Misunderstandings (or Tea Makes Everything Better)

Characters: Aikuen, William, Amethyst, Ella, Venei

Location: Moledeep

Moledeep: Mole Hall

Aikuen is sitting at the table with his pack. Many things litter the table. His kits, broken swords. Several multicolored filled vials. Piles of cloth, and heavy thread. Aik is currently sewing bits and pieces for the Kit, for Amy. Adding pouches and sleeves for the vials. He sews very good for someone of his nature.

William is laying across a loveseat in the hall seemingly asleep though he might not be. It can be hard to tell with some beasts.

Aikuen hums and sings, a light little tune, "Hmmmm Hmmm Hmmm... Winter, spring... Summer and fall... These are things. That no one can control... at all..." its very slow, and very quiet. He bites off a bite of excess thread with his teeth, before checking the stitching. Then trying to pull off the sleeve. Very tight, "Ah. Good then..." he moves the needle over to the next area, which is a pouch looking thing. Aik knows Will is in here. That's why he is trying to be quiet. Thinks he is asleep.

William had been sleeping but now he watches the otter through a half opened eye. The rat remains still as he watches.

Aikuen continues to hum, not seeing, nor expecting for the rat to be watching, "The seasons. Are here every year... Bringing life. Though why is still unclear." He whips the cloth to make it less crumpled, and he continues on. He works fast and without mistake. Up until a point, where he yawns loudly. Then his head crashes onto the table. And he begins. To snore. The cloth needle and thread, fall to the floor. And the spool rolls away from him.

William slowly sits up and stretches before walking over and picking up the dropped items so little beasts and the blind wont have a chance to find or step on them. He pokes the otter experimentally asking, "Long day?"

Aikuen startles awake, at the poke "HUH!?" and in his fit of awakening the chiar falls back, with him still in it. It lands with a loud crunch and he the otter is almost flung from the chair, about a few feet. He rolls on his back and he grits, "Ow..." and he closes his eyes.

William blinks and kneels down next to the otter. "Are you alright, Pa? Didn't mean t startle ya."

Aikuen blinks up at Will, "Hey. It's. It's alright. My back did not enjoying it though... Im still not used to being poked awake..." he sighs and places his arms over his chest, "Im guessing i feel asleep?" he asks, like he doesn't really know.

"Yeah you were working on something and just dropped off. Thought it was kinda odd given th time of day. You dropped some stuff so I picked it up. Don't want t think what the twins could do with a spool of thread. Probably trap th place better than we could. You sure you're alright? I didn't mean t wake you really I was just wondering why you fell asleep like that in th middle of th day." the rat says.

Aikuen goes to run his face with his tired paws, "Hmm... So. I just dropped off?... I don't even remember it..." he takes a deep breath, before returning his paws to his chest, "Thanks. And i guess I'm alright... Just. Haven't been sleeping well lately. Ever since you told me..." Paws to the face again, "...There is just so much to do... We are so unprepared..."

William sighs, "I know we're unprepared. Even if we had an army we'd be unprepared but you need to get sleep some how or we'll be worse off. You're th best fighter we have so if you're not in good condition it'll be worse then just being unprepared." The rat says, "Don't start blaming yourself either. I'm not /trying/ t run you down. But working yourself t death or worrying yourself t death is bad for all of us."

Aikuen sighs, "I'm not blaming myself. It isn't my fault... It's the Abbey's... Should have sent him to blasted hell gates. And be done with it..." he grunts, then grits, "Okay... Dont do that..." he takes a deep breath, "Im getting to old for this..." he sits up and he pops his back. And it sounds just awful, "...Ow..."

William says, "I couldn't agree more. But we can't do anything about it except fight if the fox comes here or go somewhere safer and given the only safer place I can think of right off is Redwall that doesn't seem like much of an option. You're old but you're also one of the few that knows what they're doing."

Aikuen slowly gets up from the ground, going to pick up the chair, and set it right. He then leans heavily against it, "That is very true. Maybe the fox wont find this place... One can hope... Right?" he sighs and closes his eyes, "Wishful thinking..." he smiles slightly at the rat, "Thanks. I'm glad that my skills are used for something again. Other than fighting for a country..." he shakes his head.

William hmms, "I guess. This way you're fighting for family instead of a bunch of other beasts." He shrugs not knowing what to do.

Shouting can be heard coming from the hall and what might be music but is better known as torture. Amy comes in holding Ella on her hip with her lute gripped in her the paw that isn't around the otter. Ella is trying to play the lute and is singing er shouting out a made up song. Venei follows behind also singing when she isn't asking for a turn with the lute. Amy doesn't look to be enjoying this as is actually trying to remove her lute from Ella's paws but the otterbabe isn't give it up.

Aikuen nods, "Thats always worth fighting for." he grins and then looks over toward the sound, "Heh. Sounds like little Firas' are trying to break out a song..." he chuckles, "Having fun Amy? Need any help?" he slowly walks over.

William says, "You did need cheering up." He did as well but that doesn't need to be said.

Amethyst is trying to explain to Ella for the hundredth time, from the look on her face it seems that way, that her lute is not a toy. "A little help with an otter thief would be nice. She wanted to hold it and since it's not 'my turn' they wont give it back." Venei pipes up, "Els had long turn!"

Amethyst room-pages, "Good. I don't like to spoof others charcters but I then I had the idea for Amy's intro. ^.^;".

Aikuen snorts, "Heh. Come on Ella. Give back her lute. It's not yours"

Ella says, "Is mines turn"

Venei says, "No is nots. Is mines!"

Aikuen says, "Shush you two..." he goes over and grips the lute with one hand and then slowly pinches tightly the root of Ella's rudder. Before picking her up that way.

She erks loudly and lets go of the lute, "Ow! Da-dy!" she ergs and then Aik sets her on the ground. She frowns at him.

Aikuen says, "Say sorry to Amy..."

Ella blinks, "..."

Aikuen exclaims, "Ella Govi Tazan!"

Ella says, "...Sorries Ama..."

"That's not how it was supposed to work. Beasts that take my things tend to get very hurt. You didn't even let Venei have her turn. And Aik seems to have taken my lute. .... Clearly Kentar did not tell anyone how dangerous that can be." Amy says, holding out a paw for the return of her lute.

William smiles when the three come in then stays out of the way while Aik deals with Ella.

Ella frowns at Amy, and crosses her arms. Still angry. But defeated all the same. Aik ohs, and is going to give back the lute, "Sorry. Didn't want Ella to break it, when removing it from her paws." But then when Amy says 'tend to get very hurt', he holds it back, "What? Are you threatening my young?" he frowns.

Amethyst says, "No, I am stating a fact. If I had intended to hurt either of them I would have already but that would cause problems. I'm not going to treat them the same as an grown beast who, as Kentar found out, /would/ get hurt for taking something of mine."

Aikuen taps his claws on the belly of the lute, "Listen. I am a very simple otter. But you will never hurt my young. Joking. Threat. Or otherwise. I don't care if they break your lute. I don't care when they are older and full grown. I will tell you the same thing Fira told me. If you ever hurt them. I will make sure your head and body are dumped in the ocean, on opposite sides of the country." he still holds back the lute.

William says, "Aikuen. You really need to go get some sleep. You know she wouldn't hurt th twins. She just said she wouldn't. If you keep it you'll just make her mad."

Amethyst glares in the direction of the otter and Will. "Mad? Why would I be mad? I'll just have to except I can't have nice things," Amy says angrily.

Aikuen looks over to Will, "I sometimes threaten things, as a joke. But this is one of the things..." he looks back to Amy, "...That Amy, or anybeast... should NEVER JOKE around about... Amy. Nice things are... nice. And i do want you to have them..." he holds out the lute, but keeps a good grip on it, "But you have to understand. That things break. If the twins do break/take it. Just tell me. I will pay to have it replaced. And i will deal with the twins accordingly..." he sighs, "So even if you were joking... I still want you to appoligize to me..."

"I was not joking nor was I threatening anyone. However were a beast to suddenly take my lute without warning I would attack them. This doesn't NOT apply to the twins. I has NEVER applied to them or Chris or ANY other child for that matter. AS for when the twins are grown I would expect them by then to know better than to take things from others. ... I'm sorry you don't seem to understand English." the blind maid says heatedly. Amethyst does not take kindly to being accused of harming children. She can't understand why Aik thinks she would threaten his daughters as she adores them just as she does Kentar's younger sons.

Aikuen tilts his mouth at the rat before closing his eyes, "Amy. I grow tired..." he sighs and hands it back to her, "...Of you... You are very tactless beast... and it tires me..." he shakes his head before heading back to the table and sitting down. He speaks very quietly, "You know i have been only speaking English for little more than a year now. I had to teach myself. Sorry if i don't quite get things. But all i hear when you say 'Beasts that take my things tend to get very hurt' and my daughters are involved. Sorry if i only see red and hate. I know you wont hurt them..."

William half thought Aik would attack Amy but he hadn't. The rat isn't sure if he should be glad or not. He is glad Aikuen didn't attack Amy but this isn't any better. "You have your lute back," he says flatly to Amy hinting that she should leave or at the least not say anything else.

Amethyst is quite. Her whole body seems to slump forward after she takes the lute and she just stands there holding it limply. She hasn't hear any sounds from the otter twins through the whole augment and wonders what they're doing. Had they been scared? Was anyone watching them? "... I'm sorry ..." she says softly. This is probably aimed at Aikuen but it could be to anyone in the room.

Both otter twins had retreated a little bit behind the male rat. Scared and confused. All this yelling. They have heard stories of Aik's past. They hold each others rudder for comfort. And then tilt their head at Amy. Aik looks over to Amy when she apologizes, "... Your favorite tea is... Jasmine? Am i correct?" he asks softly.

William puts a paw around each of his sisters, hugging them. "It'll be ok," he says comforting them, "See, they're not yelling anymore. They wont hurt each other. And none of us are mad at you two." He really hopes he's right.

Amethyst is quiet a while longer, trying to compose herself some before answering. "... It's Mint actually. ... don't think I've tired Jasmine before." She tries to smile but it very watery as she's not feeling very happy right now.

Both little otters hug back Will, "Is k?" Venei asks.

Ella is till holding onto her sisters rudder, "...I is sorries..." but she doesn't know for what. But she is.

Aikuen smiles and nods, "Mint... I will be right back then. With both..." he slowly get up from the table and heads for the kitchen. He shortly returns with a tray. One big steaming pot, two kettles and four cups. One kettle is Mint, while the other is jasmine. He sets them down and starts to pour the mint tea first, "Please Amy. Would you join me, for a nice cup of tea..." he continues to say quietly. He scoots open one chair, then goes to sit on another chair next to the first one.

Amethyst nods, "Yes. ... Thank you." She makes her way over to the table bumping into the chair Aik had pulled out for her. Oddly she doesn't say anything about it and just sits down.

William sighs hugs his sisters tightly, "Look they said sorry and are not mad anymore." He pats Ella, "Thanks. You and Venei want something from th kitchen too?"

Aikuen erks when she bumps into the chair, "Oh. Sorry..." and when she sits down he pushes the saucer with the cup near Amy, in her paws reach, "Here is a nice cup. Garnet thinks i brew it better than she herself... Though she will never admit it aloud..." he grins and sighs, "I hope its to your liking..."

Ella nods slowly at Will, "Ayes..." smiling a bit, that nothing is going to go down.

Venei nods too, "Glad they is nots mad..."

William nods moving his paws to ruffle the twins heads, "Me too. Very much so. It's not good when they're mad. So are you two gonna have tea with them or find something better in th kitchen with me?"

Amethyst takes the cup and slips it. "Mmmmm." A smile slowly forms on her face. "It is good. Thank you." She feels around the table with her other paw, "Who are the other two cups for?" she asks.

Aikuen smiles at her, "You are very welcome... And they are for the jasmine tea. Don't want to mix it with the mint. Might spoil the flavor of both..." he gets up and pours the jasmine into the other cups, putting it near her as well, "You said. You have never tried it..." he glances back to Will, at his remark, "Hey. Tea is a very refined drink!" he turns back to Amy, "He just doesn't know what he is missing..." Venei nods at Will, standing up. Ella does the same, but is more vocal, "Yes! Like... cookies..." she giggles.

William grins as he leads Ella and Venei into the kitchen, "You two can be refined. We're gonna get cookies!"

Amethyst ohs and takes the cup of Jasmine tea to try and briefly chokes on her tea at Will's announcement. "... Thanks so much for sharing that with us, Dear." She shakes her head with a sly smile, "Garnet may have other ideas for you three."

Aikuen chuckles at both rats, "Heh. That's right. She was just about to start cooking dinner when i was in there... So. Id be careful!" he grins, then goes back to Amy, "So. Hows the tea? I kinda like it. Its a bit fruitier then the others. And i like to add, a bit of honey..." he smiles, sighs. Then reaches over and patting her paw softly on the top.

"I like it. Mint's still my favorite but this is good too." When her paw is patted she asks, "Did you ever get the feeling back in your paw after the mushroom thing?"

Aikuen nods, "Everyone is particular. My wife likes ginseng. I find it too overpowering..." he chuckles and takes back his paws, "Yes. I got feeling back in about a few hours. You did very well applying it... Speaking of which..." he gets up to grab the in progress kit, "I am almost done with your kit... Just have to sew a few more things on..." he smiles, "Want me to make something of it? I mean... Would you like something put on it. Like. And insignia... or your name. Something to make it just yours..."

Amethyst hmms, "... Could you put a rose on it? A rose with thorns?" It's the closest thing she has to an personal symbol.

Aikuen rubs his chin as he looks at the cloth, "Lets see... Yes. I think it can be done. I will put it right here..." he points, "Next to the flap. So when you wear it. All the world will see it..." he smiles, "Ill be glad to do it... It will be colored. And if i can get it right. Textured. So it can feel close to the real thing... but... in cloth form..." he chuckles.

Amethyst nods feeling the kit where Aik had said the symbol would be. "Do it however you want but it doesn't have to be fancy."

Aikuen says, "Ill do my best. Whatever i can do, to it." he sighs and puts the kit away, then taking a large gulp from his cup, "We will start more lessons... Probably tomorrow. After i get a good nights sleep. Havent been sleeping well. To much to worry..." but he chuckles, "But! I will try to be better! For everyone..." From the kitchen Ella says loudly, "But i donts like onions!" Aik laughs

"If you don't like onions you shouldn't try to sneak cookies," Amy calls out upon hearing the little otter. "Is Garnet making you help her?" she asks. "Will should have known better," she says to Aikuen.

"Garny is makin mes sorts onions... they is smells. and makey my eyes hurted..." Ella groans.

Venei says, "Da is not dats bad... I have the sniffly..."

Garnet is then heard, "UG! You sick otter. Get away from your sister..."

Venei shouts, "Yay! I'm free!"

Ella exclaims, "Meanie!"

Aik chuckles, "We warned them. The magic of tea. Works in wondrous ways..."

Amethyst nods a little smiling.

Aikuen smiles, getting up from the table. He goes over to Amy's side and places a paw on her shoulder, "Amy. I really appreciate what you do... With the kids... Everything... Thank you..." he pats her once or twice before starting to pack his things, "I will be trying to get some sleep now... Its been nice talking to you... And i will get to work on that rose... Keep an eye on my children will you... I hope the wont be too much trouble..." he hefts his pack, "If you ever need anything. I'm always here to help anyway i can." he smiles before heading off into the sleeping hall.

Amethyst says, "I will. I may soon need to know how to mix up potions for stomach complaints if Garnet's planning on using those onions any time soon."

Groups:

• Moledeep