08:47 PM

Neville looks up as Jarril enters the doorway, his eyes narrow slightly for a moment before a wide smile appears on his face, "Ahhh Jarril m'lad, been a while eh? One would think yer avoiding me or something!" laughs the barhare. "Fancy a pint?" he asks, brandishing a shiny, clean tankard and waving it enticingly.

Jarril pads in slowly and looks at Neville with a grin.  "Why would I be avoiding ya, sah bartender."  The major making his way slowly across the room and sitting down on one of the stools next to the bar.  "Ya would assume that I have done something wrong?"  Looking at the empty tankard, he nods his head.  "Aye, best give me something ta get the bally dust from my throat.  Been barking orders all day ta the young recruits."

Neville nods, "Exactly, why would anyone avoid my fine ales eh?" he says with a laugh, turning and taking the tankard over to a short, open-topped barrel in the corner of the bar. He dips it in and brings it out, full to the top. He places the tankard in front of the major and gestures for the major to give it a try, "Natures finest that is, call it water m'self" explains the barhare, a furrow in his brow and a slightly sinister smile across his features.

Jarril looks down at the tankard and pulls a face at the contents held within.  "Is this supposed ta be a joke, Nev?"  The major moving his head back up to face the other hare on the other side of the bar.

Neville raises an eyebrow carefully and raises his paws innocently, "Why, not at all major, wouldn't be one to play such a prank and whatnot, you well know my reputation for serving only the finest" explains Neville apologetically, "Y'see sah, a bunch of miscreants raided my cellars a couple of nights back, decided to open up all m'best ales and have a little taster test. Now, being the fair chap I am, I'm doing my best to continue serving but it wouldn't be fair for those chaps to come and drink normally and then some poor innocent type comes along and I've ran out!" Neville shudders slightly at this point, "May such a disaster ne'er happen" he mutters, looking skywards. "So y'see sah, I'm havin to serve water to all till I get a confession outta someone".

Jarril just picks up the tankard and smiles.  "Hmm, I see.  Terrible, terrible business.  Have ya spoken ta the colonel about it?"  The major looking at Neville for a moment and sipping the water.  Looking at the hare still, the major coughs.  "You know, Ear.  He's partial ta anything that makes him get drunk, ya know."

Neville lets out a short, sharp, bark of a laugh. "Oh I know Ear was involved, known' him he masterminded the damned scheme!" says the barhare, shaking his head as he chuckles quietly. "No, the point of this is to find out who he dragged along with 'im, the conspiritors an all that malarky" explains Nev, "Not that I really mind the old late night sessions and all, gawd knows I've joined Ear on a few, I'm just annoyed that they've been sneaking my stash and not giving me enough warning to get some cover for the bar and come join"

Jarril slowly places the tankard down on the bar again and nods his head slowly.  "I see, so what ya're saying is that ya're placing the whole patrol on water, annoying a whole lot of troops and giving us upper ranks a bally headache until ya find out who was with the colonel, correct?"

Neville shakes his head, "Wrong again I'm afraid Major, I'm placing /you/ on water, annoying you and giving you a 'bally headache' until you come clean" the barhare says, now grinning quite widely, "Y'see I suspected Ear straight away, asked him about it and told him I'd stop making my brews until he came clean. Well sure 'nuff he confessed and told me who was involved and whatnot. Just wanted to know what t'major would do to save his patrol from sobriety... obviously very little" he adds, producing a pint of real, frothy ale.

Jarril nods his head with a smile.  "You know Nev, you really should get ta the point than do these games of yours.  So go on, what's my punishment.  And anyways."  Pushing aside the tankard of water.  "Like I was going ta go against a colonel.  Take it up with Ear if ya want, but I am going ta put it ta following orders."

Neville pushes forward the tankard of ale, "Well, its less of a punishment and more of a... favour to be returned. I need a couple of things for my next experiment and I reckon you're just the hare to help me get em. All I need is fer ya to take yer next patrol past a couple of choice destinations and pick up some ingredients and whatnot. A'course I'm sure you'll be glad to fund the purchases, kind a chap as yer are. After that, we're square and you can 'ave the first trial of the new brew" finishes Nev, "Deal?"

Jarril looks down at the brew and slowly back up to where Neville is standing and slowly takes hold of the tankard.  "That depends, doesn't it Nev, old chap.  Where exactly is this stuff from?  I ain't doing nothing unless I know what or where it is in case it's located in any territory that may require more caution than usual."  The major lifts the tankard up and takes a sip, before continuing.  "If it's the latter than I do it, wouldn't mind a fight here and there.  Keep my patrol on their toes, so ta speak."

Neville grins broadly, "Knew you wouldn't let me down Major... and yep, friend of mine got into some trouble and had his gear nicked, need that back or I'll not be able to make the new brew, plus I'll loose one of my main sources, can't have that now can we?" he says, putting one finger up, "Then theres a trip past the clans to a small village where theres an ... whats he call 'imself... apothecary I think, makes a few concoctions that come in useful". He continues ticking off on his fingers but eventually gives up, "Here's the details" he says as he passes an envelope over the counter, signed in an elaborate script.

Jarril looks at Neville.  "As long as it's not one of those long winded adventures that we keep hearing about from any redwallers that come here now and again, I be happy."  Placing the envelope into his pocket inside his jacket.  "As for the trouble, well we see if we can't make them decide ta move further up north or south from the area where ya friend is as well."

Neville nods, "Well you have my thanks for that and I'll happily serve you without any of this messin' around next time Major Jarril sah, though feel free to give Ear some grief about it, would probably to the old chap good!" laughs Neville, taking out a towel and beginning his habitual wiping down of the bar, no matter the shine already there.

Jarril gives a sly grin as he takes another sip of his ale.  "Well, if I had any ideas I would drag him off on the patrol as well but he out ranks me so he get away with just sitting about in the mountain anyways.  Mind ya, not sure if he's up ta any fighting at all, wot.  Being old and all."

Sorrel walks in, sweaty from exercize, and a bit dazed, thanks to the attack of the punching bag. She sits down next to jarril, panting slightly from the climb up afterwards.

Jarril turns his head to look at Sorrel and grins.  "Ah, I see ya been working out.  Ya know.  Would be nice ta get yaself cleaned up before coming in here."  Turning his head back to Neville.  "I leave ya ta have words with the colonel.  Me, I have ta find some hares for the mission at hand.  Don't think I get problems.  Not if there is possible fighting ta be had, that's for sure."

Neville grins widely, "There are a few choice words I'd like to have with the colonel but I'm sure he'll be reasonable, who knows, might get him to pay me back the favour as well! Pop in before you leave, I'll make sure you've got some 'provisions' from my stash". The barhare turns to the new entrant and raises an eyebrow, grinning even more, "Good evenin' m'dear, and what can I get you tonight? something to cool you off per'aps?"

Sorrel mockingly glares at Jarril, before turning to the barhare. "Wot would ye recomend, Sah?"

Jarril remains silent and just continues to drink his ale as he looks at Neville, drinking the ale is the only way for the major to not laugh out right there and then.  Placing the tankard down, the major pulls out the envelope again and begins to read what is inside.

Neville nods, "Something refreshing... hrm... got something fresh in today actually, very popular drink, tho we don't see many people enjoying it round here. Just let me getcha some" he says, turning and dipping a clean tankard into an open topped barrel of water and returning it to Sorrel, "The chap who told me 'bout it called it water, might like it" he says, pushing the tankard towards Sorrel, "Nature's finest they say"

Sorrel looks at the hare sardonically. "Alcogholic wize, ah mean..."

Neville looks down at the water and back up at Sorrel, "Thats all you're getting m'dear. Might want to try it, good stuff yaknow" replies the barhare with a knowing nod, still keeping a straight face.

Jarril continues to say nothing but coughs nonetheless as he turns the page over from what Neville had written down.  A small section makes the major frown slightly as he places the paper down onto the bar itself.  "Hmmm, I see what you mean, Nev."  Carefully folding the letter back up again, the major slips it back into the envelope, but leaves it on the bar.  Turning his head to Sorrel with a grin.

Neville starts, "well y'see Sorr, I've got a bit of a problem. A few nights back, y'may recall, there was a bit of trouble with some pilferring of my property. Some miscreants crept into my storage cellar and decided to help themselves to my ale and my liqour, bad show I'd say" explains Neville, nodding sagely and sadly as he tells the terrible tale, "And so, if I run out of beer serving it to the chaps who took the stuff, I won't be able to serve the chaps who didn't... if yer catch m'drift. But... as I don't know who the pilferers were, I'm gonna hafta serve water to all till they come clean"

Sorrel mopes. "Well, 'ow much did tha steal?"

Neville shakes his head sadly, "Wasn't really the amount they stole, they tapped a couple of my barrels and didn't seal em. I lost a whole couple of kegs that night... plus the insult of it all" he sighs, "Ahh.. well... until they come clean at least. Drink up"

Sorrel squints. "Agh, d'ye at least got lemon er som'thin'?" She takes a gulp

Jarril slowly places the envelope back into his pocket again.  Drinking the rest of the ale, the hare gets up and nods his head.  "I have words with the otter.  However."  The major looks at Nev.  "I don't think he appreciate water on any level.  He has the means on getting you back."  The major just smiles.  "I know all about his love for hotroot."

Neville raises an eyebrow, "Lemon?... at this time of year in the far west reaches of the land? Alas nope, not something I have easy access to, however, I know a chap that does" at this point the barhare glances purposefully towards Jarril, raising both eyebrows to drive the point home. He looks back to Sorr, "Ok, I'll come clean, Ear'y confessed under the strain of not having any alcohol and told me who was around on the night. I know you were there"

Jarril does laugh now as he pushes the envelope back into his pocket.  "Because Nev here has a good sense of humour."  Looking to Nev, he grins.  "I have ta get going but if ya really want this ta succeed, make sure she signs up for the mission when I put it up on the board."  Bowing his head.  "But I have ta get going.  Things ta organise and all that.  Good day ta ya both."  Turning around the major begins to walk towards the door.

Neville grins, "To try and make you come clean and 'save your friends' from the perils of sobriety, obviously none of yer are willing to undergo that eh?" laughs the barhare glancing again in Jarril's direction. "Yer can do me a favour or two to make up fer it", he nods in answer to the officer's parting words, "The major's going on a short mission for my good self, I reckon he'd appreciate yer help."

Sorrel puts the water down and follow's suit. "Might as well get ah bath. An' when ah come back in, a /don'/ want watah." she says jokingly.