09-13-06

Characters involved: Keita, Gregorian, Quinten, Splitnose, and Zeraph.

Salamandastron: Dining Chamber

Grunt. Mutter. Keita is seated at one of the tables lining the room, sitting /just/ so in the corner. And the 'just so' is stiffly. She's seated stiff-backed, having herself a late morning bowl of oatmeal. And it looks like it's got strawberries in it. Mm-mm. There's a small strip of bandage over her throat.

Gregorian makes his appearance and heads for the food, buck got distracted from breakfast again so he's in for a late one, taking as much as he can from what's left over after all the other hares have eaten. He takes a little while to get a decent sized meal and a drink before looking back to the tables, looking around for anyone he knows or something.

Three privates walk in through the door, looking tired but clean, their fur still damp from the baths and a faint with of acrid soap about them. Two of them wave goodbye and head for a group of hares on another table filled with older bucks more their age whilst the third, Quinten heads for the food lookng about the room to see if he recognises anyone.

Looks like everyone's looking for a familiar face. It shouldn't be hard in a mountain environment like this. For her own part, Keita seems to be just keeping to herself. She pauses every now and then to take a sip of juice and even more rarely to glance around the room, but for the most part she's just concentrating on eating.

Gregorian does finally spot someone he knows but judging by the fact he grimaces and quickly turns to head for a random table it's not a beast he gets on with very well. Random table just by pure fluke happens to be Keita's, sitting down and trying to blend into the place.

Quinten spots Gregorian heading past and smiles folding his ears back and walking over to follow him, he looks at the table he has sat at and smiles as he sees the elderly doe. "Miss Keita hello there."

'Elderly' doe? Hardly. Keita squints, her eyes flickering up as the young buck sits down opposite her. Her eyebrows go up, but as he seems to be keeping to himself, she's.... oh. There's another one. She looks around and up at him, ears twitching back. Squint. "Ah... hullo there. Sorry... what's yer name again?" She shakes her head ever so slightly, offering a brief grin. "So many faces 'round here."

Gregorian wasn't really paying attention to who was at the table when he sat down, it's Quinten's voice which gets him to look up though, looking round to the other buck then finally looking to Keita since she's the one getting the greeting. He offers a somewhat apologetic nod to her for intruding upon her table.

Quinten smiles at the doe and bobs his head, "I'd be Quinten ma'am and this tall silent one is Greg."

"Aha - Quinten." Keita dips her head in another minute nod. "Guess you a'ready know me. Good fer you." She smirks faintly, catching Greg's nod out of the corner of her eye. "So Greg, huh?"

Gregorian waggles an ear before giving Quinten a glance "Can introduce myself thank yah" he mutters before looking back to the doe "Aye, Greg, nice tah meet yah and sorry for interuptin' yah food miss" mind working to try and place where he's heard the name Keita before.

Quinten sits down and smiles, "Do you mind if we join you Ma'am? Just everywhere else is a bit crowded and you look lonely over here on your own. You are a long way from Halyard."

At Greg's apology, Keita only smirks and shakes her head, looking unconcerned. "'Tis no bothah. M'used t' a crowd, doncha know?" Her eyes shift to Quinten, next. "Not s'very long. 'Tis only a couple hour's walk."

Since they both seem to be chatting so nicely Greg takes the opportunity to actually eat something, eye kept on the pair and listening in but mainly he's eating.

Quinten sips from his beaker before talking again, wiping juice from his chin fur. "Well it always seems long to me...but then i usually dawdle and enjoy the sea."

Keita's brow quirks. We've got Mr. Silent and Mr. Chatty. You'd think they'd balance each other out, but no. Keita sits back with a faint grimace, her attention split between the two. "So yer both Privates, eh?"

Mr. Silent is rarely chatty unless he knows beasts, nods to the question "Yep, fightah and...shortah fightah"

Quinten chuckles and shakes hsi head at Greg. "Ahhh greg here would rather spend his time in the Forge though, he's a right proper forge beast. Me i'm a Private, runner with Major Jarril's patrol...we just got back from touring those blasted swamps again. In the dark of all times."

Keita's eyebrows go up at this... wealth of information. Hm. "Oh, so yer one of Jarril's hares, are ya? Ain't seen him around." She looks to Greg, then. "Who're you with?"

Gregorian continues eating in between talking, pausing for a moment to reply to the question "Darklett's and should imagine Jarril's probably been with his patrol going all through swamps for beasts"

Quinten shakes his head and mutters something about mud and bugs and flicks his ears back and forth. "So Miss Keita what brings you all the way down here to Salamandastron?"

That bit about Jarril seems to amuse the doe. She smirks, and answers Quinten's question. "T' be honest, wasn't much of a choice. Ran into Darklett the othah day dealin' with three sea rats. Got in the way. Couldn't keep m'big mouth shut, s'usual." She shrugs. "Aftah Darklett'd dispatched the darlin' deahs, we came back this way. Figure I'll head home t'morrah mornin'."

Gregorian finally shows some sort of interest in the conversation rather than his food, smirking a little when the rats get called darlin' deahs "Eventful times down on the shore, always seem tah miss them, suppose some beast'll be happy about that anyway...been meanin' tah go tah Halyard more" mainly just rambling to himself really.

Quinten looks at Greg and grins, "What you go to do in halyard? I sad to say do not have much of a reason to go there, unless it is to buy more wood or a new pen."

Keita's eyebrows shoot up. What kind of question is /that/? Quinten gets a squinty-eyed look. "... He could go t' the /tavern/ in Halyard, fer one." Squiiiiint! "There's a lot t' do, there."

Gregorian can't help but be slightly amused by Keita's reaction, chuckling very quietly "Aye, stop by the tavern's a good idea, get a few things, just get out of the mountain for a bit, can't spend whole time in here or on patrol"

Quinten shuffles under Keita's stare and nods, "Of course the tavern...sorry...am tired from patrol..heads asleep. Plenty to do in Halyard always is."

Bothersome patrol bucks. Squinty-squint! She shifts her attention back to Gregorian, then, and dips her head in a nod. /He/ gets a grin. "Well, ya evah do happen t' stop by, just tell 'em Keita sent ya. First drink free, yeah?"

Gregorian grins in return at that idea "I'll remembah that, good reason tah visit all on it's own"

Quinten shakes his head, great he's missed out on free drinks. "I can't drink alcohol anyway myself" he murmurs before biting into a radish.

Keita's grin widens briefly at the acquisition of another customer, then fades slightly as she looks to Quinten in surprise. "What, ya /can't/ drink? Why evah not? I mean. M'not very good at holdin' m'liquor, but that doesn't keep me from drinkin' it from time t' time."

Gregorian raises a brow slightly and looks over to Quinten "I thought yah weren't with Gabby anymore?"

Quinten looks at Greg, "I'm not, still doesn't mean i'm going to give up my promise to not drink, I'm alot better off for not drinking i think."

Whaaaaaat? Keita squints at Quinten long and hard. "... What's wrong with drinkin'? It gives ya a strong constitution! Puts some hair on yer chest." And she briefly smirks, eyeing him up and down. "Might even put a coupla inches on ya, mate."

Gregorian discovers another good use of drink, easy to hide in your mug when you don't want to look like you're about to start laughing.

Quinten sits up straighter at his comment about his height. "HEY...i don't talk about your leg...so kindly leave my height out of this Miss Keita...i don't drink because i made a promise not too. Would you have me break my word too?"

Ha! Keita bursts out with a snort of laughter, also hiding her muzzle in her glass for a moment. She shakes her head, taking a sip before setting the glass back down. "Oy, mate. Stop callin' me 'Miss', eh? I ain't one o' yer Patrol officahs or somethin'." She chuckles, eyeing the rather touchy buck. "And yeah, I would. If ya made the promise just t' impress some slip o' a gel yer not even with anymore."

Gregorian grins, he's having fun now, all a laugh of course, he shakes his head "Oh nah, think he got in trouble for gettin' drunk and she weren't best impressed"

Quinten blushes and hides his muzzle in his drink, "well maybe just i don't like to go back on something i promised you know...can't even be sure if we're split or not either." he shuffles and nudges Greg for saying that, "Hey...no need to tell her...was in her Inn after all.....i still say her staff letting hte Major force feed me that hotroot was a crime."

"Ahhhhhh," she grins, looking to Greg at his explanation. Ha. Aha. She shakes her head, sitting back a bit further. But - ooch. That hurts. She sits forward, again. That's better. She smirks at Quinten. "'Ey, now. We don't interfere with 'Patrol business'. That's yer own fault, mate." Aaaand, hum. "Also? If ya don't know, chances are ya probably are."

Gregorian chuckles and sips from his drink "Nothing wrong with hotroot, some beasts just can't handle a little heat"

Quinten shakes his head, "Hotroot is foul Greg...it should be outlawed." he flushes, ears tinged pink and glances at Keita. "I thought as much Keita....an erm sorry for shouting just a bit sensitive about my height."

Keita grins at Quinten, relenting. "... Look, kid. Somethin' I learned a long time ago is that ya just have t' know how t' laugh at yerself. I mean, /hell/. I lost m'leg. They /cut/ m'leg off. Sure I could feel bad and mourn the loss 'n' be a righ' pain in the arse. Righ'?" She waits just long enough for them /not/ to be able to reply before starting back in with a pointedly raised finger. "But I /don't/. And m'not. 'Tis just somethin' that happened. I make jokes about it. Folks laugh or they jus' stare at me like m'crazy, but eithah way m'happy. Got it?"

Gregorian tilts his head slightly to one side after Keita's done, moment before a small smirk appears and he gestures towards the doe with his drink "Smart beast" he says before taking a swig from said drink.

Quinten shuffles and just nods his head, burying his muzzle in his drink for a moment, "I;ll try..its just hard is all...nothing is easy with life but this my lifes been kinda....ahhh what right have i got to moan."

Keita chuckles. "/That/, m'lad, is why ya ought t' drink. When life gets ya down, ya drink 'n' forget about it. Got it?" She grins.

Quinten smiles and nods his head and then grins widely, "YOU miss Keita just want another cutsomer in that inn of yourrs." he winks at her

Keita snorts and... rather than deny it, she nods. Firmly. "Well, 'course I do! Every drink you take makes /my/ life just that little bit bettah, doncha know?" She winks. "Everyone wins."

Quinten chuckles and sets his cup down, "Ok Keita you win, i'll have a drink next time i come to Halyard, i'll even buy you one and make sure you drink it all." he smirks at that. "Promise you'll drink what i buy you?"

Keita dips her head in a nod. "I'll drink what ya buy me, aye." She grins, then drops a wink. "And the next time ya come, first drink'll be free." She grins.

Quinten smirks happily and winks back at her, "I likee the sound of that," he grins slyly and nudges Greg, "Hey Keita, when were you going home? need an escort to keep those sea rats at bay?"

Gregorian smirks at Quinten "Lookin' for more than one free drink ol' chap?"

Keita glances Greg's way with a smirk, though she looks back to Quinten as she speaks. "Well, as those particular sea rats have gone on t' the beyond, m'not too worried about that. 'Sides, I've made the trip so many times ovah the course of m'life... I could do it blind."

Quinten shakes his head, "Nah looking to get up there and enjoy the offered drink." he nudges Gregm "And get you out of the forge for a bit, am sure Fred would love to join us too." he smiles back at Keita, "Would you object to escorting some frail, defenceless bucks to your fine tavern?"

Keita smirks and rolls her eyes. "... Sure. Someone has t' keep you lot in line." She shakes her head. Odd bucky buck.

Gregorian keeps his expression happy as he kicks Quinten under the table for mentioning Fred in front of people "Suppose could do with the walk, beats going on my own this time" acting like he didn't do anything.

Quinten winces and glares at Greg, "What was that for?" being nice and dense today he has been out in a swamp for a week after all. "Lets get our stuff and go get merry or whatever it is we're meant to do.

Keita's eyebrows shoot up. Now, huh? Well, that moves things up from tomorrow morning. She stands, a little stiffly. She makes a face. "Do me a favah 'n' leave a message fer Majah Darklett, would ya, lettin' him know I'm headin' out?"

Gregorian ignores Quinten's question entirely and finishes off his drink before rising from his seat "Well if everyone wants tah leave now, I'll go pack stuff" and get Fred, might have kicked Quinten but he's still going to take the buck away for a few days.

Quinten looks after Keita, "Are you sure ma'am? I mean if you have to rest we can leave tomorrow if it suits you better"

"I'm stitched up 'n' bandaged up. 'Nothah day's not gonna make a difference." This Keita reassures the buck with accompanied by a dismissive wave of her paw. "Just let Dark know, 'n' we'll go."

Gregorian nods to the doe "Will do miss, be back in a few minutes" he says before heading for the door.

Quinten nodsa nd heads out, "Aye i'll go grab my pack and my money and be right back."

As soon as the two younger bucks disappear, Keita collapses back into her chair with a smirk and a shake of her head. "... What've I gotten m'self into?" With an amused sigh, she sits and waits for their return.

Halyard Tavern: Main Room

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Halyard Tavern ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Warmly lit by torches along the walls and lanterns set upon the many tables

scattered around the room, the main room of the Halyard Tavern is an often-

populated area. One corner of the tavern is taken up by a stage, about a

foot or two higher than the rest of the floor, where live entertainment

performs, while circular tables, both large and small, are set up in front

of the stage, spreading out into the center of the room. Meanwhile, around

the perimeter of the tavern, booths are set, and, of course, the obligatory

bar rests against the far wall, a bartender or barmaid always on duty.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Visible Exits:

[K]itchen [O]ut to [E]ntrance

After a few hour trip with Greg mainly hanging back to natter with Freddie they finally catch up again when they get to the village, heading into the tavern and Greg making a b-line for the bar, Fred following along behind him.

Quinten watches Greg overtake him heading for the bar and looks sideways at Keita and shakes his head. "So Keita what do you suggest i drink?"

Keita considers Quinten as they limp into the room, looking far more tired and worn out then the other three. "T' drink? Well..." He is a bit young, but: "What I always suggest - some of m'special brew. Ya won't find anythin' bettah." She nods toward the bar. "Just ask the 'tendah, they'll know what yer talkin' about."

Splitnose hmm's and looks about, not seeing the beast he was looking for as he walks in. Shrugging, he sits down at the bar. When he notes Keita, the fox gives her a smile and nod. He sighs, rather depressed over having to wait for the one who practically promised him the find of his life.

Gregorian glances round to the others at the talk of what to get, sitting himself down at the bar "Special brew? Well that sounds promising" looking back to the bartender "One of wot she's on about"

Quinten walks up beside Greg and nods, "Aye make it three one for Fred too." he then leans up and whispers to the bartender who just bursts out laughing and then nods walking off to get the drinks.

Freddie sits down next to Greg and is about to speak out against what Quinten says before the whispering, laughing and walking off happens and he falls silent instead.

Keita's eyebrows raise at the odd behavior of her bartender, but whatever. She eeeeases herself onto a stool, grimacing faintly as she does so. "I may have t' give ya a rain check on that drink, though... I could just sleep 'n' sleep righ' now."

Splitnose orders his typical meal of fish and strawberry wine, listening to the various conversations half-way; most of his attention is on the doors of the tavern. He clearly seems anxious, tapping his claws on the bar as he waits.

Gregorian raises a brow to the tender but doesn't think too much of it before he glances around, look going to Splitnose for a moment before a tug on his ear and Freddie whispering into it grabs his attention away again.

Quinten smiles and as the bartender comes back and takes a large mug off him, winking to Greg and Fred he walks over to Keita and lays the mug before her. "No alcohol in this i promise."

Splitnose sighs and walks out of the tavern after finishing his meal. Clearly the hare and his group isn't coming today. Ahh well, the fish was wonderful and he still needs a rapier anyway!

Rather than accept the mug, Keita's nose wrinkles and she gingerly starts to stand. "Nah, mate. M'just gonna head upstairs fer a bit of a rest. You three goin' t' stick around fer a while?"

Gregorian nods to whatever it was Fred was saying and gives him a small smile before looking round to Keita "Sure, worth sticking about for a few days, have a good rest miss"

Quinten smiles at keita and nods, "Ok Keita rest good and i'll see you tomorrow, got a few days leave so i'll be sticking about for a bit."

Keita dips her head in a nod. "... A'right. Good." She waves absently to the trio and starts stiffly and limpingly toward the door. Ahhh...

But that is when the door opens - which would possibly almost hit Keita in the face. A very un-officer-looking Zeraph moves through the door, dark ears flicking back, then starting towards the bar as he pushes a thumb into one of his pockets still holding an empty wine bottle. The black, hooded tunic seems to be a bit big even for the tall buck. "Sorry.. just.. bringing this back for Van... or something.." Clunk. It goes on the bartop.

Not quite in the face, but Keita /does/ stumble back from the oncoming door. Woe /and/ whoa. Ready with a snappy comment toward the rather rude door-opener, the doe is stopped dead when she sees the back of Zeraph's head as he walks toward the bar. Hmm. After a moment's thought, she limps back toward the bar and slips onto a stool next to Zeraph. "... Bringin' back empty bottles. Ya know. I oughta start a program. Bring back a bottle, ya get a coppah. Save some money." She hms, and nods. Then grins.

Gregorian watches Keita leaving and so easily sees Raph come in, officers, just what the buck doesn't like to see when he's sat right next to Freddie, he turns around again back to the bar to pick up his drink and well, drink, act inconspicuous.

Zeraph ignores all else in the room. Not like he's in uniform or anything - which is an odd thing for the hare. ".. well it's Van's didn't know if he'd. Yeah." That seems to be the end of it. Now that the bottle is out of his paw, both of them are shoved into his pockets as he ducks his head away from any looks he'll get as he starts for the door. Erf.

Keita looks, nonetheless. Waaaait a minute. With another grimace, she drags herself off the bar stool and limps rather awkwardly after him, trying to catch up. Once she does, she falls into step beside him. "What's the deal, eh? Ya don't even stay t' chat, anymore?"

Gregorian both Fred and Greg have fallen silent and taken to drinking, Greg seeming more happy with the drink that the other buck but yep, keeping out the way, ain't it fun?

Pause. Zeraph glances towards Keita - giving her a curious look. "Would we chat anyway?" He begins to look around. Notes Gregorian and Freddie now, but this is only a glance over as he returns attention to Kei. "Oh. I guess it's alright now that your body guard isn't here?"

Keita's eyebrows pop up. She turns her head first one way and then the other with the /intention/ of looking around, but never quite manages to look away from Zeraph.

Finally, she offers a lopsided grin, shaking her head as she spreads her arms. "... Oh, what, Darklett? He's been actin' strange. What'd you /do/ t' the boy, anyway?" She still doesn't quite get that dynamic. It's a curiosity. And so is the way she's acting, at the moment, but shh.

"I didn't do /anything/ to Darklett." Zeraph seems exasperated. "You've obviously said something about me to him and he thinks I've done something. Enough to glare at me instead of even saying a word." He starts for the door now to grip the door. "Maybe he thinks you're 'his'. But whatever." The tips of his ears have dipped back so that they rest in his drawn back hood.

Quinten walks back into the bar from the street and stops looking at Zeraph and then Keita, he goes to salute and then decides not to as he is out of uniform. "Hello Zeraph nice to see you." He looks over at Fred and Greg and waggles his ears at them.

Gregorian and Freddie have kind of fallen into silence ever since Zeraph turned up, always do it around any ranking beast, both seemed to have perked their ears though and are indeed listening in on the conversation, a few looks exchanged and a silent curse from Fred as Quinten's disturbed the interesting drama, still Greg absentmindedly waves an ear back at Quint.

"All I said was-" ... And pause. Keita's ears flatten back and Quinten is entirely ignored, not that he was speaking to her anyway. "... Maybe he /what/?" She grimaces, shifting her weight slightly. Her back is really killing her.

Zeraph is silent as Quinten moves past him - ignoring the greeting only because Keita's outburst has caught his attention. "Oh c'mon Keita. You're not /blind/. Haven't you noticed how he acts possessive of you all of a sudden?" However it does mean that he rests against the open door because of the younger buck's entrance.

Quinten carries on past Zeraph and Keita and leans on the bar to speak to the staff behind it, ears canted back to listen.

Freddie seems to perk slightly as the argument goes on, of course neither he nor Greg are looking at the pair, listening will do, listening and not being caught rather.

"..." That is Keita's initial response, because she's too busy considering Zeraph with slightly slitted eyes. She /wants/ to 'go there', butbutbut... she won't. Doesn't. Her voice is cast low and soft. "You're nuts, Raph. He hasn't been actin' like that at all. We've just come t' an understandin', s'all. He's a good friend, just like you're a good friend. And I /thought/ the two o' /you/ were good friends, but lately..." She shakes her head. "I don't undahstand you two."

Zeraph sighs at Keita, glaring. "Yeah. I'm /always/ the one that's nuts." His voice comes out hurt. "Always. That's why I don't talk to Rothal and that's why Darklett hates me. Thank you." The officer walks through the door without another word, cause he couldn't hide that tone for some reason - when he'd been doing so well with it for a couple of days.

Quinten blinks and turns to look after Zeraph, paw half raised to pay for his drink, he turns to look at Keita and then back to the departing officer. What on earth has been going on...

Oh bother. As Zeraph turns and disappears through the door, Keita breathes an exasperated sigh and, without looking back toward the creatures present, follows him out. "Wait, Zeraph, that's /not/ what I..." And she's through the door.

Halyard Tavern: Entrance(#175330RCJ)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Halyard Tavern ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A short set of stairs, no more than six, all told, lead down into this dark

room, which is lit only by a couple of torches hanging from the ceiling.

There are two doors that lead out of this room. One opens into the tavern

owner's office, which lies to the left of this room, and the other leads

into the tavern, directly ahead. A small board is posted up to the left of

the door, and it is covered in yellowed parchment, job postings and the like

nailed here and there. Beyond that, the only other thing in the dark, tavern

entrance is a coat hanger bereft of any coats - or cloaks, for that matter.

Apparently the beasts around here aren't very trusting.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Visible Exits:

[E]nter [T]avern [O]utside to [S]quare

[O]ffice

"... Meant." Once out of the room, she reaches out to snag his arm, a slight hiss coming out through her teeth at the stretching this requires. "I didn't mean yer /nuts/..."

Zeraph stops because he gets grasped by the arm and doesn't want to tug Keita off her fee-foot? The buck turns to gaze at her. ".. yeah. Okay, Keita."

Now that they're out of all of the hubbub, Keita finds herself all alone with Raph again. For whatever reason, this leaves a rush of heat rising to her face. Good thing for that fur stuff, eh wot? Too bad he'll be able to see it at the tips of her ears. She glances away, squintingly. "Can't we just forget everythin' from this past week? I mean... yer m'best mate, Raph, you know that."

Zeraph looks over Keita, ears starting to wilt back as he takes in her general appearance. His eyes seem to show off a sorrowful, almost young, lost expression. "I'm sorry, K. I was trying.." Though that blush has seemed to make it better? His shoulders sag, paws firmly in his pockets still when he looks down from the doe. ".. but you obviously told Dark.. and now the way he acts..." A shake of his head. "I like you a lot, K. Wouldn't want to lose you, ya know?"

Oh hey, her paw's still on his arm. She releases him, fairly certain at this point he won't run off. She doesn't quite look back at him again, instead backstepping until she finds the wall, which she leans gingerly against. "I only told Dark... because he was the first one I ran int'." She glances up, shaking her head as her arms cross one over the other, each paw grasping the opposite elbow. It's an oddly vulnerable look. "I was a little drunk. I wouldn't have, othahwise. I haven't told anyone else." Because that seems to matter. "I tried t' tell him it wasn't a big deal..." Of course, she conveniently leaves out the fact she lied to him.

"Yeah. We're really acting like it wasn't." Zeraph doesn't look at Keita anymore but he doesn't sound angry. More like he turns his head to observe the ground a little ways off in the street, profile to the doe. He sighs out through his nose without another stated word - just shaking his head somewhat.

That seems to strike her fatalistic humor bone, because she laughs. Just a short laugh, really, and then it's gone. She ducks her head, shaking it. "... Yeah." She doesn't say anything for a long moment. "Mayhaps if we just act normal, he will too."

Zeraph nods quietly. It is a moment before he speaks again. "I'm sorry K. Sorry that I ruined everything. And that I insulted you. Everything." He glances sideways, eyes big for a moment and ears cocked to the side. Now a smirk makes its way to the surface, favoring the unscarred cheek. "I love you." He's serious, but there's no more than that. She could take it anyway she wanted.

As Zeraph speaks, Keita slowly looks up again. She listens with the seriousness due his words, and with each word that falls regret sinks in just a little further. But it's the 'I love you' that really gets her, and for a long moment she only looks at him. Then, without warning, she limps the three steps forward and catches him in a hug, wrapping her arms around his, meeting at his back. Her head ducks briefly against his shoulder. Her words are muffled by the fabric of his shoulder. "... 'Love you too." Awr. Happy makeup hugs, even if she still is sad. And there's so much left unsaid.

Well, the buck wasn't expecting that definitely. Zeraph is glad that she is at least hugging him however. He pulls his paws from his pockets and reaches his arms around Keita to snug around her shoulders gently. Another weak smirk returns his muzzle, more relieved however than the first. Both eyes close and he dips his snout to kiss in between her ears softly, arms starting to loosen already as he figures that the doe will want out of the embrace. Even if he pets her cheek when his paw passes by there.

Keita doesn't immediately pull away... Really, it's a close thing. She allows the kiss and she allows the petting... but in the end, of course, she pulls away. It's an awkward back-hopping step to the wall again, where she leeeeeans. She looks tired and subdued. And speechless. No, seriously. She doesn't say anything.

Zeraph folds his arms across his chest now that he has nothing else to do with them. Well he could hide his paws again, but nah.. He watches Keita, speechless himself. Finally though he starts to turn. "Alright.. So.." Hah. At least everyone feels better.

... Hum. Recovering her faculties, speech among them, she gives Raph a rather odd look all of a sudden. "... Where's yer uniform?"

Pause. Oh. She noticed. Zeraph glances down as if this has just been made aware to him now as well. "I took it off.." That seems a simple enough answer.

... Um. "Yeah. I noticed. Why? Ya don't often... change yer outfit just t' come fer a visit." Well, at least this has given her something else to focus on.

"I haven't been wearing my uniform for... days now. And you just noticed?" Seriously, he's curious if she just noticed. o_o Raph shrugs as he stays there so near to the steps. He's not sure what else to say.

"Yeah. Well. I was kinda avoidin' you. Or hadn't ya noticed?" She eyes him suspiciously. "But that's not an answer."

Zeraph decides to just outright answer this time. "I was thinking about leaving. I was going to resign to do so.." Both ears splay to the sides, now thinking hard about this subject.

... Whoa. Keita looks completely taken aback, her eyes widen slightly. She... shakes her head, looking confused. "... Uh. Why? Leave to where?"

"Complicated reasons.. And I didn't know /where/ to, just that I wouldn't be here anymore." Zeraph locks eyes with Keita this time. He's serious. ".. So I don't know."

.... Wow. That's a teensy bit mind-blowing. And not in the good sense. Keita... doesn't move. She doesn't really even breathe, for a moment. As if she'll upset the balance and he'll just be gone. Finally, eventually... "You don't know." She seems to pause, processing this information for another few seconds. Then, "Complicated. How complicated?"

"Everything is complicated. Seems to be all the time. Guess I supposed that I needed a very /long/ break." Zeraph eyes her sideways, then looks around him. Maybe he's not sure what to make of her reaction. "Well, I don't suppose you would care of my resignation anyway, right?"

Quinten is in the process of walking through the front door of the Tavern when he hears the end of Zeraph's words, the young buck stumbles to a halt and stares at Zeraph, paw on the doorhandle and eyes fixed on him. "Lieutenant...did you say..resignation?"

"I care if you /leave/... Don't care where do yer /stayin'/... I-" But there's that darling lad Quinten, again. She tries to hide the grimace that forms, looking away and toward the opposite wall with oddly narrowed eyes. She'll let Raph chat with the chattery one.

There isn't much time to stare at Keita, because Zeraph's attention slowly turns towards Quinten. Finally he speaks out. "Don't call me Lieutenant please.." As.. he's not in uniform.. and all that? Yeah..

Quinten nods his head and falls silent for a moment fiddling with his uniform. "Sorry Zeraph...is it true though?" he glances at Keita and then back at Zeraph."

Keita has looked back long enough to catch Quinten's glance. She returns it, completely deadpan. Blinkblink. Let him get his answers from Zeraph. She pushes off the wall, limping slowly across the hall to lean against the office door facing them, resting her paw on the door handle. Something to fiddle with.

Zeraph grits his back teeth as he scowls at the floor boards. Not really moving for the time being. "True that I said .. resignation? Yes." Seems that he wasn't quite wanting others to hear that part. Or something. Keita's travel is watched out of the corner of his eye. Now he doesn't know what to do.

Quinten nods his head, "I'll just pretend i didn't hear anything Zeraph...." he trails off and shuffles not entirely sure what to do now. "Can i at least know what happened? Or shall i just leave?"

Keita stares down at the floorboards also. They're a rather fascinating sight, really. All those little knots in the wood, the old mud stains that never come out no matter how much you scrub... Oh, bother, there's another one. The doe squints, leaning forward to get a better look.

"Nothing important happened. I wasn't kicked out.. And I've not left. Yet." Zeraph glances to the doe again, to see her reaction. Maybe he's still not sure if he will however. She seemed to care so much... He's biting at his bottom lip a little bit.

Quinten shiuffles and nods his head, "Ok Zeraph as i said, i didn't hear anything." he turns and goes to open the door leading back out.

When Quinten opens the door leading out, Keita turns the knob to her office, looking around to Zeraph again. Silently, she nods for him to follow her, turning to disappear into the office.

Zeraph watches Quinten as he heads out, without knowing what else to say. However that nod gets him to actually follow Keita into her office without argument. XD

Halyard Tavern: Office

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Halyard Tavern ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The office is rather cozily furnished. A large wooden desk serves as the

central focus of the room, with a comfortable looking wheely chair on one

side and two slightly less comfortable but still serviceable chairs situated

on the other side. The desk is covered in papers, in a perpetual state of

messiness. One wall is lined with bookshelves, though several of the shelves

are lined with various knick-knacks rather than books. Two shelves are

devoted entirely to various old and expensive-looking bottles of alcohol. A

small, framed painting is the only other decoration in the office. It

appears to be an artist's rendering of the mountain of Salamandastron. An

oft-closed doorway rests in the far corner of the room,leading to a private

area.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Visible Exits:

[O]ut to [E]ntrance [S]tairs to [L]iving [Q]uarters

Once Keita is into the room, she waits by the door for Zeraph to enter, and as soon as he has she pushes the door to behind him. She leans forward against it for a long moment, her paw on the handle, before turning to look at Zeraph. She holds back a sigh, looking at the other. "... So."

"So?" Zeraph has entered further into the room than Keita, looking at her expectantly. He seems to almost be standing professionally, or as if expecting something, even as he casually leans against the desk.

He gets looked at for another long moment, as if there's something to be wary about, there. He's really concerned her, the little brat. But the moment of staring ends rather anti-climactically. With a sigh and a sagging of her shoulders, she releases the door handle and limps forward toward the desk. She appears to be walking directly toward him. But... at the last moment she diverts, walking around him to the chair. She shakes her head. "... Sorry. I need t' sit." Another deep breath that's not quite a sigh, and she sinks into the chair, not sitting back but rather leaning forward, resting her elbows on her knees and her head in her paws. "... so I don't know. How long've you been thinkin' about this?"

"Not very long considering.. but for a little while." This is what Zeraph states out softly as he turns towards Keita slowly, ears folding over. He's not sure what's wrong with her, or he is worried that he has seemed to concern her so much. His paw flexes in and out of a loose fist while contemplating the doe. "Are you alright?"

Keita hehs. She dips her head in a nod, her paws shifting with the movement. "Yeah. I just-" and she gestures at her back. "Hurts." She lets one paw fall away from her head to kind of gesture vaguely at... nothing. "Coupla days ago. Sea rats. Was a whole... damsel in distress... thing." Rooooight. She hehs again and slowly sits back, bringing her one leg up bent at the knee to perch on the edge of the chair, wrapping her arms around it. The doe lifts her head, tilting her head back enough to reveal the narrow strip of bandage. "'Parently I talk too much. Who woulda thought?" She rolls her eyes, shaking her head, feeling... very awkward for some reason. She plays the smirk card, to hopefully alleviate it. "And you want t' leave all this? Psh - you'd miss it too much."

Suddenly a very serious look takes over Zeraph's expression as his fist balls into a for-real-fist. "Sea rats? K, why didn't you tell me.." And the Lieutenant is back. Even without the uniform, it is quite apparent he is an officer again as he straightens, a scowl forming. The soldier seems to not think of this as so funny anyway. ".. you had help though?" One palm flattens onto the top of the desk, looking Keita over as he leans forward a bit. He doesn't answer the part about wanting to leave just yet.

"... Well. T' be fair, this /was/ the first time I saw ya since then..." She trails off, getting the impression that her humor probably won't be appreciated at the moment. That 'talking too much thing' again. She nods. "Yeah." She hehs, "Darklett, actually. I came across him up against three rats, sooo... smart me, I figured I could talk 'em off with promises of drinks. I mean. It works in the /tavern/, why not on the beach, y'know?" She glances up at him as he looks at her, then away, shaking her head. "/He/ was just fine, 'course, killed all three of 'em." After a few seconds, she shrugs. "... Mostly I'm just an idiot 'n' don't know when t' shut up." She hehs. "Sound familiar?" If there's anyone that's had to deal with Kei's tongue getting away from her, it's Raphy dear.

Zeraph notes that Keita can't quite keep her focus on him right now, so he settles back into an almost casual position and nods in understanding. "I suppose... Well I'm glad you're alright anyway.." His paw slips off of the desktop as he begins to mess with the fingers of the other, then rubs across his knuckles. "Sometimes there are vermin even /you/ can't deal with, K." He is nervously licking at the inside of his cheek now that he is done speaking. Raphy dear has nothing more to say it seems.

"... Yeah." Very subdued, this evening. Keita just isn't Keita if she's not happy. And the awkward silence seems to accentuate this, and so... she puts on a smirk and looks up at him, this time holding his gaze. "Ah well. 'Least I have an excuse t' take less bartendin' shifts." The smirk softens into a grin and she shrugs, looking briefly toward the stairs. "Oh. Hey. Are you stayin' for the night? Yer welcome t' a room."

Zeraph glances towards the stairs when the brief look is given to them. There isn't really any talk of 'you're not happy so that's not right' or anything like that. Actually Raph just doesn't mind it at all, or even if he does perhaps it doesn't matter to him right now. "Good excuse as any... But sure I guess I could stay the night..." That is trailed off.

Keita dips her head in a nod, looking satisfied at his answer. She's made the decision not to be apprehensive anymore tonight, so! "All righ'. Good. That's settled, then." She looks toward the door, again, this time just settling her gaze, there. "Any room that's empty's fair game. Haven't got any folks rentin' righ' now, so it's jus' the coupla tendahs livin' in 'em 'n' my room."

Immediately Zeraph starts for the stairs. "Good. I'll take your room again then." And so it all starts anew. The evil, childishness of them both. He goes to begin hurriedly up them as if expecting her to come after him at any moment.

... Uh! Keita's jaw drops open and for several seconds she just... stares after him. Then she's struggling up rather frantically from her chair, like it's life or death, and is limp-hopping after him. Back pain be damned, this is serious! "Oh you little /brat/!" And up the stairs she goes after him.

Awww, the pet-name has been returned. XD The brat is grinning as he slows his process up the stairs. "Need me to take it easy on you?" Zeraph is grinning. Maybe being happy will make it all better. But he /does/ also not want to hurt her. He has turned to makes whimsy of it all at the top of the stairs.

"Oh you c'n just shove /that/ where the sun don't shine..." She limps rather determinedly after him, 'barrelling' down on him as she approaches the top of the stairs. Okay. Well. Maybe it's not so much a 'barrel' as a sippy cup. Shhhhh. "You really." Step. "Are." 'Nother step. "Impossible." And she's at the step below him, paws resting on the walls to either side. Grump. XD

With the quickness of a hare /without/ a peg leg, Zeraph turns and sprints off down the hall as if he's a dibbun being chased by a very grumpy mother - yet they think it's all a game until they are caught. He skids to a halt a few doors down from Keita's room, then starts back towards it /slowly/. The buck is going to watch her 'sippy cup' process. XD

When he runs off, she limps out onto the landing and faces the other buck from the opposite end of the wall. Her paws rest on her hips for a long moment and then... she smirks. "Fine, then." And her head cants to the side, meeting Zeraph's no doubt cheeky grin. "We'll just share the room." Haaaaaaa. XD And she starts limping forward at a leisurely pace. She considers him thoughtfully for a moment. "Now, I /can't/ remembah. What side of the bed d'you prefer?" XDD There is totally a couch in there, but if she mention that, she wouldn't be /winning/, now would she? Or she wouldn't perceive herself to be, anyway. After all, Zeraph could still pull it all out on his next serve.

Zeraph eyes Keita thoughtfully as he comes level with the door. Finally he smirks, returning her expression and nods his head. "Alright.." He says this as his paw comes to rest upon the knob lightly, ears perking fully. "If that's what you want." Indeed there is now a cheeky grin. "So I prefer the left, remember?" XD So.. she won? Probably not.

Keita continues forward, reaching the door - what with the sippy cup pace - far after him. With a gleam in her eye and her own cheeky grin on her lips, she closes her paw over his over the door knob. And turns it. Eyebrow waggle. "Just don't take all the blankets, this time." And she goes to pull the door open and head inside.

If the doe is expecting a bluff to be called, then she'll be waiting a /long/ time. Zeraph leans down as he twitches his nose much like a rabbit, grinning. "Good deal." And the door is tugged open - with both of their efforts - and he goes after her inside, closing it behind him casually. Oh well.