The Price of Forgetfulness
Location: RW Abbey Kitchen and Great Hall
Characaters: Orph/William, Martha, Barkus, Layne, Zen, Jo, Nicodemus, Flicktail, Aikuen, NPC Sister Mary and NPC Sister Araia
RW Abbey: Kitchen
Martha gestures to where the beast went with that bowl. "Well... N-not j-just that, obviously..." She adds after a few seconds of thought. She's not sure how to describe what she does now. Move from spot to spot in the abbey throughout the day, looking for things to do. She can't say that. "I... f-find things t-to help w-with..."
Barkus follows the gesture and frowns just faintly "Nothing set then? Just doing the odd jobs at the moment?" Fae gets a glance, fox in the crowd of cooks, he will notice. He doesn't greet though, he's actually avoiding it as he looks back down to his food.
A nod will be offered should new arrivals look her way and provided Martha's looking in the right direction to notice them. But, with the tabletop being rather fascinating, Martha's eyes are directed at it, while a claw hovers just above a particular interesting gouge. She shrugs. "N-Nothing s-set. I drift. N-need to have s-something y-you're g-good at, b-before y-you c-can make a f-future of it..." If she did notice the fox, chances are she won't be too bothered. The foxes here always seem to be friendly as far as she's seen.
Orph walks into the kitchen with a grim expression on his face. "Hello. I'm here t' learn how make soup," he says trying to sound cheerful. He needs to learn how to cook and he needs an alibi for later when he 'sees' Zen.
Fae moves off into the Great Hall..
Barkus is not happy since he's sure it probably doesn't make Martha happy so the small frown's still there "Well, what are y'good at?" Orph gets a look and a bigger frown "So go learn" he's not the beast to ask.
Orph ignores the frowning edge pig and looks at Martha. "Hi, Miz Martha," he cocks his head at her, "Are ya alroight? Do you know how make soup?" he asks.
Martha knows the voice. And it's rather good timing. She has no answer for Barkus's question and turns with a puzzled expression, but a smile "William? I th-thought y-you'd left..." It's been a while, and the last time she saw him, he wasn't too happy with the Abbey. "Um... N-not v-very well... I g-get things wr-wrong..." Lucky there are cooks about though. Give them a moment, and one of them will more than likely be only too happy to grab a potential new kitchen-hand.
Barkus hunches a little. /Now/ he's grumpy, falling silent and becoming a whole lot more interested in what's left of his food.
Orph smiles at the hedge-maid. "We did leave, but now we're back to visit. Pa an' me don't live at the Abbey anymore, but we visit a lot cause neither of us can cook too good. I got learn how to so we don't starve." he says this all matter-a-factly as if starving wasn't a big deal.
Well, starvation might not be uncommon outside of the abbey. Certainly, Martha remembers being hungry, though it had little to do with not being able to cook as not being able to find much. "Abbey k-kitchen's a g-good p-place to start learning..." She says, agreeably. "Wh-where d-do you l-live now? D-did you m-meet Barkus b-before? H-he's the Cellarhog..." She offers a smile to the grumpier hedgehog. Introductions. But she's already said the ratling's name.
Barkus grunts. It's his own special greeting for those he doesn't really want to say hello to, which is a lot of beasts. Besides, his mood has gone down the drain, he's already coming up with excuses to escape.
Orph nods at Barkus, "Hello, sir. Pa an' me live at Moledeep where I was livin' fore I found the Abbey. No beasts had lived there in long time before I found it. It needs lot of cleanin' out and all the food in the larder had be thrown out cause it made me sick and it wasn't fit t' eat. The orchards are all wild and with spring only started there isn't as much to eat there as they're will be later when summer gets here. Moledeep's nice though. I go my own little room all for me and there's a well an' a kitchen and all the sorta things like the Abbey has cecpt not as big and it's not here. It not far from the River Moss and down stream a ways is Camp Willow where Kip an' Flicky and my 'cousins' live. I've only met my newest 'cousin' not any of the other ones. Flicky's sorta like my uncle cept he's nice, so I call his dibbuns my 'cousins'. Byronn's my newest 'cousin'. He's a mouse ..."
On of the cooks, Sister Mary by name, has been listen to the rat dibbun for a while and guides him off to help with some leek soup she's making. He continues to talk asking questions about the soup and what kinds of food are easiest to make and can be made quick when explorin'. The Sister answer as best she can showing him how to chop the leek up for the soup.
Martha blinks... A lot to take in. She nods, trying to process it all. "I... see... Moledeep. S-Sounds n-nice." She frowns a little. 'Flicky' has to be Flicktail and while she agrees, he is nice enough, there is just something that never seems quite right there. The frown is her only indication. She watches as the rat is led away to be taught about soup, then turns back to Barkus. "Um. I've f-forgotten wh-what we were t-talking about." Possibly. Not likely. Handy distraction though, that was.
Barkus stops listening after the first sentence or two, just blocking out the rest as he tries to ignore the rat. Yes he may be sulking a little, he's like a big grumpy child sometimes. He only looks up again when Martha speaks to him once more "Hm?...Can't remember. Work or some such" at least he's forgotten the question.
Martha nods. "Y-you told me about th-the daffodil w-wine... And th-the bluebell c-cordial... An-and how th-there's more n-need for d-drinks w-with the warm w-weather..." And this is as far as Martha prompts to. "S-so... Anything else unusual p-planned t-to experiment w-with very s-soon?"
An even better distraction for Barkus, get him thinking about work and he won't stop for a while "Ah, well, yes actually. Been poking about the gardens this mornin'. Got a bunch of stuff, mixed it up. Spring wine...Probably won't be much good, wasn't tryin' hard"
As William chops some more leeks, Sister Mary begins working on some of the other dishes, leaving the dibbun to his own devices.
"M-might s-surpise yourself... P-pottage is everything m-mixed up, and it t-tastes g-good..." Okay, so it's not exactly the same thing, at all, but Martha likes pottage... And the way it's made sounds similar. And she couldn't think of a better example. Mostly the latter.
Barkus raises a brow "Pottage? What's pottage, some sort of pie, soup or something?" has he eaten it before? Well it's possible, he doesn't usually pay a huge amount of attention at meal times, usually working at the same time.
Basket of early parsley and the shoots of wild onions-- can you still call it a wild onion if it grows in the shade of the abbey?-- slung into the crook of her elbow, Layne bustles into the kitchen. The floppy brim of her hat casts her face into a silhouette, the eyes one of the few clues that, yes, there's a mouse-head holding that hat up. The basket is destined for the table, where one of the kitchen drudgeons (Layne can call them that when she gets to escape into the gardens to work) takes it up for use in the afternoon's cooking. "I think it's like oatmeal, only with savory stuff instead of sweet."
Domesticated Onion? It doesn't sound right. She nods though as Layne gives her definition of pottage. "M-made out of all th-the l-left over f-food... Usually s-savoury. H-hello Layne." Martha tags greeting to the end with a small wave added.
Orph has chosen to experiment with the leek soup he's cooking. Adding a minced clove of garlic, half a pawful of nettle tops and sprouts to the soup, along with a few wood sorrel leaves and a liberal amount of hotroot.
Barkus looks round as there's another voice doing the answering. Short nod gets offered to the mouse "Afternoon" looking back round to Martha again a second later "Ah. Well, close enough then. Little of everything"
Layne room-pages, "They are. But Wood Sorrel tastes like sour lemon. :p Enjoy the soup.".
"H'lo, Martha. Barkus." Layne nods politely to the hedgehogs, as she bustles past on her way to the herb cabinet. Little tea, perhaps, or maybe just some ginger steeped in hot water... "What's the news in the land of kitchen today?"
Little of everything. Pottage drink. Spring wine might be rather nice. She nods. "I l-look foward t-to trying th-this..." And, as for news from the land of kitchen? What? "Um... N-nothing's on fire and William's l-learning s-soup, I think..?" A glance back to make sure she has that right.
Orph dips a spoon in the soup and tastes it before adding more hotroot to it.
Barkus gestures his fork to the food in front of him "Eatin'" there's his news given. He clears his throat quietly "Well, erm, could try the daffodil wine at some point too, since that's about ready and all"
The mousemaid peers over her shoulder through the activity of the kitchen, the rat at the small cauldron visible from here. "That so? Hurm. He asked me for soup lessons the other day, now that I think 'bout it. My soup-wisdom, hard won in the soup-mines." Lesson number one would have been to steer clear of the hotroot. Arching up on her toes, Layne slides the dried ginger down from the cupboard and gives the clay jar an experimental rattle.
Orph tastes the soup again. Still seems to be missing something ... He looks around for something else to add to it. Potatoes maybe?
"Um, certainly. I th-think I agreed n-not too l-long ago th-that I wouldn't m-mind trying n-new drinks..." The hedgemaid smiles. And. Soup mines..? Upon the moon. Guarded by a metal dragon, no doubt. An amusing image.
They're near the cheese bushes. What, nobody gets out anymore? Layne watches the rat for a little longer, then shrugs and goes for a kettle to heat some water. If he doesn't ask, she's not going to interrupt.
Orph peels and chops up a large potato dropping the pieces into the soup. He stirs it again and tastes it and naturally adds more hotroot to his concoction. "Anyone want t' try my soup?" he asks looking around. He thinks it tastes fine, but he'd like a second opinion anyway.
Tiny slight hint of a smile from Barkus, don't look close enough and might miss it. He nods once firmly "Right. Yes. Tomorrow perhaps? I'll...find some passable cups" see what you did Layne? No cup is good enough for him since his ones went missing.
Martha rather likes the idea of the soup mines on the moon... Populated by strange, whistling, woolen shrews, perhaps alongside that dragon. She nods to Barkus "Tomorrow... s-sounds g-good. I'm sure th-there are some g-good cups around..." And, with a paw raise. "Um, I'll t-try s-some, if I m-may, William?" She sort of managed to miss lunch...
Serves him right. Sort of. If he'd drop a hint they might even turn up again-- Layne's forgiven his past behavior by now. She glances warily towards the proffered soup and murmurs a warning at Martha. "Hotroot. Careful..." It's the same tone you'd use if there was a rattlesnake on the path.
Orph ladles some of the soup into a bowl for Martha and hands it to her, "It's very hot so be careful."
Barkus would never admit to being attached to a pair of cups, he'll just complain about every other cup in the abbey, it's his way! He glances to the cellar door "Well, erm, see you then. I should probably get back to work" never mind that there's soup going around he has only a day to make sure he's not going to poison Martha and find something else that actually tastes /good/ incase the experimental drinks don't.
If it's hot, Martha might well want a drink or something then in the immediate future. "You're n-not going t-to try the s-soup? Ah, um, th-thankyou, William..." She nods, noting Layne's warning. Hotroot. That's okay. Depending on quantity. Waaiit... She realises, as takes the bowl, and moves it to her lips to sip at it, that she's the only volunteer. Hm.
Layne's making a ginger infusion! She's got an excuse! She's over by the smaller hearth, watching the kettle start to dribble and sputter. She nods a farewell to Barkus-- as cautious with her partings as she is with her greetings-- and spoons some ginger into a mug. "Martha? Want a little something to drink with that? Hmm-hmm?" Handy if the level of hotroot should prove too... enthusiastic for the hedgemaid.
Orph fills a bowl for himself and another for Aikuen to try later.
Barkus shakes his head to Martha at the idea of soup tasting "No no, that's quite alright" and with a nod to Layne he's escaping for the cellars and work, such fun.
Martha waves a paw as a goodbye to Barkus, momentarily unable to talk as, first, she's sipping and then, she's a little overwhelmed by rather more hotroot than she's used to. Which, actually, is seldom any. Layne's offer of a drink gets an quiet, enthusiastic little nod. The hedgemaid looks quite flushed.
Eep. Layne warned her. She pours out some hot-- though not boiling, yet-- water and hastily hands it over. "Bread. Bread will cool that down." The kettle momentarily forgotten in her rush to help Martha, Layne bulldozes her way through the kitchen folk to snatch one of the rolls baked for tonight's supper. "Here. Bread will dull the spice of that..."
Orph cocks his head at Martha sipping from his own bowl. He puts the bowl down to ask sadly, "You don't like it?" He thought it was only Zen that didn't like hotroot soup. Oh well, more for him and Aikuen then.
Martha drinks the water first, while Layne's gone to get the bread. And tries to smile reassuringly at Orph. "N'... 's nice... J's' h-hott' than w-what 'm use' t'..." Quiet and a little breathless, but genuinely said. It is nice soup. She's not used to things so spicy. "Thankyou." To Layne, before bread is being eaten.
Orph nods smiling a little again, "So it's ok, just hotter than you like. Think Pa'll like it?"
The kettle's whistling-- screaming, in fact-- and Layne has to rush past Martha with only enough time to pass the bread over. Last thing she wants is to mess up boiling water. Then she couldn't smirk at Lucas for that anymore. She snatches up the kettle with a wet dishrag and eases it away from the fire.
Martha winces at the screaming, but nods to the rat. "Heh... 'M. He's an otter? I th-think it'll b-be fine for him..." Otters, hotroot, hotter, something. She's sure there's some rhyme about it. What she knows is that otters like hotroot, anyway.
Orph nods, "Yup, Aikeun's an otter. He and I like hotroot soup so I guess he'll like this soup too, hope so. He eats a lot of soup so I need to know how to make it. Most the things in this grow out in the woods so that'll help an there's potatoes in the gardens at Moledeep, don't know if we have any leeks though, might have t' make it without those next time."
"Leeks are easy to grow. Ask the gardener's for a few seeds." Layne's momentarily lost behind a veil of steam as she pours out the boiling water, and the smell of ginger in the kitchen waxes seven-fold.
The smell of ginger invades the dibbun's nose and while it isn't that unpleasant he's grateful for an escape from the kitchens, "Alroight, I think I'll go that now," he figures the soup will keep and there's enough cooks around that nothing bad will happen to it if he leaves it alone.
RW Abbey: Great Hall
Nicodemus asks, "Well, what more do you want? Eggs in your beer?"
Flicktail says, "um..Beer?"
Flicktail says, "ello Zen me bvroder"
Zen stretches a little, nibbling on another candied nut and gazing at the fire. He closes his eyes, squeeking softly to Flicktail. "Oh, hello." He smiles softly, but still feels awefuly tired!
Nicodemus laughs! "Ah, my age is showing I guess."
Flicktail says, "um..Fader, yer age be showin all over"
Jo looks over at zen. "ye' stay up late zen?"
Orph walks in from the entry, he's busy rearranging things in his pack and doesn't look up to see who's there. The head of a stuffed mouse toy can be seen sticking out from the top of his pack.
Jo blinks a few times.
Zen smiles at Jo, nodding his head. "Uh huh... I was." He then glances over at Orph and glances at the stuffed mouse. He doesn't pay much attention to it though, continuing to nibble on his chestnuts.
Flicktail likes stuffies as well
Nicodemus says, "What, I don't look a day over "mostly ancient." At least, not yet..."
Done organizing his pack the ratling looks over the group of beast present. Zen's right there ... and so's Flicky and Nic. William has the worst luck sometimes. It's clear from his face that he's upset, but he doesn't say anything right off as he sits down at the table. He looks over at Zen from time to time while chewing his lip.
Jo looks over to orph. "er orph, um whered ye' get tat' stuffed mouse?"
Flicktail asks, "wot be wrong Orph? ye knows ye kin always come to ol FLicky"
"Found it layin' next t' me when I woke up this mornin' My dagger was missin' too." he looks at Zen."
Zen smiles and continues to nibble on the candied chestnuts. Oh how sweet they were! His favorites were the ones that had the most wrinkles! He continues to nibble and suck on them slowly.
Jo rubs his chin thoughtfully. "hmmmm....ill trade ye' somethin' for it."
Flicktail says, "we will find wotever were lost Orph....."
Nicodemus says, "I wonder if it's the same beast that's been messing about in the orchards at night."
Flicktail walksover to scritch Zen's ears
Zen smiles and mrrs as Flicktail scritches his hears, but then they perk up. "Huh? In the orchards?" He squeeks a little softly, the goes back to eating his candied nuts, offing some to Flicktail.
Flicktail takes one and mucnhes it, and askes "can we give some to orph?
Jo waits for orph to reply.
Orph pulls the mouse toy out of his pack and sits it on the table, "Not sure who's it is. I looked in the gatehouse t' see if many Pa'd took it an' put it away, but it wasn't there. Was only /one/ other beast round last night that mighta /took it/. Not good t' take from beasts when they're sleepin'," /without kiliing them or making sure they can't trace the thieft to you/ he adds mentally. "That dagger was a /gift/ from /my Pa/," he adds, "I'd have some t' say t' the beast wot /stole/ it iffen I see em." The rat watches Zen out of the corner of his eye acting like he's talking to the others.
Nicodemus looks troubled. "It's escalating."
Zen continues to eat his chestnuts and nods to Flicktail. "Uh huh! I don't mind sharing, brother." He glances at Orph, nodding for him to get some of the candied chestnuts. "Oh, here you go Orphs. I'm... realy sorry about what happened, but I'll help you as much as I can!" He nods his head and smiles. Then curiously, he turns to Nicodemus. "What... has been happening in the orchards?"
Flicktail says, "aye fader, oi know Zen be a good beast,m and Orph too"
Jo looks over at the abbot. "what is, might i ask?"
Nicodemus says, "I don't know. I see things from the journals made and the costs, book-keeping. Squirreld away," (oblivious to the pun),"in the Abbot's quarters daily."
Jo thinks a bit. "journals of what?"
Nicodemus says, "Things be taken, being broken, nobody knows where or why. I think everybeast assumes it's jus some weirdness and not their problem, but it seems o be escalating."
Nicodemus says, "Everything. We've beasts that add notes to the various books as they deem it worthy."
Zen nods a little and hrmms.. He blinks and grins a little, then squeeks. "I know! I know, I know, I know!!" He almost shouts!
Jo paw reaches down to make sure his uncles potion bag is still there. "so in other words...recordings?"
Flicktail asks, "wot do ya knows Zen?"
Zen smiles proudly, holding his head up. He looks like he's just had a plate of pepperjack set out infront of him! "Hehe, if... if you catches the beasts who's been in the orchard, we'll finds Orph's uh, what was it?" He smiles and blushes a little, eating another candied nut.
Jo grins a little. "dagger." he says, finishing zens sentence.
Flicktail says, "needs some sneaky beast"
Nicodemus raises to his foot-paws. "I shall take my leave and go research those reports.
Nicodemus exclaims, "I bid you all enjoy your evening!"
Nicodemus says, "And Merry Part, of course."
Nicodemus bows to the tapestry.
Zen smiles at Flicktail and squeeks, "I's pretty sneeky! Hehe, I knows I am! An I wanna help a lot!"
Flicktail says, "well you also be young, and an adultbeast could urt ya"
Flicktail says, "then oi woudl be sads"
Zen shakes his head, "Hehe, not iffn i was sneeky enough!" He smiles and nods, "Then I'd makes you proud and help Orph get his dagger back!"
Flicktail sighs sadly
Zen glances at Flicktail, his ears drooping, "Uh..w... what's wrong? Did... I says something bad?"
Flicktail says, "Zen lad, no beast ever thinks e will be caught...ye as ta be ready incase e worst appens..not just go off and try to be more sneaky...at be how beasts get hurts, no property be worth yer life"
Jo nods at what flicktail says, then looks over to the tapestry.
Zen nods his head, "I knows that... I's always ready to face things though... I always think twice now. My mom tells me to, me new da' tolds me too, and so I does it." He thinks a little and sighs, starting to miss his old hedgepig dad and.. oh how it crushed his heart that he couldn't see Mayeul either. He heaves a soft sigh, but smiles. "I always does my best."
Jo says, "at what?"
Zen glances at Jo, tilting his head. "Uh, what do you means, at what?"
Flicktail says, "at be all any beast kin do"
Jo continues to look at the tapestry. "what do ye' do your best at?"
Zen glances at Jo, looking bit confused.
Jo grins. "nevermind...."
Zen blinks at Jo, then just kind of ignores him for the moment. "Hehe, but yea. I wanna helps the most I can."
Jo shakes his head, and yawns tiredly. "er...what happened?"
Orph forces himself to smile at the mouse who he's sure stole his dagger, "Ya wan' help, Zen? Ya kin help iffen ya know if anythin happened last night after I fell sleep, seein' as you was there an' all an' Pa was already asleep an' couldn't a seen anything." The rat hopes that asking nicely will do some good, it'd be a shame to fight with that mouse yet again.
Jo turns his eyes towards orph. "erm......."
Flicktail smiles to Orph "orph...Zenbe a honestbeast
Zen smiles at Orph and nods. "I wents to bed right after you. When I asked if you was tired and when I wanted to take you into the bunk room, you fell asleep, so I just wents in there and fell asleep myself." He then makes an odd face, "Then when I wokes up, someone had taken my stuffed mousie... I can't finds him either but... I thinks I just lefts it in the bunk room." He smiles and nods at Flicktail.
Jo looks at both zen and orph. "hmmm...." he ponders to himself.
Flicktail asks, "Orph?"
Aikuen comes down the stairs, being his grumpy old self since yesterday. He merely grunts to the beasts in the hall, as he sits at his favorite chair at the table. He places his paws in front on him and taps the table with his claws.
"He was the last one to go to sleep last night so I thought maybe he knew something. 'sides he does want to be thief and likes to steal things, remember the cake he stole." He turns at the sound of a beast coming in, seeing his Pa he stiffens and shuts up. He has the worst luck ever. He'd forgotten Aikuen had been in a foul mood since he'd sworn off drinking. This day just gets worse and worse.
Flicktail says, "Now Orph, I dinna think Zen woudl steal from a friend loikesyou, and..er didn'tye found somethin?"
Zen sighs a little, closing his eyes. "I... I wanted to proves the theives can.. can be good too, you knows? Just cause most rats are.. are vermin doesn't make you a vermin.. and..... and... I..." He sighs a little, leaning into Flicktail...
Flicktail pats Zen "goon Zen, tell em e truth.... I knows ye didn'ttakes is dagger, and ibet e two of you kin do more en one alone
Aikuen looks at the group when the word 'Dagger' is spoken. He growls out, "What dagger... What happened..."
Flicktail asks, "why ye Growlin Aikuen?"
Orph glances over at Aikuen before addressing Zen quietly, "Yurr not bad for wantin' t' be a thief, cause the mouse thief was a good beast an a thief ... but if you /did take/ it you best /give it back/ and not try that again. I shoulda left it in the gatehouse but I forgot too. I don't want Pa t; know I lost it. I don't want him mad at me." he scoots down in his seat hoping to become invisible.
Zen flatens his ears when he hears Aikuen growl, then he glances back at Orph. He shakes his head, "I-I... I don't has it.." He falls silent then, glancing around at all the various beasts.
Jo gives zen a reassuring smile.
Flicktail frowns at Aikuen and looks to Orph "does ya believes im orph?"
Aikuen looks at Flicktail, his left eye twitching slightly. It has become increasingly harder to control his temper because of the lack of Alcohol in his body. He calmly growls out again, "Would you really like to know why?" the tapping has ceased.
Orph closes his eyes as he whispers to Zen.
Zen whispers to Orph.
Flicktail stands by Orph now, a warm arm aroud him as he watches Aikuen carefully
Jo walks over to zen and pats his shoulder.
Zen remains with his ears flatened as he's patted on the back. He also watches Aikuen, bitting his lower lip a little...
Orph whispers to Zen.
Zen whispers to Orph.
Aikuen grunts at Flicktail, then turns his attention back to the table. He starts to tap it again.
Orph sits at the table eyes closed. He tucks his knees up to his chest and folds his ears up, after nodding to Zen, and sqishes them to his head. He doesn't want to be here, but Aikuen's gonna find out sooner or later. He considers telling all he knows about his dagger missing, but remembering the otter's temper being much like his own and that Aikuen is more likely to win a fight of any kind between the two he keeps quiet.
Zen glances between Orph and Aikuen, his his darting between them shiftly. The fur on his arms, well, right arm was standing up on ends. He didn't like Aikuen like this, and never realy bonded with him much, but he thought he should try to say something, maybe anything just to ease the situation. "Uh.... Ai-Aikuen? D-do you..w... wants somethn'... to... to eats?"
Flicktail says, "oi think the lad Deserves a Answer Aikuen, and oi must say seeing as Orph has ad a hard time..Oi am not appy with how ye speaks to e lad....Dibbuns makes mistakes, part o bein a dibbun...." he pats Orph "Don't be uspet Orph, ooi not gonna lets nuttin appen to ya"
Orph chews his lip, Aikuen doesn't know yet or does he? Flicktail's comment chills him. If Aikeun knows then ... not good. Not good at all. The ratling groans but otherwise remains still.
Aikuen looks to Zen he gives a small smile, "Im not hungry... but thanks...". He is just about to look back at the table when he hears Flicktail comment. He stands up quickly and the chair fly's to the ground. Pounding his knuckles into the table, he yells at Flicktail, "Well im not happy!... PERIOD!... Do you know what happens when you stop drinking! HUH, DO YAH! All the memories that you thought you have forgotten come flooding back like its spring... Everything that you hoped would be lost forever, is suddenly rushed back to yah... DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS LIKE TO WAKE UP EVERY NIGHT TO THE SCREAMS OF AGONY, AS HUNDREDS OF GOOD BEASTS ARE BURNED IN THEIR HOMES! no... i don't think you do..." He is breathing heavily, and both fists are clenched. He continues but with a more calm voice, "What dibbun, what mistake... And why should i give..." He doesn't know anything about what happened to William
Flicktail whispers to Orph.
Jo steps foward infront of zen. "you know what? i actually do know what its like aikuen!"
Flicktail seems unphaes, and in fact steps up boldly to the otter "aye, Now at ye ask..yes oi does.... Oi know wot it be loikes to ave yer own family makiing ye fight yer brothers to e death fer food, and oi know wot it be likes ta drink, and to ave yer brother put a speer thru ye foot paw and leave ya for a badger to kill, and yer temper don't make me afeared, there be a dibbun ere wot loves ye verra much, and ye be terrifying im, after e were already once an orphan,. and yer not gonna do at while oi be ere" he says all this calmly "Oi ear e scrieams o e dibbins wot I stole...and e bad things oi done....and Oi will elp you.... Oi will be roight ere.....but we are not gonna upset Orph or any others" he offers a paw "ye wonts me elp?
Zen blinks at Aikuen's reaction, startled. He teared up and was litteraly shaking as a trembling paw reached near where his heart was. Slowly, he reaches into his habit and... sure enough, pulled out a dagger from one of his inside pockets. He dropped it strait on the floor, glancing back at Orph. "I... just.... I's... sorry... but.... I... don'...." His voice died, themouse just slowly trodding over to sit infront of the fireplace. He couldn't do it. He had been attacked by vermine before and he learned that the worst time to hold a weapon is when one is angry. He had a small crossbow when he was captured, but it helped him none at all... surly a knife wasn't worth dying over.
Jo blinks in surprise.
Orph dares to peek out to see what's going on. Is that his dagger on the floor there?! Now what's happened? He is so dead if Pa threw that down. If not well he still maybe once the questions start.
Aikuen is surprised at the courage of Jo and Flicktail, Usually beasts that stood up to him, end up dead. Out of pure instinct he reaches for his short sword, but he took it off at the gatehouse. When he realizes that its not there, reality hits him like rock in the face. He holds his paws in front oh him, they are visibly shaking. He falls to the floor, and places the shacking paws into his face.
Flicktail's tail flicks behidnhim wufting and urging orph to return Zen's stuffie and retrieve teh dagger
Flicktail catches Aikuen and hugs him, the fox surprisingly strong "ere, ere Lad.... yer gonna be o.k. ye just did e hardest part.....Oi know all abouts dryin outs...." he pats the otter warmly and holds him "were all gonna elp ya out at be agood lad
Orph slowly uncurls himself and tosses Zen his mouse before walking over to take the dagger, "D-did you kill him?" he asks looking wide-eyed as Aikuen falls. Yes this is definitely the worst day of his life, thank you.
Zen doesn't bother to catch the stuffed mouse or even glance at it. He just watches the fire and blots everything else out. Everythings too chaotic, but the fire at least wasn't. It burned and that's all he needed to know.
Jo picks up the stuffed mouse and shakes his head and mutters. "ehhh...the roof...."
Aikuen leans heavily into Flicktail, he sniffs a bit, then says, "...Im sorry... for almost attacking you...all of you...Im glad there are beasts like you... thanks..." He is still shaking.
Jo grins and nods at aikuen. "its ok...heh...i understand what ye' have gone through, i mean i have lost and i have gained...." he says referring to his past: ...heh village gets burned down...blahblahblah.....loses his parents....some friends get taken captive....jo joins the circus...blahblahblah....ummm... and ends up at redwall.
Flicktail says, "says softly "no lad, nuttin to be sorry for, Zen...get yer stuffy, Orph...take atto e gate house.....Aikuen is a brave beast wot is getting better.....Jo..coudl ye get some tea..." he sits Aikuen in a chair"
Jo offers the stuffed mouse to zen and nods at flicktail. "sure!" he says with a grin.
Zen still seemes a bit shaken up, but he manages to reach out to get his plushy from Jo and take it. He then hugs it tight and lays down with it, trying not to think much.
Jo pats zen softly on the head. "its ok zen." he says softly. with that he makes his way to the kitchen. ONWARD TO THE TEA!
Jo heads off towards the Abbey Kitchen and returns sometime later.
Aikuen is places into a chair. He is still trying to get over the fact that he almost attacked beasts that meant him no harm. He hears Williams former name, and looks around. He espies the little rattling, but doesn't say anything...just watchcase.
Orph watches the adults for a moment after sheathing his dagger. He walks quickly into the kitchen and returns shortly with a bowl of the soup he'd made earlier. "Uh, Pa?" he isn't sure what all is going on, but he'll take a chance, "I made soup today. One the Sister's showed me who t' make leek soup .. an' I kinda turned it into a diffent soup ... it's got garlic an nettles in it an a little wood sorrel an' potato in it too, and lots an lots of hotroot. You want t' try some? It's real good. An' all the stuff that's in it grows out in the woods cept the leeks but I got some seeds so we can grow some at home ..." he trails off setting the bowl of soup down on the table by Aikuen.
Flicktail says, "now now, William will be fine, e still be yer son and e needs you, ye just scared in abit...but Oi doesn'tthink you will do at no more will ye?"
Flicktail says, "see ie brought ya soem soup..try some it do ye well"
Jo walks in carrying a tray with five cups upon it and a tea kettle that is steaming, that smells of combienthem, Chamomile and rose hips tea.
Aikuen looks at the soup as its placed down, He nods at William. He takes the bowl in one paw, and holds it up to his noes. Total shock is still in him, so he barely smells anything. He take the bowl and drinks its contents in a flash. He places the bowl on the table, and smiles at William, "Tis good..." He couldn't tell if it was are not so he lied.
Flicktail calls over one of the Sister mouses to stay with Aikuen and goes to sit by Zen "ello Zen, ye be o.k.?
Zen slowly gets up and glances towards the kitchen. He smiles a little weakly at Flicktail and nods his head, then he starts to make towards the Kitchen.
Orph leaves to put his dagger in the gatehouse where it belongs when at the Abbey. He doesn't return.
Zen heads off towards the Abbey Kitchen..
RW Abbey: East Walltop
Orph sits down on the eastern wall. So much had happened today. He'd woke up dagger-less and made soup and all the stuff that happened cause he was dagger-less. Oy, very had day today.
Orph sat chewing his lip talking to himself, "Pa looked real bad ... scared like. I was scared too. Scared he'd be mad at me an' hurt me for lossin' the dagger he gave me. I thought he might kill me for it. ... I wanted t' kill Zen over it ... this has been a very very bad day." He sits a while letting a breeze blow over him, trying to calm down, not because he's angry but scared confused upset... yes upset fit best or ang-fused maybe ... He leans against the wall a little longer before starting the climb back down.
RW Abbey: East Walltop
RW Abbey: Kitchen Yard
Orph wandered into the kitchen yard, but passed the kiln there wasn't any beast around and it wasn't worth it right now.
RW Abbey: Great Hall
Orph walks in from the kitchen. His head low, ears drooping. He glances at the otters before going to sit in Zen's spot.
Aikuen winks at the other otter, when the sister is not looking. He hears a beast coming in, looking around he sees William. He says, "Hello William... How are you?..."
Orph weighs his answers. Aikuen doesn't sound mad or look mad. "I'm I in trouble today? Are you mad at me for anything?" the words just sort of fall out. Darn, that's not how he'd meant to put it.
Aikuen still has no clue about what happened, he tilts his head and asks, "Wot you mean, you are in trouble? What did you do? Did you attacked Zen again?" He raises a brow at the Rattling.
Jo looks at orph as he comes in.
Orph thinks it over a little, saying that he'd wanted to and had at one point planed to kill the mouse in question would not go over well. "Not exactly. I forgot to put my dagger back in the gate house when I came back in last night and Zen took it while I was sleeping. When I woke up it was gone and I didn't want to get in trouble for loosing it so I figured Zen took it and I was gonna find out if he did and then I made soup and after that I saw Zen and in here with Flicky an Nic and I told em about my dagger being missing and you came in and I was scared you'd be mad at me and .... punish me for losing the dagger you gave me. .... I'm sorry I forgot to put it away last night and sorry it got stole ... Zen gave it back and I'm not mad at him for taking it ..." he doesn't mention that the reason he forgave the mouse was because he was too busy trying to be invisible so the otter he's now talking to wouldn't kill him.
Aikuen shakes his head, "Don't be sorry, its not your fault you've forgot. And you were being responsible for trying to get it back. But you should have realized before, that you had it on you... and for that your going to go to the gatehouse and help the beast there organize the belonging of everyone here... And clean them if necessary. As for Zen, im going to have a little talk with his mother..." he begins tapping the table again.
Orph looks at the otter surprised and relived, "Is /that/ all? I ... um ... thought ... never mind." he remembers the reaction the otter'd had the first time he'd learned how the rat had been used to being treated for disobeying. Better off to keep quiet.
The Sister mouse hums a bit, as she continues to read her book. She knows better then to get involved.
Jo gets up, grabs a cup of tea, chugs it, pats aikuen on the shoulder and ruffles orphs head, and shuffles outside to the orchard to sleep.
Aikuen nods, "Aye, i think that will be quite enough... Just remember to put your weapons at the front gate. Or when your not here keep them close at paw, so if anybeast did try to steal it, you would know straight away! Zen on the other paw, needs to stop being a theft... i hope i can talk some sense into his mum..." He scratches his chin fur.
Orph nods. "Was afraid I was in worse trouble is all ... Zen just needs to learn how t' be a good kinda thief like the one that was friends with Martin. ... I thought you might .... I know you said you wouldn't an' you haven't ever done that sorta thing t' me before, but I thought I was in big trouble and ... still feels strange thinkin' that sorta thing'll happen an' it never does. It's good it don't, but still feels strange ... I guess it takes longer to win against that then other stuff ... I- n-nothin'" he sits by the fire glad this day is ending even if he did get in trouble. At least it's not as bad as he'd been thinking.
Aikuen raises his brow, "Do you mean hit you? Let me tell you this... I will never harm you in anyway... Except to throw you in the pond, and to cuff ya lightly, when yah need it... Because there are worse things in life then pain..." He rubs his paw through his head fur, "What do you mean, you is in worse trouble, i think losing a dagger is much less, compared to trying to hurt Zen..." He leans back, and watches the pretty sister reading.
She has had enough of the Otters staring. She slams her book close, and looks directly at him and snips at him, "Do you mind not doing that while im reading! Why don't you go look somewhere else eh? And stop looking at me, like im some picture!"
Aikuen hides a smile, she got bit of a fire! He smiles warmly as her, "Sorry marm, but i just cant help meself, a pretty one like yourself... Just cant keep me eyes off..." He winks at her.
The sister blushes slightly at the compliment, but still maintaining her attitude she says, "Don't call me Marm, I have a name yah know, its Araia... Sister Araia!" She stands up and pushes in her chair, walking behind the otter and continues, "Since you cant look away, ill just remove myself from your presence Mister Aikuen! Good Day to you!" She goes off toward the library in a huff.
Orph chews his lip waiting til the Sister's gone before answering, "... sorta ... worse actually but I know you won't just ... just wasn't thinkin' an' got scared that it'd be like before again ... Don't mean t' think bad about ya but it's all I've know fore ..." he shrugs some and looks over at the door of the library, "... don't seem likely that I'd be gettin' another Ma way you scare ladies like that almost bad as Flicky an' he don't even try."
Aikuen mouth falls open slightly, He thought he made great headway with the sister... "Was it something i said... Im kinda old at this sorta thing... do they not like compliments anymore? things have changed..." He shakes his head, "Sorry i yelled before... lost control... but even in that state of mind, i will never harm a young one... again..."
"Shouldn't make promises ya might not be able t' keep. Just causes trouble later. ... She promsied t' come back, didn't know she was gonna die. Can't come back from that. ..." he hugs his knees to his chest, "Been /long/ time, but I still miss 'er. ... and my cousins, but I miss her more."
Aikuen tilts his head, "You must have loved her very much...How did it... ahem... i mean How did she die? If its not too much to ask..."
Orph chews his lip some more, "Though I told ya ... maybe not. I only remember some of it. There was a bunch of bad beasts outside our tunnel and that wanted take me away or maybe kill me I'm not sure. I think they mighta been my real father's crew after they turned on him and my real mother, I don't know for sure, but that's what lota beasts said afterwards. Anyhow the bad beasts wanted me for somethin' and Ma didn't like them and her brother, he didn't like me at all but he didn't like the bad beast either so he went with her out to talk with them and t' make em leave. My cousins Denny and Bell went too, they weren't supposed to but they did anyway. I was the littlest dibbun so I had t' stay in. I stayed and I stayed and they never came back. I got hungry waiting and came out t' eat. Then after a some days passed I went looin' for em outside. No beast I asked had saw what happened - they figured they must been killed or took t' be slaves or some like that ... later I ... found em ... they wasn't took far ..." William bites his lip at the memory causing his lip to bleed a little. He's quiet a while then continues on, "Like I said before no beast wanted me cept Ma others all said I was trouble an bad luck and other bad things ... so after that I left an came west." He doesn't look at Aikuen as he talks instead he stares at the fire, his voice quivers in places throughout the account. "Vermin killed em, killed my Ma," he sums it up, "... Uncle Grubb said I was virmin said iffen I did some wrong back I go t' where ever his sister got me from ... cept she won't let em sent me back ... they said she was an odd one that she was supposed be born a badger but somethin' went wrong an' she was born a mole instead. ... H-her name was Constance like the badger lady in the story that fought Cluny the Scourge ... she liked t' tell me that story all th' time, was her favorite. ...."
Aikuen is not sad at what happened, but he does feel a bit angry, "Why do bad things happened to good beasts... yah know... least you survived and made it here... and you got me little mate! If i ever meet the scoundrels who did all this to yah... they'll be finding there way to the dark forest sooner then they think!"
Orph smiles weekly, "Don't think they'd want go there, cause Martin'd get em. ... vermin are scared a Martin, least the smarter ones know t' be scared of him. ... They said Brutus was scared of a warrior mouse an' said he hurt the other littler dibbun lots. He was always nice t' me, but I was his brother an they weren't ... course I don't memeber if he did or not just heard other beast talkin bout it lot later after he'd died. One ... two, three. You should be careful, Pa. Last families I had, that liked me, didn't last too long."
Aikuen stands up and stretches a bit. Yawning he says, "I can take care, quite well of myself... Im more worried of growing old before anything happens to me and you." He walks around the room in a circle, but then goes to the tapestry. Looking at it he says, "Martin is not a beast to be frightened of... even if you are a Vermin... Unless you know that you are a bad beast... then be afraid... very afraid."
Orph nods a little yawning. It's been a very long day. A very stressful long day.
Aikuen his limbs have come back to life, since sitting for so long in the chair. He winks at William, before he walks of toward to the library, "Wish me luck matey! If you fail, you gotta keep trying! See you tomorrow mate!" He goes through the door to the library.
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