08-18-08 1
Characters involved: Jakk, Darklett, Harper, & Sidney.
RW Abbey: Kitchen
The only reason that Jakk traveled to the abbey at all was because of the fact that the Abbot - that they were paying respects to - was his uncle, and someone that the youth loved a great deal. Throughout his seasons Keiran was always a figure that the teenager ended up turning to, but it seems to all be over now. A solemn expression has crossed the private's features and lingers, something different than his usual taciturn ways. Even though Darklett and the buck are related, they haven't been seemingly keeping up with each other either, but now they end up in the same room - with the younger appearing ruffled while stepping down from the Great Hall into the smaller room. A glance is sent towards his father like he is just an acquaintance and then he moves across to one of the cabinets, seeking something out.
At first, Darklett only plans on giving a passing recognition to the entry of the new hare in the kitchen. But upon seeing who it is, he hesitates to do that. No, they haven't been the closest of father-son relationships, regardless of attempts to make them more so. But it's the first time he's seen his son since the Patrol arrived, so... "Hey, Jakk." Dark abandons his sandwich for now and sidles over nearer to his son. Not close, but slightly nearer. "...Glad you could make it to the Abbey."
Wow, it's like a family reunion! That's such a sweet, private moment that really shouldn't be interrupted by crazy people. Oh well. Former recruit and present novice, Harper slinks into the kitchen, head down to avoid contact with anyone that may be present. He makes a beeline for a line of covered plates left out for the novices on late duties. He picks up the plate and hugs it to his chest, pausing there briefly. He doesn't seem to be listening to anything, actually, or he might actually recognize the voices.
While Jakk's reason for Redwallin' it is the late Abbot - who Sidney never met - the second teen who enters the kitchen has really only come along for the sake of his friend. The gold buck enters from a different room, not very long after the other two arrive, and his ears perk in a sort of startled look. Like it's so surprising to find hares in the Abbey kitchen. He flashes a smile, eyes more on Jakk than Darklett, and gives a faint chirp while he picks up an empty mug from a counter. "'s a lil' baffling," he comments with his nose crinkled in the direction of whatever food has been left out, "s' much food in one place. I mean.. Salamandastron is one thing, but 't makes y' think.. how much can mice /eat/?"
Of late, Jakk has gotten used to people not getting too close to him - in the physical sense - so it makes no difference to him how skittish his father tends to act even while seemingly extending that 'olive branch'. He snorts at Darklett's words, closing the cabinet and running his tongue over his teeth at the side as he glances to the other buck, who he is nearing the height of these days. ".. Because we needed just one more location to ignore each other in." The teenager flashes a smirk at the major, right before Harper comes into view. Now, their scuffle might have been a season or so back, by this point, but the private is known for the grudges he keeps. Crazy or not, the older hare's presence is like flashing red in front of a bull. His expression becomes a bit more hostile. Harper he no likey. The tension is still present, even while Sidney seems to be saying something to him - which he doesn't catch at all, it would appear.
Harper rolls his shoulder in a shruggy, jerky fashion, suddenly turning his head and moving two steps to the right. He keeps the plate hugged to his chest and flicks his eyes briefly upward, darting from one hare to the next. Mutter. "... I don't know." He looks back down and turns, sinking onto a stool to unwrap his plate, shoulders hunched and arms positioned protectively around his food as he sorts out his silverware.
"...I thought maybe we could try to at least tolerate each other's company. At least while we're here." The major turns when Harper enters, then Sidney. Well, maybe the company of others will make this easier, though... Harper? Holy moley. Is that him? No, why would he be acting like that? Must be mistaken... He keeps a watching eye to try and make sure, anyway. "Think you can give that a shot? It's just... Respectful, is all."
Whatever aimless chatter Sidney was going to try for falters when he views that particular, tense and rather aggressive look crossing Jakk's features. His ears tilt back and the blond buck's eyes shift to Harper - not someone he's encountered before. Then again, it's not like he's Mr. Networking over here. A small step is taken toward Jakk, his dark eyes settled consideringly on the darker teen's face. When nothing immediately erupts, he eases slightly and makes another half-step, chuffing toward the other private. "Y' want me t' get you a drink?" This is inserted in a tentative, quiet manner, not trying to interrupt the 'talk'.
Jakk is not comfortable now that he has gotten the focus of at least two people - no one can be sure what Harper is actually doing anyway. For a while that is who he studies though, as if assessing him. Finally, his attention has flickered away from the novice to land upon his father once more with one ear folded back. "What. Did I tell you not to talk to me or something?" The teenager grunts. The tension has made him even less approachable. "Why do you always assume I'm going to bite your head off?" This is fairly growled, which really doesn't make any sense with what he is saying at the moment. When Sidney attempts to make a connection he is only shot a look.
Harper had picked up his fork and was apparently about to spear a veggie, but suddenly he stops, stiffening. He slowly eases his paw back down, pressing the utensil back to the counter's surface. He sighs, sounding frustrated. He sits that way for a moment, before suddenly bucking his hips and jerking to his feet. And then he stills, staring towards the ground with occasional glances sent to the others. He turns to dart towards the scullery door.
"...Well, because that's what happens whenever I try and talk to you like you're not going to... Listen, I'm sorry, just go on with whatever you were doing." Darklett is almost scornful, but considering the kid's basically an adult now, it's more disappointment. Strangely enough, about that time Harper all but sprints out of the room. "...Evening, Sidney." There's the greeting!
The look quiets Sidney entirely. His eyebrows raise just a fraction, and without a word he steps past his friend, taking the empty mug with him and going toward a pitcher of some beverage that's been left out. He uses this to fill the container, then goes in search of another cup. Darklett gets just a huff in reply, and a sideways smile aimed toward him. "Evenin', Major."
As tightly wound as if he were spring-loaded, Jakk ends up bouncing back when Harper suddenly launches for the scullery, ears shooting upward and already aiming for a weapon that is not there. So, maybe there are two people hanging around the kitchen that aren't exactly on their rockers. The teenager huffs as he calms from his bristling motion. ".. what's wrong with him?" Anything that might have been offered to him is not given a reply as he snarls this. "If he's messed up in the head, they shouldn't just let him roam freely like that.." This is aimed at his father.
"...I haven't seen him in a while, but I think he's an ex-Long Patroller." The major hms to himself. "Quit to join the Order here... Got married, had a leveret, though I don't know where they are and haven't seen them." Darklett earflicks at the fleeing order hare, shrugging incredulously. "Eh, as long as he isn't hurting anyone. Did you know him before he left?"
Harper can be heard from the next room, though muffled. "Go away, go away, go /away/." He's pacing back and forth, not that that's apparently, some pots clattering as he apparently actually does some cleaning. How considerate.
"I'm aware." Jakk states, glancing to Darklett again. It's actually the fact that he got married that started their argument. "He married a friend of mine.." The teenager looks ruffled as he tilts his ears in the direction of the voice before shaking his head. ".. and then he tried to break my fingers." Of course, the private leaves out the fact that he had attempted to take Harper's jugular with him as a souvenir. He goes to head for the outside, ignoring any search for food he had been on previously.
"Oh..." The major blinks. Well maybe there was a good reason Harper joined the Order, then. Darklett watches his son leave for a short moment, then turns to grab his plate off the counter. "Hey, Jakk." He thinks better of offering some talk time. "...Make sure you say hi to your mom, too."
The sound of a plate crashing to the floor and shattering can be heard from the next room. Harper stops, standing very still for a very long moment before reaching deep into the sleeve of his habit. He pulls out a flask, unscrews it, and halfway empties it. He shudders at the burning liquid, then deposits the flask back in its hiding place, shutting his eyes. "Goawaygoawaygoawaygoaway," he murmurs, like a prayer.
"I will." Jakk states. For good news, though, there is apparently someone that he dislikes more than the older buck, so Darklett should be happy about this fact. Either way, these parting words are more civil than some of the ones that he has offered before. It's not likely that Harper were rambling for the private to go away, but at least there is one less hare in the room now.
"Mmf." Darklett just grunts once his son is gone. He rests up against the countertop, almost completely missing the sounds coming from the scullery if not for the broken plate. "...Harper? You alright in there?" He raises his voice to make sure the other buck can hear him, bumping off the counter and heading for the scullery just to make sure.
Harper doesn't move for the very longest time, just sitting there muttering to himself. But eventually, when nothing else comes and he feels the drink working through him, he squints open one eye. And breathes a sigh of relief. His shoulders finally relax and he takes a look around before starting to clean up the mess. Upon Darklett's entry, he'll find the buck crouched and picking up pieces of plate. His ears flick and he glances up, eyes a little watery. His breath wouldn't smell so hot if Dark got too close, either. Haaa. "... Majah. Um. Hullo."
Darklett eyes Harper. "...You don't look so great. Something wrong?" The major headtilts, looking quite confused at the suddenly not muttering insanely buck.
"No. I'm fine." Pause. "Jus' fine. Thanks." He picks up the last big pieces and stands, depositing them in the bin. His eyes flicker briefly towards the shadowy corner of the room before bouncing back to the other buck. "I ought to get to bed. Up early. And, ya know." He actually laughs, just a nervous little thing that he can't cut off. "Sleep helps with that." Hahahaha, that is so funny. Waitnoit'snot. Without another word, he turns and heads out of the scullery.
As one private leaves, the other finishes pouring a drink.. that was meant for him. Jakk is given a curious look, which then is turned to the two older bucks in the room. "Hm," is Sidney's only response to whatever just unfolded, and he takes up both mugs, leaving Darklett to socialize with the 'enemy' - anyone who's tried to break Jakk's fingers is on his Black List - while exiting the room as well, following after Jakk while carefully keeping the two cups from spilling.
Wah. Everyone just basically left! Darklett is left there with his sandwich, just as when this whole short ordeal started. But after so many seasons, one can just stop trying to make sense of things. He goes back to his sandwich and decides to enjoy it. Mmm, food.
