08-04-05

Characters involved: Darklett, Marleigh, Keita, & Dosu.

Halyard Village: West Square

Darklett is sitting in the West Square of Halyard... Yes, sitting. That's something the Lieutenant hasn't done much of over the past few days, so it's only natural for him to take a well-deserved rest break. So, with a mug of water in one paw while the other just rests at his side, Darklett leans against the facade of the Halyard building he'd been calling his homestead since he arrived.

After being allowed into the square by the guards Marleigh looks around. She had come back when she figured that the attack had happened that she would be needed. Kaltain was left back at the mountain, so Marleigh was alone. She looked around for Darklett, wanting to find him to see what she could do to help. She stood for a second looking around.

Darklett gives a few threatening glances to anybeast who might potentially come with him to a problem, but as it turns out, none of them really wanted to speak to him anyway. So, he happily drinks his water and enjoys his much-needed rest.

Spotting Darklett she smiles and heads over. 'Ello Darklett." She hadn't seen the threatening glances he had sent to anyone else, so she obviously didn't care in bothering him.

Well, as it seems to be "the thing to do", Keita has taken to sitting outside of her tavern rather than inside it. Her knees are drawn up and her arms are wrapped around them. Juuust... enjoying the evening, and the smell of salt brought in by the sea breeze. It's good to be home - even if it /is/ an encampment for a bunch of hares at the moment.

Darklett closes his eyes as he hears his name, turning his head towards the sound and the approaching doe before opening them. He takes a long gulp of water, and sets the mug to his side. "Evening, Marleigh. Where's th'kid?"

Marleigh smiles. "Back at the mountain, figured I wouldn't drive you all crazy with her." She laughs and looks around. "Anything I can do to help?" She was obviously jumping right to the point.

Darklett laughs a little as Marleigh does, leaning his head back against the wall. "Sure, I mean... There isn't any need for healers at the moment, but if you want to put yourself on sentry or scouting duty, then we could always use some help there. How about it?"

Booted footpaws scuffing the dirt ground give somewhat of a prelude to the marten, Dosu's appearence. With drooped shoulders and paws in his pockets, he slowly walks closer, seeming in the direction of Keita's general area.

Raising an eyebrow slightly, Marleigh shrugs. "Sure why not. Couldn't hurt." She smiles at him.

Darklett smiles, looking like he thinks he really should stand, but doesn't have the will to do it at the moment. "So which'll it be, sentry or scouting...? Well, I guess I should ask you if you're quick on your footpaws first."

The scuffing arrival of Dosu is noted with a perk of Keita's ears, and then a leisurely glance in his direction. When the doe sees who it is, she breaks out in a smile and stands, moving to meet Dosu halfway. "'Ey! Good t' see ya."

Dosu grins lightly as he stops to look at Keita with tired, hazzy eyes. "... Its good seeing you to, Keita.... Hows everything here since you've gotten back your tavern....?".

Marleigh winces slightly. "Not really..." She laughs at herself. "This is seriously why i started healing...even though I can't stand the sight of blood." She laughs at herself. "I might be pretty useless."

Darklett shrugs. "Well, sentry duty'll be great. I know for a fact you can yell with the best of 'em..." He chuckles at this, draining his water and looking rather disappointed that it's empty.

Marleigh looks offended. "I only really yelled at you...once. I'm not normally that angry." She smiles sweetly. Yea right. She loved yelling at people. BRING ON THE YELLING!

Darklett rolls his eyes. "Well, if you want to help, you can just sit around and wait until you're needed as a healer, or you can keep watch, as long as you think you can stay awake for the job."

Keita's smiles starts to fade as she looks Dosu over - particularly those dazed-looking eyes. "Everything's fine with me... it's you that's not lookin' so hot. You a'right?"

Dosu sighs lightly. The dark discolorations under his eyes caused from sleep deprivation are easily seen. "... No worries... I am fine..."

Marleigh shrugs. "Make me useful. I don't like sitting around." Not unless Darklett has anything to say to her. Any questions to answer. HINT HINT!

Keita smirks. "I c'n lie with the best of 'em, but you... apparently can't." The doe jerks her head back in the direction she came, towards the tavern. "Let's sit... ya look like ya could use the rest."

"Uh, well, go ahead over to one of the perimeters and talk to them about their shifts." Darklett folds up his legs a little as he scoots his back down the wall, looking pretty relaxed. "See if you can fit yourself in on any of them."

Dosu sighs once again as he slowly starts moving once again. "... Don't need any rest... But a drink would do me good, I think...."

Keita stops by the tavern entrance, and gestures to the ground. "You. Sit. I'll go getcha somethin'." The doe ducks inside.

Dosu lets out a light grunt as he pulls the massive sword from his back to lean it against the tavern wall before he to leans against the tavern, sliding his back down it until he is seated on the ground.

Marleigh nods and turns away. "Wait." She turns back around and looks at him. "Just one thing." She looks at him. "That time, I went after you. You never answered my question."

Keita reappears a couple of minutes later with two mugs and a bottle. She drops down beside Dosu and begins pouring a dark liquid into one, which she then passes to the marten. "Drink up."

Dosu sighs lightly as he takes the mug in his paw, looking down into the dark liquid. "...What is it...?"

"Huh?" Darklett had actually started to drift off, until he's jarred into wakefulness by Marleigh's voice again. "Ah, yeah. Uh... What question was that again? I'm having trouble remembering.

Marleigh sighs. "You know how i feel about you...do you feel the same way? Even in the slightest bit?" She bites her bottom lip, waiting for his answer.

Darklett raises his eyebrows, a little startled as he looks back and forth, seeing how many people heard, or may be listening. "Uh..." His eyes go back to Marleigh, looking at her like she just asked some kind of jibberish question. "Err... No, I'm sorry, I don't."

Marleigh nods. "I understand. Why would you? Stupid girl who couldn't even keep a fiance even though she was pregnant." She smiles slightly. "I'll let you get back to resting." She turns and starts to walk away

Darklett stares after Marleigh as she walks away. Again, after she's gone, he darts his glance around to see who may have been hearing or listening that short exchange...

Keita nods her head towards the mug. "Bit of ale." She sets the extra mug and the rest of the bottle down.

Marleigh wipes a tear from her eye as she walks towards the exit, instead of going to help.

Dosu looks back to Keita, giving her a slight nod and a "...Thank you..." before taking a good, long drink of the ale.

Darklett is content that nobeast heard, and gives a small smirk and a shrug of his shoulders as he rests back against the outer wall of the building, yawning and closing his eyes.

"There ya go," Keita murmurs and tilts her head back, staring up towards the sky. "So, what's up with ya? Ya look a mess."

Dosu grins lightly as he sets the empty cup down by his side. "... This is the way I always look.. A worn out beast... You just never took the time to look long enough...."

"... A'right, well. Why d'ya always look like this, then?" Keita picks up the bottle and gestures towards Dosu with it, to see if he wants any more.

Dosu grins as he picks up the cup and holds it up for Keita. ".... I sleep little if any at all... I always carry on... Trying not to stop...."

Keita pours the drink, filling it to the very top. "D'ya sleep if yer drunk?" Wink.

Dosu chuckles lightly. "...Thats why I try and limit my drinking...", he says before downing the new mug full of ale.

Keita laughs, and instead of offering to refill the mug this time, she merely holds the bottle itself out to him. "Drink up, then."

Dosu sighs lightly as he holds up a paw and shakes his head. "... Why thank you... But I can not... Though if I may take a quick sleep on the floor of the tavern, I'd be very greatful..... The only reason I do not sleep is I have no true place to call worthy of a shelter...."

Keita blinks and quickly shakes her head. "On the floor? You c'n have one o' the guest rooms - fer as long as ya wish it. They're just up the stairs through m'office."

Dosu shakes his head once again. "...No.. Please... I couldn't take a bed away from another in need...."

Keita snorts and shakes her head again. "They're not bein' used. Please - /yer/ my guest. I owe ya that much." She holds out her paw for the empty mug. "I'll take care o' that."

Dosu sighs lightly as he hands the mug to Keita before pushing himself to his footpaws. "... You know, your just as stuborn as me...", he says with a grin as he slowly pulls the massive sword from the wall back onto his back.

Keita inclines her head in a nod of agreement. "That, m'friend, I am." She raises a paw in farewell. "Nigh'."

Dosu sighs lightly as he slowly pushes open the main door of the tavern. "... Thank you... Keita..."

Keita waves the thanks away and turns away from the retreating marten to consider the night's sky once more.