A Very Long Day Part Two: A Long Evening Talk
Location: Redwall Abbey
Characters: Orph, Aikuen and Zen
Orph shakes Aikuen lightly, "Are you awake?"
Saja actually has to stifle a chuckle as he watches the dibbun attempt to get at the cake. He discretely pushes a chair towards the dibbun, hoping he'll get the hint. A vermin, teaching others bad habits? How horrible!
Aikuen clasps his head when Orph shakes him, "Whoh matey, stop with the earthquake! Ugggg my head!!!!" He walks over to the table and sits down. His head is throbbing, Course eleven flasks of drinks will do that to you. He gives a chance look to all the beasts in the room. He nods his head at Saja, "Good..." He glances at the high windows "umm... Evening..."
Zen falls back with the cake... ugh, what a mess! Wait, no! The cake is simply sitting ontop of him! he chuckles a little as he squirms out from under the cake, grinning widly. "I... I DID IT!!! TEHAAHAHAA!!!"
Saja nods in return. "Good evening." The vulpine reaches into a satchel, pulling out a flask. He takes a long swig, giving a satisfied 'ahh'. "Ahh...better. Hmm...I wonder what sorts of drinks this Abbey has..." Then, there's suddenly a cake sitting upon a dibbun. He frowns towards the 'kit'. "Did...you not wish to /eat/ the cake, young kit?"
Orph walks over to Aikuen shaking his head, "Drunk aren't you. Though you could help me with somethin'. Guess not. I'll find somebeast sooner or later ..." he grumbles at his ill luck and wanders off.
Zen grins and bounces up, glancing at Saja. "Teheh, I's trying to steals the cake! I has it now!!" He chuckles and grins, sticking his paw in it and cramming a bit into his muzzle. He then starts to drag it over to the fireplace. "Heheheh!! I win! I win!"
Aikuen yells back at Orph, "No wait mate, I'm not drunk... at least not anymore.... What do you need?" He looks at Orph his eyes are a little red, but they are focused and set.
Saja sighs a bit. "The point of theft is..." He shakes his head. "...Nevermind."
Orph stops and chews on his lip some, "Think you can handle another long talk from ol' Master Redfang?"
Zen smiles and grins, now setting by the fireplace and eatting the cake with his paws. "Hehe, I gots a cake though!" He then starts to dig in!
Aikuen slaps his knees, and then says, "Aye matey, what ever you need... But just wait a moment, ill be right back." He gets up from the table and heads off toward the kitchen.
Saja shakes his head at the dibbun, laughing at the beast.
Zen eats about a good half of the cake before stopping and hugging his stomach. "Bleh! I... don' feels so goods.. but I stoles the cakes!" He giggles, then coughs, then giggles more! Wobbling to his feet, he falls over!!! Ugh!!! So now, he's laying in the cake he stole, stuffed with it too.. What a mess... What does Zen have to say? "Tehehehaha!!!! I's mousie cake!!! TEHEHAHAH!!!"
Aikuen returns from the kitchen, a big ol' pitcher of something in his right paw. He sits back down at the table, and takes a good swig from the whole thing. Wiping his mouth, and felling a lot better, He says, "Alright Master Redfang sir, Please tell me what is up..."
Orph looks around at the other beast and then back at Aikuen, "Better sit somewhere outta the way first."
Aikuen nods his head, "Alrighty mate, just lead the way... Oh just a sec...." He sees that Zen had fallen in the cake... Walking over to him, he grabs him by the habit and pulls him up. "Haldo Matey!" He wipes the cake of Zen's face.
Zen grumbles a bit when he's lifted out of the cake. He smiles and tries to lay back down in it. "Teheh, my cakes!" He chuckles a bit and see's if Aikuen will actually let him lay in his cake.
Orph barely glances at Zen, "Maybe we should go outside then, too crowded in here. Good food though." Orph heads for the entry.
Aikuen pulls Zen all the way off the cake and clear off the floor. "Come on matey, that's not a good place to take a nap. You could choke and i would get blamed for it." He looks around, He is in fact the oldest beast here so, "Now promise me that you will behave until i get back... Okay?"
Orph walked out of the great hall to the grounds surrounding the Abbey. The night air felt good after being in that crowed room. He glanced up at the ramparts, that would be a good enough place as any to talk things over. "What do you think of sitting up there," he points up to the ramparts, "I seem to cause too much trouble on the ground."
Aikuen scratches his rudder, Too much trouble huh... No wonder he called himself Redfang "I follow you wherever little matey..."
Orph sits down on the Northern wall, he's chewing on his lip again. Must help him think or something.
Aikuen sits down next to Orph, sitting cross legged and crossing his arms. He breathes in the cool night air, it helps him clear his head. "Alright little mate, we are on the ramparts, Now what is it you want me to help you with..."
Orph sighs, "You remember about how I told you about my names and stuff?"
Aikuen nods his head, "Aye..."
You say, "I ... I'm not in trouble for it and it's over, but Zen and I sorta ... got mad at each other and well," he shrugs. "He kinda got the worse end," he rubs the back of his neck some, "And that fox that like Miz Layne ... um ... Flicky he was there and help fix things and all and we talked some ........ and he says he can be family number nine for me. I told him off for it. I ... been more'n a season since Ma and the other ... you know. Just been me since then, I just don't know. I don't want to be by myself all th' time, but I'm sorta used to too an' I'll likely have t' leave my tunnel, after I've been workin' so hard to fix it up better - cleanin' out the larder and all. I don't know Flicky too well, I know he's a good beast an' all, but ... I don't know what t' do. Told 'im I'd have t' think on it. And I have been, but I just don't know what t' do about it.""
Aikuen closes his eyes, thinking about what Orph said. After a long time, he asks, "So Flicktail said, that you could be part of his family..."
Orph nods, "Says he takes in orphans."
Aikuen nods, his eyes are still closed. "hmmm" Still pondering, he thinks on it... Then he says, "I’m gonna tell you something that I DO NOT want you to repeat to any other beast..."
Orph jumps a bit and nods wide-eyed unused to a serious Aikuen.
Orph says, "If it's about how he used to drag dibbuns off for slaves, then I know already. I was standin' in th' kitchen when he was talkin' t' Nic about it."
Aikuen open his eyes and looks directly at Orph, "Flicktail says that he takes in Orphans, which is true... But only with the help of the abbey. Flicktail cant even support himself." He looks off toward the abbey continuing, "The elders put up with it and some of the others do also. But Flicktail is not fit in the head to be supporting Orphans. He only asked you because he believes that it is the right thing to do..." He looks down, at his crossed arms, "An we put up with it because it makes him happy..."
Orph nods some, "So he's odd, I figured that much already. I want t' know if it'd be a good deal or not. It's not like there's a line o' beast beatin' each other over who gets t' take me you know. Outta eight families only two of 'em cared at all about me, now that for once have a choice in the matter don't think I'm gonna just jump in with out looking first. I've learned better - the hard way. I figure you an' Corbyn an' Benar have all been around here more and might know more about Flicktail then me and that one of you'd know if he was giving me a good deal or not. I ain't never have a choice in who I got stuck with or for how long, but now I have a choice. But I don't know enough about 'em to say 'yes' or 'no' without wondering if I'd be better off to say the other."
Aikuen nods his head, looking back at Orph he softly says, "Well, if you join 'Flicktails Family' You will be actually joining the abbey... So yes you can say its a good deal... Compared to be living all by yourself out in a tunnel... At least here you'll be protected and cared for..."
rph chews on his lip some more, "I'd rather keep my tunnel. Course he said he don't mind my going off explorin' so he probably wouldn't care about me stayin' in my tunnel or much less either," he growls a bit, "I've been through eight families, most of 'em didn't care nothing for me. I'd be in one that did one thing and next in other that did the exact opposite. Everybeast had their own rules and I'll bet 'Letin' William Redfang through the front door' was on the list of 'Don'ts' right along side 'if he gets in anyhow throw him out the back and fast'. I bet I've got the worst luck somedays."
Aikuen places his arm around Orph, "Listen matey, Even though you have been through Eight families, you can find one here. Because here, you not treated as an unwanted 'Vermin' " Yes, he did just use that term to describe Orph, "but as a member of a greater community all here to help you grow, and be your all. Then when your old enough you can go back to your tunnel, and live there for the rest of your days..."
Orph stands up and walks around the corner to the ladder, "Go I could go now? I don't want to be stuck here like then I was in trouble. Maybe one day I might be alright with stayin' here like some beast do. The Abbey is nice and firendly and all and lot of beast call it home, but this is /not/ home for me. I have a /home/ already."
Orph stomps in upset and sit by the fire with Zen.
Zen is laying down by the fireplace, all nice and neat. Not a single bit of cake anywhere, everything is neat and tidy. He then blinks, glancing at Orph. "Ughn... uh?"
Aikuen enters the Great Hall he seems a little disgruntled, he goes to the table and sits down, forgetting about his hangover he grabs a drink and chokes it down.
Orph stares at the fire trying to calm himself.
Zen blinks at the two, then shakes his head and goes back to watching the fire. He's had a good time and is in a 'I only care about me being happy' mood! Besides, he managed to steal the cake! He mrrs softly.
Aikuen cant take it anymore. He throws the flask he is holding against the wall. It shatters in a million pieces and the contents splatter everywhere. He places his head into his paw and leans back into the chair... Brooding to himself...
Orph digs in his pouch and pulls out a dirty green and brown length of cloth, "They never listen, or they try an' take everything away. Don't mind the yelling or gettin' hit or being called names. They always take and take and take!" He fishes in his pouch and pulls out some pebbles which he proceeds to toss with great force into the fire."
Zen glances up at Aikuen, then he gets to his feet. He doesn't want to be around this... he can't be.. He alawys ends up hurt in situations like these. He goes to the opisite side of the great hall and hides under a chair...
Out of pebbles to throw Orph begins looking around for something else. With a sigh he grabs a green candle, "This better work." he mutters crossly as he moves away from the fire and beings to run his paws cross the candle as he stares at it as though he were looking for a opening or something in it. Slowly it seems a new pile of green wax flecks fall down like the white ones before them once did.
Zen sniffles and cries under the chair, he keeps quiet though, not wanting to be seen..
Orph walks over to the table and sets the candle down. It still looks like a candle but a closer look would show crude pictures drawn all around it. Orph looks over at Aikuen, ears down looking sad rather than angry now. "I know it doesn't really help ... but I'm sorry." He walks over to Zen's chair and squats down to ruffle his ears but stops short not sure if he should. "If I'm not around then I'll be at my tunnel - should anyone want me." he calls as he climbs the stairs.
Aikuen looks up at the candle, grabbing it and looking at it. he Smiles tearfully, but no tears come out. "Hes a good un' id give him that... " He stands up and draws his sword from the sheath, placing it on the table. Removing his left arm from the sling and placing it on top of the blade, then placing his other paw on top of that, he makes an oath, "I, Captain Aikuen Tazan, Well protect the well being of Orph, Zen and the other beings of Redwall... Till the day my sword will no longer be able to defend them, by the death of the wielder..." He tilts his head down, he is quiet and unmoving...
Orph sits down on a bed in the bunk room not sure how what was mean to be a nice friendly talk had turned into yet another fight. "What is wrong with me. I should be happy here.
I should go back down there and talk to him. I should ... I /should/ have stayed put like I was told and starved to death too, but I didn't.
I didn’t.”
Orph sighs, “I need to go back in there and …. and maybe just be there.
It’s better than doing nothing.”
Well here goes.”
Orph softly walks back down the stairs looking around to try and see what Aikuen's mood is.
Aikuen has finished with his oath, he removes his right paw and places his left arm back into the sling. Sighing he reaches for the short sword on the table, He hears moving in the background, but its probably just Zen, moving to another chair. He looks at where Zen used to be, but he's not there anymore... Then he sees Orph coming down the stairs. He smiles and says with some difficulty, "ummmm thank you, for the ummm... Candle its very nice..." He closes his eyes.
Orph bobs his head some, "It ... help more than other things, to that and all. I /am/ sorry, Aikuen." coming to the landing to walks straight over to the otter keeping his back straight and his head up, "I'm ... if you want to punish me or something, I'm ready for it." He braces himself clearly expecting to be struck. No doubt this was how others had punished him for loosing his temper. Maybe for other things as well.
You say, "Sister Sunrose woould likely faint if she saw me with this. It's nice and it much better than a kitchen knife, thank you. But it still doesn't answer my question. What should I say the next time I see Flicktail, I could ignore him I guess, but that won't help anything. You didn't seem to think saying 'yes' would be good but no beast around here much like the way I've been doing things as it is." He lays the dagger on the table twisting the dirty green and brown mottled former sleeve in his fingers, "I like tunnels better is all. Feels safer, I spent more time underground than above before it was just me and only me. I never liked it when they'd take me from a place and put me somewhere else." He looks over the fabric in his paw, "It was the only place I was long enough to have anything - anything at all. All I got now is a torn up pair a trousers, doubt any beast would believe they used to be my best ones only for wearing for special days and all, and Denny's no longer white shirt I borrowed after they didn't come back,” he rests his chin on the table tiredly.
Aikuen looks from his position at the table, "If you want to stay here then just tell Flicktail that you want too, Some beast may not like it, but most will accept you with open arms... But if you want to live in your tunnel, just tell him that you would rather live out there, then in here... He will understand...." He turns back at the wall splatter. "I cant make your decisions for you, i can only give my opinion which you have heard...Either way, just tell him what you want... here we don't force beasts to do things that they don't want too... and he will understand" He repeats for emphasis.
Orph bites his tongue, he'd told that before, he'd been told a lot of things before though. "The Abbey is a nice place and the beasts here are mostly nice ones. I'm sure Nic and Sister Sunrose and all the rest could list loads of reason for it, but still hits me as awful strange that anybeast can walk right in be they friend or foe." He glances out the window, "Looks like another night at Redwall for me. Maybe back home tomorrow." He eyes the dagger, "I'll need to get a proper belt for that, hope I don't need to use it." He carefully holds it and walks to the stairs, "Thank you for listening. And the gift. If I see Flicktail I'll ... I'll find something to say. I hope Zen's alright." he murmurs a few other such things as her climbs the stairs back tot he bunk room, "Good night!" he calls back from the stairs.
Aikuen nods, and looks toward the retreating Orph, closing his eyes, he says softly, "Night..." then to himself "William..." He turns his attention back to the table, lost in his own thoughts... of Orph, Zen, and somebeast that he had lost a long time ago...
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