12:01 AM

Salamandastron: Library
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Here lies the collective efforts of a few good, intellectual hares of the mountain. Over the seasons, this room, which was once little more than a storage room, has been converted into a quite functional library, filled with books of all sorts. The room is staggered with bookshelves, all crafted within the mountain, which reach very nearly to the ceiling, with only a foot or two of space above them, in most instances. And, surprisingly, the shelves are basically all full. Apparently, over the seasons, hares have donated books, and books that were previously stored elsewhere have been brought here.

Some books are older than any of the hares alive in the mountain, and, even more, some are nearly as old as the mountain, itself. These sort are usually journals and records - histories of the mountain. In fact, there is an entire section of this, in a corner of the room, which one can only get to by making their way through the maze of bookshelves to that corner, which is quite like a room in and of itself, closed in by walls on two sides and bookshelves on the two others. However, in the center of the main room, there are two tables set, and upon these books like, some open and some closed, despite the efforts of the librarian hare to keep them on the shelves.
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                  Visible Exits:
[R]ecords [R]oom                      [C]orner of Library
[Back] to Second Level Intersection

How does one start a letter anyways, especially when you haven't written to someone for an age.  That is the problem that meets Jarril as he looks down at the fresh blank scroll in front of him, to the side is a pile of scrunched up scrolls of failed attempts.  Drumming his fingers on the edge of the table, Jarril humms quietly to himself.

The likely reason for Jarril's thoughtful letter writing is no doubt the letter, folded and sitting beside him, which he's just received today. The letter itself was written easily two months ago, what with the lack of a direct mail line. In it, Harper no doubt told him of his love and his life, and no doubt in that order. The love sick, odd little fellow. But I digress! In comes Zoe, limping as usual and intent on the nearest table. She doesn't go very far from one place to another without sitting or leaning on something, these days. Arthritis coupled with the winter chill of the mountain makes for unpleasant feelings. It's just her lucky luck that her cousin happens to be seated at the table she's bee-lining for. She sinks into the seat opposite him, with a sigh and a smile. "Hullo, cousin."

Busy biting at the end of the quill with his teeth, the hare nods his head slightly.  Still out in his thoughts it takes him a moment to get the image of Harper out of his mind and see it slowly dissolve into the face of Zoe instead.  Jumping slightly, he bangs the edge of the table with his elbow and frowns, dropping the quill and rubbing his elbow with a paw.  "Hi cousin, long time no see."  Both being pretty much busy the last month or so to see each other, these things happen sometimes in the mountain.

So they do, so they do. Despite Jarril's frowning look, Zoe is still all smiles. She glances at the blank parchment in front of him - as well as the crumpled ones not too far off - and pieces together what he's doing. She shakes her head slightly. "How is he?"

Jarril looks at the letter and pushes it over to where she is sitting.  "Why not have a read yourself.  He's doing fine, just not sure how to respond to some stuff.  Not sure if he likes the usual.  'I fought this beast, someone got hurt here'"  Giving a pause he shrugs.  "You know, him choosing the life of peace and all now."

The lone rabbit in the mountain has been feeling a bit restless.  Deciding whether or not to get extremely drunk every night can take its toll, and Ender seems to be showing just that as he enters the library.  He's carrying a large book - extremely large, even.  Ender staggers with it for a few moments before heaving it onto one of the desks in the room.  Glancing about, he spots Jarril and Zoe, wondering if it'd be an appropriate time to interrupt or not.  Opting to gather a bit more evidence, the rabbit sits down heavily and pretends to read the cover of the book he just set down.

When the letter is pushed across to her, she turns it around with a fingertip and pulls out her spectacles, holding them to her eyes whilst she skims the letter. She squints, nodding here and there as she reads before finally looking up with a grin. "... Looks like you've got a fine lad, there." She pauses, then. "And... I imagine he'll just be happy t' know yer alive 'n well, whatevah else you say." As his her tendency, she fails to take note of the rabbit's entrance. Oblivious old hare!

Nodding his head slowly, Jarril smiles.  "I know, though I have time ta write this anyways, it's not like it will get there anytime soon, not until the snow goes in the mainland at least."  Not actually picking up the quill now, he looks at Zoe for a moment in thought.  "I suppose it's getting to ya, this bad weather, eh?"

Shalia is by a far-off corner by the library, carrying a stack of books which are overdue :P. She starts going to the bookcases, but the books are covering her sight and she is having a hard time. Seems like she's goin' to fall- thankfully, doesn't. She steadies herself and heads to the bookcase again.

As if he's reminded her of it, Zoe reaches down to rub her leg, smiling ruefully. She nods, then shakes her head. "Aye - 'course it is. But I'm in a good mood, so we're ignorin' that fact, aye?" She chuckles, glancing around the room briefly - at which point she notes both Ender and young Shalia. Hm. Ender is given a smile, if he's looking, and then she looks back to Jarril.

Ender looks up and sees Shalia in his peripheral vision, turning and standing.  He says "Let me help you with that...Sh.."  The rabbit pauses for a moment.  The name is right there...but then it's gone.  He has her attention, though, and grabs a few of the books - setting them next to the one he returned.  Ender notes Zoe turning back towards Jarril - she seems happy enough, so he plods over.  "Zoe, jarril.  Good to see the two of you."

Leaning back in the chair, he nods his head.  "Aye, okay I get it."  Deciding to see if he can at least catch up with stuff, he speaks again.  "So, cousin.  What have ya been up ta lately since we've not had a chance ta talk and all."

Shalia was about to nod to Ender to show her thanks, but then he's off and going to the direction of the colonel and the major. She keeps on walking, still watching them, not aware of a bookcase right in front of her. Well.... guess what. Crash.

Zoe_Lang glances to Ender once again as he nears, and nods her head in greeting. She then gestures to a free chair. "Hullo, End. Why doncha have a seat? Me 'n' Jarril were just passin' the breeze." She looks back to Jarril briefly, with a shrug. "What've I been up to? Well... not much of anythin', to be honest. Been re-organizin' the infirmary. It needed it. Tryin' to get in all new furniture - cots, equipment, everythin'."

Ender decides to jump right into the conversation.  "A new infirmary, eh?  I'm sure I'll be spending a nice amount of time in there.  Any possibility of, erm, reserving an area especially for me?"  He blushes a little at his stutter, but is looking jovial again fairly quickly.

Turning his head to where the noise has come from, Jarril just shakes his head as he pushes back in the chair.  "Won't be a moment..."  Making his way over to where Shalia is, the major considers telling her off, but he stops in mid opening of his mouth and shakes his head.  "Would help if ya moved a few books at a time.  Ya young ones, only thinking on rushing about the place..."

Shalia looks up at the major and bobs her ears. "Oh, erm, yessah." She's been noticed, what a clumsy mistake. She piles the books up and stacks them into the bookcases. After saluting the major, she makes it to the door, embarassed.

Zoe_Lang glances around as Jarril stands, watching his path and his short exchange with the young doe. He smiles slightly, shaking her head. "Always was good with the youngah ones, he was." She glances back to Ender, then. "And, well, we /could/ always put aside a special spot fer the old 'n' infirm - m'self included." She grins. XD "'Must have limp t' convalesce here' sort o' thing."

Ender looks at his paw.  Singular.  "Or be missin' something you should have two of?"  Shaking his head a little, the rabbit laughs.  "Sounds about right, eh?  How're things with Miette these days?"

Zoe_Lang glances at his paw at mention of it, smirking slightly. "... Aye. Aye, I s'pose that'd work just s'well." She chuckles, though it fades as she considers his question. Hrm. She shrugs very slightly. "T' be honest, I don't know. She's moved into the recruit dormitory, 'course, 'n' she's absorbed in trainin'. T' be honest, it's nice t' finally see her doin' something useful."

Jarril makes his way back to where he was sitting and flops into it.  "I tell ya, these young'uns will put me in a early grave."  The hare picks up the quill and plays with it idly, still not sure if he should actually start this letter yet.

Ender shakes his head a little, now; obviously displeased.  "Y'should really invest in her a bit more, Zoe.  She's still your dibbun for a while yet.  Don't make-"  Ender breaks off as Jarril takes a seat.  The rabbquickly puts away any emotion he may have been displaying, standing and smiling at the two of them.  "Certainly nice to see the two of you."

Jarril isn't as stupid as he sometimes makes out to be as he looks from Ender to Zoe with a slight smirk on his face.  "Don't mind me if ya were busy talking, ya know?"

Zoe_Lang looks more than a little surprised by Ender's words, and if not for Jarril's return and Ender's quick retreat from the conversation, she might've had a word or two for him. But as it is, she just kind of stares at him with her lips slightly parted in surprise. Yep. She follows him with her eye, watching him stand. But she doesn't say anything. Not until Jarril speaks up, at which point she glances to Jarril with a blink. "Uh." Well. Okay. She hasn't got much to say, really.

Ender nods at Jarril, trying to get away with just acknowledging the fact that the hare spoke.  He's obviously holding back, and takes a few steps before turning and striding towards the records room, muttering just loud enough about "work".  As if he has any.

Jarril watches as others go and shakes his head.  "Sorry if I interrupted anything there."  The hare says while looking at the blank sheet of paper.  "Seems to be the thing for me lately."  He pauses for a moment before looking up again.  "So I heard on the grapevine that ya were trying ta get Quinten ta be re-assigned?"

Hm. She shakes her head. "Nah - you didn't interrupt anythin'. I'm not sure what that was about, t' be honest." She shrugs slightly, then nods at his next statement. "Aye - he's got a real talent fer the healah arts. Not somethin' you find every day. I've let 'im know he c'n always do both - heal 'n' fight, like I do."

Jarril now gives a sly grin as he leans forwards.  "Why cousin, one would think that only the best in my patrah are being poached away from me."  Leaning back again he shakes his head.  "Different thing though for him, isn't it?  First it was ta be a recorder, now it's healing.  Hmmm..."  The buck looks down at the letter and grins.  "Sounds a bit like Harper, just hope he's actually made the right choice and isn't going ta change his mind again.  Seems a lot of young'uns are actually doing a lot of that lately."

Zoe_Lang sits back, her arms folding together in her lap. She considers Jarril for a moment, looking thoughtful. "How /do/ ya feel about Harpah's choice? It must be hard fer ya, havin' him so far away 'n' all."

Jarril doesn't reply back at first, though he does give a frown while he is thinking.  "As hard as it was when Taye left, though I know it was the right thing ta do, they get older and leave the nest."  Giving a pause, Jarril looks at the letter again as he shakes his head.  "It's like everyone is moving on, gaining ground and I'm stuck in the mud, the old times."  Falling back into the chair of which is hard to his back, he rolls his eyes about the room.  "He's young, able ta change.  At least he has better chance of being happy and that's the main thing really."

Zoe_Lang can't help but smile ruefully at Jarril's mention of mud, and being stuck in it. She places her paw on the table in front of him, tapping a claw-tip on it to get him to look at her. "Jarril, cousin... 'tis what happens. You get old, 'n' the only thing that youth's good for is t' remind you of all yer not able t' go off 'n' do, anymore."

Jarril does look at Zoe now with a thoughtful look.  "I know, nevah thought I would say this but I'm beginning ta look as though I'm as part of the furniture in this place as ya and Ear is.  Twelve..Thirteen seasons I've been in service now.  I'd lost count on how many battles and wars I've survived as well."  Giving a soft chuckle.  "I suppose I want ta fight a bit more and not admit that I can't be as good as I was when I was young.  Ya can't say ya don't feel the same sometimes.  Put some of these youngsters in their place or remind them just who ya are sometimes."