you are just another woody. Asking for death. Pathetic. You will never be vermin...not powerful like us..a boon. A thorn in this worlds side, is what you are. Badgers are normal...you cannot accept your pathetic fate." Orcus snarls.

Jonathon takes the cloth he riped off his shirt and looks at all the vermin then shots out "stop all or someone will be killed"

Keita winces visibly as the dagger goes into Zeraph's shoulder, and she jumps forward, only to reach the extent of her tether. She then looks to Orcus, accusingly. "/You/..." She then looks to Vansinnig, gesturing rather uselessly in Orcus' direction. "/Stop/ the idiot!"

Vansinnig suddenly grins. The ermine is apparently amusing him. He chuckles, rubbing his chin and licking his teeth. "Yer so full a yerself."

Daclon slams his hook against the flagon of wine, the hook banging through it and into the counter. With a wrench, he loosens it, storming from the inn.

Vansinnig barely hears Kieta's remark. He shrugs. "Why? A friend a yers?"

Yanking two more daggers from his belt, he throws one at Keita's head. "Pathetic..." He then goes to follow Daclon out, snarling.

Vansinnig flicks the chain off of his shoulder and strikes the dagger from the air. "Oy!!"

Zeraph stays leaned against the wall, huddled up and trying to be as small as possibly. Hate blazes in his eyes though they are not seen. The long patrol hare goes to pull the blade out of his shoulder.

Blinkity. Keita is flat on the ground before she notices Vans taken care of the dagger for her. "Bloody 'ell...!"

The ermine throws the other dagger at Zeraph's chest, mutters something and walks out.

Vansinnig snorts a bit. "Bloody tempers flare 'ere." He growls a bit before the third dagger shoots forth. He doesn't move, as the dagger is all ready out of reach, in all honesty.

Zeraph is caught in the leg this time, because his knees are up, and he is curled against the wall. Lets out a surprised gasp, then grits his teeth, going to pull that dagger out as well. Cusses some more, blood running down his arm and leg now.

Vansinnig sits at the bar. "Mmm, stupid ermines. Think they're so high an' mighty.Nother drink, Kieta."

Vansinnig isn't about to head after Orcus. Daclon's orders. But he is sorely tempted to get some blood on his paws right about now.

Jonathon looks toward the one bleedin and throws him the cloth he riped off his shirt

Standing up after she realizes that she's not dead, Keita stares in shock and surprise at Zeraph. It takes a moment for Vansinnig's question to register, and when it she does she merely glares and points at Zeraph. "Not until ya bring that hare ovah here so I c'n help him."

Zeraph is suddenly aware of a cloth dangling from the end of one of his long ears. Flicks it and it the piece of shirt falls to the floor. Looks in an extreme amount of pain as he decides to press it to his bleeding shoulder/upper arm.

Vansinnig rolls his eyes and moves towards the hare. "Bleedin' heart, Kieta, bleedin' heart." Grasping the chain, he takes out a key and fiddles with the lock. No luck. Grunting, he wrenches the chain out of the wall, muscles heaving. Picking the scruff of his neck and hoists him towards the bar as if he weighed nothing.

Zeraph is startled, very much so. The hare curls up like a young one being carried by it's mother as he is hauled towards Keita and the bar.

Jonathon says, "put himon the bar"

Vansinnig lets the hare fall onto the bar counter and steps back, not really caring. "I -know- what I'm doin', idiot,"he growls at Jon.

Jonathon growls back at him very loudly

Zeraph stares at the badger. He's much huger now that he is up close. He is unceremoniously dumped upon the counter.

Keita glances at Jonathon, but as Vansinnig does as suggested, there's no need to voice her agreement. Resting a paw briefly on Zeraph's good shoulder while she looks him over, she then ducks down to dig through a cabinet. When she comes back, she has what appear to be brand-new dish cloths. Oooh, pulling out the big guns for this, she is. She returns the paw to his shoulder, and offers him a reassuring grin. "What's yer name, lad?"

Vansinnig crosses his arms, staring at the blood dripping from Zer's wounds. He licks his teeth befor looking over to Kieta. "Yer too much of a softy, ya know that?" Leaning against the counter, he grunts. "D'ya have any idea a what yer doin'?"

Jonathon growls at the badger some more and puffs himself up widly and shows him a fist to bein angry now

Zeraph looks up at Keita. Well, she's a much better subject of attention than the badger I must say. The hare stares down at the wound on his shoulder, before her question seems to register. "Zeraph.." He looks angrily upset.

Vansinnig stares over to Jon. He points a claw. "Yer gonna shurrup an' yer gonna like it too." He furrows his brow. "Unless ya wanna die. I'll oblige ya."

Jonathon looks back at the hare "i do my sis's sis is a healer and she practiced on me

Jonathon says, "id rather die then to be with you and i meen that"

Zeraph clears his throat, giving Jonathon a glance, paw on his leg wound. "No you don't.."

Jonathon growls again at the badger then looks back at keita

Jonathon says, "how is that"

Vansinnig grins, taking off his chain and pulling a section taunt. "Allrighty then, let's get ta work." He moves towards Jon, grinning quite happily.

Zeraph stares.

Keita flicks an ear in Vansinnig's direction. "M'whole family's in healin'. I know a thing're two besides how t' serve you drinks." She says this while looking Zeraph over. Fortunately, the blades appear to have come out fairly clean. Unfortunately she doesn't exactly have anything to sew him up with. ;p Ah well. She sets the clean cloths on a portion of Zeraph's tunic that isn't blood-stained, and ducks down to search through a cabinet, again. She comes up with a bottle full of some clear liquid or other. Uncorking it, she spills a moderate amount over the shoulder wound. Setting the bottle down, she rips the sleeve of his tunic off at his shoulder. Then, softly, she speaks, placing a paw to Zeraph's chin and trying to direct his eyes away from the other two. "Don't."

Zeraph's attention is pulled away from the other two by Keita's actions. He stares back, then glances down at his ripped sleeve. The buck half laughs, still trying to find light in all situations. "Guess I'll be needing a new uniform now, eh?" His ears quiver though and his eyes have no happy glint, both of these things giving away his true emotions.

Keita grins in return, and nods. "Eh - yeah. But they've got plenty of 'em, yeah?" She takes one of the dish cloths, folds it twice 'til it's a smaller square, and takes his paw to place over it. "Hold."

Vansinnig grunts and wraps the chain around his torso once more before moving towards the bar. "A new uniform? Fer," he leans forward. "Fer -what-?"

Zeraph holds the cloth where he is told to. He nods a little. "Yeah...They do I'm sure...Or maybe we'll just mend this one." Half smiles, then suddenly Vansinnig catches his attention. The buck looks up at the badger, ears perking. "What do you mean?" He looks in pain, though he doesn't voice it.

Keita scowls at Vansinnig, "Leave the lad be, would ya?" She then kneels, proceeding to make a ruin of her pants, ripping them up to the lower thing in long strips. Woo. When four of these are completed, she stands and takes two and secures them in place over the cloth, though she gently removes his paw, first.

Vansinnig growls a bit at Kieta. "I'm tryin' ta get a bit a infermation, so keep yer mouth shut for now, eh?" He turns back to Zer. "'re ya wit' the mountain 'ares?"

Zeraph studies the badger closely for a moment, then nods, not sure why he doesn't recognize the uniform. "Yes.."

Vansinnig licks his theeth. He growls a bit. "'ow bout that drink, Kieta."

Keita sends a sharp glance across the bar at the badger, and mutely points at Zeraph's leg, which is still bleeding. "Have. bloody. patience." Snap. She moves down to the buck's leg, and pours the clear liquid over this section, as well. Moving quickly, she folds the remaining dish cloth and places it over the wound, and then secures this to his leg with the remaining two strips. Then, she returns to stand at Zeraph's shoulder, and holds the bottle to his lips. "Drink some. It'll help th'pain."

Zeraph pulls away slightly, taking in the smell of the liquid first before he drinks it as requested. His ears tilt back and he sighs. "..vermin..." The buck mutters between his teeth. Shakes his head. "I can't stand 'em..."

Keita pats the buck's good shoulder. "Most of 'em aren't s'bad, honestly. 'Tis just hard t' be s'damned ugly, ya know?" She grins, gives the shoulder a squeeze, and then steps back. "Ya could prob'ly sit up, if yer careful of the shouldah. No standin', though. You'll start bleedin' like a stuck pig."

Zeraph sits up slowly on the bar, sighing a little and looking around the tavern. His ears perk as he realizes something. He's free of the chains. Looks at Keita with raised eyebrows.

What he's thinking couldn't be clearer if he shouted it for all to hear. To clear him of thoughts of gallivanting off, she pokes at his leg near but not directly on his wound. "Stuck. Pig."

Zeraph looks down at the wound, brow furrowing. "Yes, but..Isn't it worth it to get help..." He murmurs to the doe, ears standing straight up and moving about, listening for anything.

Keita rolls her eyes. "Th'only help ya'd be is one less mouth fer them t' feed aftah they were done killin' ya. The village is swarmin' with 'em. If ya lot weren't able t' take 'em out yestahday, then ya certainly can't on yer own."

Zeraph sighs and looks off. "Well..stealth is very useful..." Then the young buck shakes his head. "But nevermind I guess..." He seems a little happier now that he is out of his chains, though he still looks disheartened and like he feels helpless.

"Well, once yer not bleedin' outta two places in yer body, mayhaps then ya c'n try at the whole stealth bit, mm?" Keita smirks, amused as ever by the Long Patrol mindset.

Zeraph nods a little. "Yes..Sounds good.." Looks down at his punctured leg, which has been bound. He remains seated on the bar, not sure how he is going to get back to the wall /without/ standing at least once. The whole stuck pig scenario doesn't seem all that pleasant right now..

Keita is considering the problem of what to do with Zeraph, too. Hm. "Well, looks like yer goin' t' be helpin' out behind the bar from now on." Grin.

The door is opened with a kick, its perpetrator's - and those of its double - hands full restraining a tall, irritated-looking hare. "Ow," he complains, upon being tossed to the floor. "Look here, there was no need for that." He is answered with a swift boot to the ribs. His assailant - a ferret - looks up to see Zeraph behind the bar. "Oi, whatchoo doin' there?" he asks, surlily, the wheezing Sanderson forgotten.

Zeraph perks his ears up at the ferret. "Oh...tending?"

Keita peers over Zeraph's shoulder and towards the ferret. Then she glances back at the hare as he responds. Blinky. "Uh... righ'."

The ferret frowns suspiciously. "Well, 's long as yer there, get me a beer." His companion clears his throat. "An' one fer 'im," the first amends. Sanderson meanwhile, is loping - on all fours for the sake of inconspicuousness - towards Keita, trying to control his breathing. "Afternoon... ma'am..." he gasps. "Corporal... Sanderson... ma'am." He performs a feeble salute.

Zeraph looks over the bar at the other buck, ears flickering, then he looks at the door behind him, then at the bottles below the counter. "Oh..yes..beer...right.." Lightly taps Keita's leg with his footpaw...

Keita is in the process of peering at the crawling buck when her leg is tapped, and her attention brought back to the two vermin and their requests. She ducks down, grabs a couple of bottles as well as two glasses, and sets them within reach of Zeraph. Heh. XD

Zeraph smiles at the beer that is set within his reach. "Coming right up.." He leans down and puts them up on the bar, pouring the alcohol into the glasses and scooting them forward so the vermin may reach them. "Will that be all?" Smile. Act casual.

Sanderson collapses onto his backside, gulping breaths. "Whew... Gor blimey," he mutters to himself. He peers behind the bar at the little double act going on, guessing it's probably not totally legitimate and so tactfully keeping his trap shut. The two ferrets reach for and slug at their beers, flicking untrusting eyes back at Zeraph. "'Oo said you were t'go be'ind bar then?" demands one, feeling that to let the matter lie might result in a beating from a superior.

Keita speaks up on this one. "Well, 'twas yer /boss/ who put 'im back 'ere... said I wasn't doin' a good 'nough job keepin' the place tidy. But if the two o' you think 'e wouldn't be mad, yer welcome t' take 'im an' put 'im back where 'e was. 'Tis rathah crowded back here 'n' all."

Zeraph looks towards Keita, then up at the two vermin, nodding a little. "Of course.." He looks down at the bandaged shoulder wound for a moment. Acts all calm, like he does this all the time. "I seem to come out of that pretty good considering." Laughs a little.

Ferret #1 twists his mouth in indecision. "Jus' leave it," mutters Ferret #2, "you know what 'e's like." Ferret #1 drains his beer decisively and slams it back on the bartop. "Right you are," he says to #2 in an undertone. "Right, er... carry on." With that the two stomp off, obviously securing the door behind them.

Zeraph watches the two ferrets leave. "Lovely couple, weren't they?" Fakely sweet.

Keita watches them leave, and only after the door is secured does she exhale. Woo. And then, the crawling hare is remembered, and the doe looks 'round 'til he's spotted. Brow-quirk. "Why hullo there."

Zeraph notes the other hare as well, nodding to him. "Yes..good day..." He keeps the smile on his face, one paw over his bandaged wound.

Sanderson looks back at the doe from following the two's exit. "Hullo," he returns. "Bit of a fix we're in, this." He begins to get to his feet, looming scarecrow-like over the other two and sticks a hand out to whoever might feel like taking it. "How do you do? Yes, a bloody tight spot. Any bright ideas?"

Keita quirks a brow at the paw, and turns her incredulous look to Zeraph, to see what he's making of the other buck. "We-ell... I /was/ plannin' on wipin' down the bar, first, but mayhaps I could clean some o' the mugs, first." Yes. She's being sarcastic.

Zeraph goes to take the paw since Keita isn't going to. He just shrugs at little at the doe. "I do just fine..considering.." Then he looks up at the ceiling. "Perhaps we can bore a hole through the roof..." He murmurs.

Sanderson looks over at Keita in surprise, before joining the discussion with Zeraph. "Hrm, perhaps..." He clambers up onto the bar, after a preemptive coast-is-clear confirmation, and peers up at the ceiling, his height enabling him to prod at it critically. "Hrm... what's above this room?" he asks.

Zeraph shrugs. "I don't think there /is/ anything above this room.." He looks down as the ceiling is prodded and kind of flakes. Shakes his head off, then looks over to Keita.

"My. Bedroom." This is muttered through gritted teeth.

Sanderson pulls a "whoops" face. "I'm terribly sorry, ma'am. We meant no effrontery, did we... er...?" he looks down at Zeraph, at a loss. "Look here ol' chap, what's your name? I'm Sanderson, if I haven't said it already."

Zeraph nods to Sanderson. "It's Zeraph.." He smiles at the bar-standing hare, shaking his head. "Though..it was much of a joke..the whole..boring a hole thing.." Laughs slightly.

Sanderson shakes his head, eyes lit with enthusiasm. "No-no, you never know, you might be onto something. Sometimes the craziest-sounding scheme can be the road to salvation... Anyway. Ma'am - you say it's your, ahem, bedchamber? Does that lead onto anywhere, any other buildings for example?"

Akakios slips into the tavern, glaring at all in sundry, vermin or not. Whatever the matter is, his face doesn't move very much, and it usually remains grumpy. He pads directly towards the bar, intent on getting something to drink.

Keita quirks a brow at the hare, who is indeed still standing on the bar. "Ya c'n come down 'ere any time ya like." She then looks between the two of them and waves a paw dismissively. "... Bucks." She turns, and sets to cleaning some dishes. "Try not t' damage m'tavern, in yer plannin', righ'?"

Zeraph nods, still staring upward. "Right..Will do, ma'am.." Then realizes they have been joined by someone else. "Oh.." Looks over at Akakios. "What can I do for you?" Smile. Pokes Sanderson to get off the counter...for now..

Sanderson pulls that "whoops" face once more, giving Zeraph a "well, she's obviously slightly off her rocker" look. "Course not ma'am, wouldn't dream of it," he says aloud. He slips sheepishly off the bar. "But er... it is rather urgent, wouldn't you say? I mean, they can't hold us here indefinitely... sooner or later they're going to turn nasty and I'm not sure I want to hang around for that. Eh Zeraph?"

Akakios grimaces. He does not enjoy the company of woodlanders. "Sompen to drink, yew. Sompen strong, ne'er mind the stinkin' taste."

Zeraph gesture, behind the bar, towards the wildcat, ears lowering against his head, though he still looks at Akakios. The buck nods. 'Aye...of course..." He looks down at the shelf...scooting things around. Hmm...

"Sorry if I haven't got more confidence in yer abilities, lad, aftah yestahday." Keita smirks, and then glances over her shoulder to the wildcat, but it would appear that Zeraph's got the hang of that.

Sanderson suddenly realises there's someone else there and wheels round with a jump. Eek. "Er... look here," he begins, trying to sound authoritative. "How long're you chaps thinking of keeping us round here? Just what're your intentions, hmm?" He fixes Akakios with a stern, searching look.

Akakios glances to Sanderson. "Why yew care, slave? I do not know anyway. I am new here." He turns back to glare at Zeraph. "Why does my drink take so long? Hurry!"

Sanderson bristles. "Why do I care, man? I'd have thought that was obvious! And I'll have you know that I am /not/ your slave. At the very worst I am a prisoner, and I don't intend to stay that for very long. Just who's in charge of this set-up, hmm?" Glaaaaare.

Zeraph nods a little. "Trying to find something perfect sir...One moment.." He ignores the argument for now. Finds a bottle which has a bunch of stuff labeled on it..Stuff like liquid fire. The buck's ears perk and he nods, then pops up again with a mug and the bottle. "Will this do then?" Begins to pour it.

Keita's eyes widen at the sight of that particular bottle. "Uh..." She holds up one finger, jaw permamently dropped. "Uh..."

Zeraph looks over at Keita. "Yes?"

Akakios glares contemptuously at Sanderson. "Yew no better than slave, impudent upstart. I have no need to answer yer question." He notices Keita and Zeraph's odd behavior, attention attracted and ignoring Sanderson.

Zeraph pauses from his pouring and looks at the bottle again. It's /definitely/ alcohol. His one eyebrow raises. "What?" He asks of Keita.

Considering for a long moment, Keita slowly lowers her finger, and shakes her head. "I've got nothin'." The little side of her that wants to see Akakios' reaction to having his throat burned from the inside out has won out. It won't hurt him. Too much. "Go 'head."

Zeraph shrugs a little and fills the mug up. "You wanted strong, you got it.." Smiles and scoots the glass over for the wildcat.

Akakios eyes the hare. "Why do yew smile? Stopid slave. Still, no matter." He takes the mug, gulping the drink so fast that he apparently doesn't even taste the alcohol. "Ah. That is got. Almost I think I should give yew somethin', but I will not." The drink has not yet taken any noticeable effect.

Zeraph stares a little, one eye squintier than the other. The young buck half nods, staring at the wildcat and not really hearing him. "Uh...uh huh..." Wonders when he'll react..

Akakios coughs rather suddenly, then spits onto the bar, making an odd 'gak' noise. He picks up the empty mug, looking into it suspiciously. "Odd flv'r..." He coughs again, rather violently.

Keita doesn't even bother with saying anything. She's just gaping, at this point. He /didn't/ just drink it all down at once. That would be too... wonderful. XD As he starts to cough, a slow but sure grin begins to creep its way onto her face.

Zeraph scoots his stool backward, staring. He blinks a little. "Um...Would you like some water?"

Akakios coughs again, louder this time, and once more checks the mug's interior. "Aye, get me water. Somethin' wrong with my stomach..." Perhaps he was going to continue, perhaps with a curse of some sort, if he wasn't interrupted by a fit of coughing.

Zeraph nods a little and looks sideways at the doe, one ear lowering while the other remains stood straight up. He doesn't know where the water is..unfortunately. "Could you..please.."

Keita is full-out grinning as she turns to get the water. She comes back with a glassful and sets it down in front of Akakios. "'Ere ya go, then."

Akakios takes the glass, drinking it somewhat slower than he had the ale. Leaning back slightly, he coughs again, not as loudly this time. "What yew grinnin' fer, hare?"

Zeraph isn't grinning so he automatically looks in Keita's direction, one eyebrow raised still. He half clears his throat, then looks back to Akakios. "Is that better?" He questions lightly.

Keita coughs, quietly. "Oh, nothin'. 'Tis just such a lovely day out, innit?" She gestures towards the windows, which are all boarded up. "Nice 'n' sunny out, 'n' all tha'."

Akakios grimaces. "Nice day? The window's ar closed." He takes what remains of the water in the cup, splashing it towards Keita. "Stopid hare."

Zeraph leans forward. "Please refrain from showering the lady, sir.." Casually enough to the wildcat.

Really, what is it about Keita that requires every vermin to spill liquids on her? Psht. She takes a step back as most of the liquid splashes on the counter-top before her. Grimace. "Well, that was rathah rude."

Akakios throws the mug at her next, as hard as he can. "Rude? Stopid hare! Yew knew about the drink. Don' lie to me." The drink seems to be getting to him slightly, but it's making him angry rather than dropping him into a stupor.

Zeraph goes to stand, to try to stop it, but winces as he moves his leg. The long patrol fighter just sits there for a moment, half holding his wound, ears back and pain in his eyes.

Blinking in surprise, Keita winces away from the on-coming mug, arms going up to protect her head as she turns her head away. It bounces off her shoulder, smarting nicely. Meep. She uncurls hesitantly, ears drooping in apprehension. "Ah... yeah. Sorry 'bout that?" She gives the wildcat a hopeful grin, and 'hehs'.

"Sorry?! An' I tol' yew to stop smilin'!" Akakios snatches the mug from another vermin, throwing it, drink and all, at Keita. Fortunately for her, the missiles stop, because the owner of the most recent one jumps at the wildcat in anger, and the two fall to the floor, knocking several bar stools and vermin to the floor with them.

Zeraph stares over the bar down at the floor and the squabbling vermin, ears quivering and remaining in his stool still. His eyes are large about the sight, shaking his head, then he glances back up at the doe, shrugging.

Keita tries her best to turn away from this one, as well, and it too strikes her on the shoulder, though this time she's sloshed all over with ale. Same shoulder, too. She rubs at it wincingly as she uncurls this time, but at the lack of a visible wildcat, she blinks at Zeraph. "Where'd 'e..." Oh. That would be him scuffling on the ground. She leans out over the bar and peers down. Hee.

Zeraph looks rather confused, then the wildcat runs out of the bar, after the other vermin. He shakes his head. "Strange events eh?" He's acting as if he is /not/ a captive in a strange tavern...XD

Keita's been acting as if she's not a captive since they all showed up. After all, it is rather odd still working in her tavern and all. "Rathah strange, yes. Frightfully rude of 'em, ya ask me. Remind me t' thank the othah fellah."

Zeraph nods and smiles. "Of course..If you ever see him again.." His ears fall back into a comfortable position near the back of his head. He goes to give her a towel that is on a shelf beside him.

Keita takes the offered towel and begins toweling herself down. And yes, she's come out of this day a right mess. Torn pants, soaking wet tunic... She tsks softly as she looks down at herself. In a dry tone, "... Well, s'pose the both of us are goin' t' need a change o' uniform." She glances back over her shoulder towards the kitchen. "I'll see what I've got in the kitchen latah. Might have a spare tunic fer you. It'll at least be free o' blood, anyway." Heh.

Zeraph perks his ears again. "Oh? Good...Very good..." He smiles a little. "And thank you for helping me..By the way..." The buck nods thankfully and respectfully to her, as she towels herself off...XD

Keita stops once she's done all the good she's going to do, and tosses the towel into a sink opposite. With a grin, she shakes her head. "Nah - don't mention it. Couldn't very well leave ya t' bleed all ovah m'floor, now could I?" Hee.

Zeraph shakes his head. "I guess not.." Looks tired..