04:28 PM

Salamandastron: Leaders' Office
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Salamandastron *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
This room is obviously and strictly all business. The walls are bare, except for the occasional military decoration of crossed swords or what have you, as well as the occasional, dim candle. In the room, there is an ornately carved, oak desk, behind which rests a comfortable arm chair. In front of the desk two slightly less comfortable and straight-backed chairs sit, most likely to keep the occupants on their toes. The desk is often covered by stacks of papers, sometimes haphazard, and sometimes neatly placed, depending upon the officer using the room at any given time.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
                  Visible Exits:
[Out] to Hallway

The one thing about having a white winter coat is that mistakes aren't that easily hidden and after countless reports written, Jarril's paws do show the signs of having small specks of ink on them.  However, he is now looking at a half written letter to Harper.  Leaning back in the chair, he moves a paw up to his neck and feels it pop back into position again with a grimance.

Ender's trying to look like he's not stalking Zoe.  He actually does have a reason to sneak into the office, walking very delicately on the tips of his paws.  But there's Jarril.  Straightening up and flattening his paws on the ground, Ender nods at the Major, who seems to be writing.  Awful lot of that going on these days.  "Trying to put down something important, Jar...ril?"

Looking up as he's still giving his neck a rub with his paw, he just blinks twice and shakes his head.  "No, not important ta anyone but myself."  Removing his paw, he places it back down again while giving the rabbit another look.  "Anyone in particular ya after?"

Ender immediately shakes his head, smiling with one corner of his mouth.  "Just wanderin' about, eh?  After a while this mountain seems to get, erm, smaller every time I visit a room.  Haven't been in this area for a while."  He takes a few steps towards Jarril, resting his stump on the back of a chair, his paw idly scrathing at his side.  "It's still here.  About all that can be said."

Jarril smiles back though there's that look in his eye.  "So not looking for my cousin then?"  Moving a paw up to give one of his whiskers a gentle brush with his fingers.

That got his attention very quickly.  Ender's paw falls to his side, and he takes a few more steps towards Jarril, now right at the desk.  "What'd give you an idea like that, eh?  Can't a doe an' some old rabbit be friends?"  There's all kinds of meaning layered into these words, and the rabbit's eyes flick back and forth as he tries to decide whether to be angry or try to be a bit more blase.

Not moving, Jarril shakes his head.  "No, of course ya can.  Just that some have noticed ya been following so ta speak a lot lately.  But it's ya own business I suppose."  Changing the subject.  "So, how are the little ones ya looking after?"  The hare deciding to ask about how the young in the mountain are getting on instead.

Ender gives Jarril an injured look, deciding to also drop the matter.  At the hare's question, Ender thinks for a bit too long, finally opting to speak.  "Doing fine, I s'pose.  Not very many about, eh?"  And then a slightly impish look springs into his eyes.  "Seems there's not enough does 'n bucks together.  How 'bout you?  Should find y'self a nice doe, there's certainly plenty about."

Now this gives a smile to Jarril who shrugs slightly.  "Now don't ya start on me.  I've had enough blind dates arranged by my cousin ta last me a while."  Reaching to the side, the hare pulls open a drawer and pulls out two glasses and a flask.  "Hmm, care for a drink?"

Ender gives Jarril a narrow-eyed look for a moment before seating himself and pulling the chair closer to the corner of the desk, just within reach.  "What can a little drink hurt, eh?  Never too early in the day.  Definitely a good motto to live by, Major."  The rabbit rests his stump in his lap, out of sight.

Jarril slowly nods as he pours out the contents of the flask.  "Early?  Nah, this is pratically late for me."  The hare most definately been on duty for quite a while.  "Besides ya can blame ol' Earblade for this.  He got me into the drinking when I was a recruit."  The hare pushes the glass over and starts to pour himself some.

Ender takes it and holds the glass to his lips, sniffing the alcohol before taking a small sip.  He gives a murmur of satisfaction before letting his face relax, his body melting into the chair a little bit.  "Very good.  Earblade?  There's a name I hear often.  Think I've seen him about."

Jarril gives a nod.  "Must probably at the bar, could out-drink anyone and anything, even badgahs."  The hare downs his drink in one go, placing it back down on the desk as he slowly refills it again.  "So ya miss seeing Flaxpaw or Harper then around the place?"

Every time he's ready to calm down the rabbit is given another reason to get all up-tight.  "Flax?  hardly notice she's, erm, gone.  Never got to know Harper, m'self."  Ender wants to add that Harper stole Flaxpaw from him, but decides he'd best not.

Jarril nods slowly.  "Ah well.  Was just writing a letter ta them that's all."  The hare swirls the drink about in the glass.  Noticing the tension the hare smiles.  "So anything ya rather talk about instead?"  Giving the opportunity for the rabbit to change the topic to something more pleasing to the other buck.

There's so much to talk about, but most of it is uncomfortable.  Disgusing his emotion, Ender relaxes again.  "Have any children, Major?  I heard somethin' about that...can't remember now.  Can't remember much of anything."  He isn't ashamed at this, and pushes his glass towards the hare.

Jarril nods slowly.  "Only one, though I think ya met him."  The hare deciding on not mentioning the name as he slowly pours more liquid into the glass, pushing it back towards the rabbit.  "Not sure ya were around at the time.  Met someone just after the great earthquake in Mossflower, didn't know I had a son until well...  Few seasons back.  He's moved away now though."  The hare picks up his glass and takes a sip.  "No one else really apart from him ta carry on with the family line.  The rest got killed shortly after I arrived here.  Got news from up north."

Ender shakes his head at this, seeming to understand.  "I'm sure he'll do you proud, long as he isn't afraid of does.  Or...is..."  The rabbit glares a little, thinking of Quinten, savoring the hatred for a few moments.  "Y'know, I had a son once.  He made me happy, eh?"  There's something about Jarril that is making Ender loosen up a little.  As if the buck has been through enough to be trustworthy.

Giving a wishful thinking smile back as though some memory has come into his mind, Jarril nods his head.  "Even though they sometimes bring ya trouble and all.  I wouldn't trade him in for the world.  I mean, they're yours, ya made them, brought them up or even when ya haven't it's like they still got a part of ya within them."  Taking a sip of his drink.  "Mind ya, they do surprise ya from time ta time.  Didn't know that mine would want ta become a brother."

Ender looks mildly interested at the last statement, his eyes misting up a little at the former words.  Swiping his stump across his eyes and downing the drink, the rabbit looks around a little.  "A brother, y'say?  At the Abbey?  I do r'member Flax saying something like that.  My little niece went out there a while back, I haven't heard from her since.  Y'hear from..."  The dots connect in his mind.  "Hear from Harper at all?"

Jarril laughs slightly.  "Not as much as I would like ta hear from him, no.  He's only sent one letter since leaving and that was a long time ago."  Shaking his head he smiles at Ender.  "I don't know, they leave the nest and then ya hear high nothing from them for ages.  It's like ya temporary gone out of existance or something."

Giving a thin smile, Ender nods.  "That's the way it seems.  Harp's a good lad, he'll do fine on his own.  My little niece I'm not so sure about."  An idea visibly enters his head.  Nearly visibly.  "Could you possibly ask Harper in a letter if he sees a doe named Gabriel about?"

Jarril nodding his head, the hare picks up the quill, dips it into the ink and begins to write down something on the piece of paper.  It takes him a short while but then he finishes writing and smiles.  "Done, best ta get it written down now while I can otherwise something may come about and I'll forget."

Ender smiles, very pleased.  The alcohol has loosened his tight rein on drinking, and he's ready to get nice and sloshed.  And there's only one place to do that.  Well.  Two.  "I think I need something a bit stronger than this, Major.  Care to join me?"

Jarril looks at Ender.  "Where did ya have in mind?  We could drink in the bar or ya could come into the nice louge us officahs have and sit in a nice soft chair."  The major gets up, pushing the chair out of the way as he picks up both letters and pockets them both.

Three options!  And one of them obviously superior to the others.  "The lounge sounds the best.  Been in there a few times before, by accident.  Nice place, especially when your tryin' to hide away."  Not that he /is/ trying to hide, his tone conveys.  But he certainly is willing to.

Jarril nods.  "Then I invite ya in then, so ya ain't there by accident."  Moving around the table he smiles.  "Can relax more if ya know ya are allowed in there and besides it's the best place ta meet other officahs."  Opening the door to the office he looks up and down the corridor before turning his head back again.  "Okay, let's make a break for it before someone comes and see's me."

Ender is starting to genuinely like this hare, and grins.  "Can't say I've made a break for it in seasons.  But I don't want any of those fawning does to catch you, at least not today."  The rabbit strides to the door and takes a couple quick steps to get into the hall.  For a few moments he appears thoroughly lost before Jarril appears, heading in the right direction.

Salamandastron: Leaders' Lounge
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Salamandastron *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
The officer's social lounge, a completely different world from the rest of
Salamandastron. Whereas the mountain is mainly designed for the kind of
efficient practicality left for the most pedantic of military
organisations, the mess is a sophisticated, well furnished and luxurious
den. The furnishings are mostly polished walnut wood with large, padded
maroon leather armchairs creating small circles, each with a small table
next to the right arm. The walnut finish is also applied to the bar at the
back, shelves of expensive liquors and fine wines line the back wall, with
a small, private passage down to the cellars. There is a finely crafted
billiards table in one corner of the lounge, the well-polished balls adding
to the candle-lit shine of the room. The walls have various
expensive-looking hangings and ornamental weapons, the crossed swords
framing various different coats-of-arms from some of the famous BadgerLord
families or noted heroes of the Longpatrol over the ages. There is a more
business-like area of the lounge with a large notice board, complete with
detailed world map and various bits of parchment pinned across it.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
                  Visible Exits:
[Out] to Hallway

Well, the room is empty for once in it's life, most of the others must be busy working.  Jarril enters the room and allows Ender to come in as he slowly closes the door behind him and gives a sigh.  "Well, shan't be bothered in here for a bit."  Looking about the room.   "Please, make yourself comfortable."  The hare looking at the soft chairs that are near to the lit fire in the room.  "And I shall get some drinks."

Ender's grinning and licks his lips.  "Make mine something fancy.  Not fancy enough, erm, to prevent me from havin' a fun time with it...but I'd like to have at least a short relationship with my first drink, eh?"  The rabbit grins even wider, obviously finding himself quite hilarious as he plods in front of the fire and collapses into a chair.

Jarril nods slowly as he makes his way over to where all the drinks are in the room, the stuff tha most lower ranks will never get to see, the best stuff that Neville has made as well as from some other places about the world.  "Hmmm, we have some wines, spirits or honeyscotch."  The hare smiles and slowly picks up two glasses and two bottles of honeyscotch.  "May as well sink down with this, keeps ya warm, especially in this cold season."  The hare makes his way over and places Ender's glass on the small side table next to the soft chair and pours out a glass, before placing the bottle next to it.  He does the same before sinking into his chair with a smile.  "So where were we?"

Honeyscotch.  Sounds just crazy enough to work, and isn't something Ender's drunk a hundred times before.  That in itself is so unusual an occurence that the rabbit takes the glass and takes a gulp...quite uncultured.  "Oh, that is /just/ what I was thinking of."  The rabbit breathes.  "We were...speaking about Redwall, I believe.  You mentioned being out there back when the earthquake occured?"

With glass in paw, Jarril sinks further into the soft cushion seats and shakes his head.  "I was there just after the 'quake, though I was there before it a season or two before.  I decided that I needed ta see the place before I joined up here.  Young, nosey and just wanted ta see the world.  That and I heard all the tales of the food and wanted ta experience it before I came here."  The hare chuckled.  "I was absolutely frightened that the food here wouldn't be as nice."  The hare slowly gives his scotch a sip.

Ender can't help but chuckle a little - hares do /love/ their food, no matter how cliched it may seem.  Rabbits, on the other hand, love drinks.  "I think everything at the mountain, erm, has turned out just perfect.  'Cept a few individuals not acting exactly how I want them to...but how can I control that?  I am old, eh?  Seems I should have some importance."  A flicker of recognition flits across his face.  "Probably why Zoe has me looking after the dibbuns.  Hah!"

Jarril nods his head.  "Well, it's the best place really.  Ya have the chance ta mould them from day one.  Besides I bet they all love ya like ya were like a father ta them."  The hare looks at the fire which crackles and spits before smiling.  "Glad ta know someone is looking after them, don't think Zoe would let anyone do it really.  Important job for someone who really knows how ta care for others."

Ender gives Jarril a mocking look.  "And I'm the one who knows to care for others, now?"  These words are just out of his mouth when he looks down and sips his drink, ashamed.  "Sorry, Major."  A few awkward moments pass before the rabbit speaks again.  "Everyone has made mistakes.  Getting over them is the hard part, eh?"

Jarril waves a paw.  "Well, I should apologize.  I mean, I am only guessing here but if I have offended then I am sorry."  The hare pauses for a moment.  "But aye, everyone has made mistakes, who hasn't?  Doesn't mean that makes ya a bad person.  Should see the ones I've made in the past."  His ears twitch as he looks towards the door which has the sound of someone walking past as he turns his head back as the sound fades again.  "Like trusting a doe when she said I could walk into the kitchen here on my first day.  Don't think I went a day or two without a headache.  Cook sure knows how ta use a ladle..."

Ender looks a tad bit hopeful at the pawsteps, but he dismisses them, since the gait obviously can't belong to Zoe.  "Can't imagine you gettin' in trouble with the Cook."  This is spoken sarcastically, and Ender laughs a little.  "He's an ol' bugger, for sure.  I learned to sneak in and grab some grub as fast as I could early on, eh?"  Ender shakes his head.  Good times, good times...  "...and what doe was that, Major?"  Details like this don't pass by the rabbit too quickly, and he eagerly snags this one.

Jarril sighs as he looks at the contents in his glass.  "Oh a doe named Triss.  She disappeared for a while, think she's back now though.  Been close with a few does but nothing really happened apart from that one night thing in mossflower where Harper came about and all..."  His voice trails off as he takes a sip of his drink again to pass some more time.  "However, all I seem ta be attracting now is the young does.  Not sure, some are ta young for me really.  I'm like twice their age."

"Well, you're not alone, eh?"  These words coming from the lips of Ender seem more than a little implausible and ridiculous.  But the liquor (his third glass now) is loosening him up.  "Nothing wrong with the young does, long as they're not children."  A few faces flit through Ender's mind, but he can't attach a name to them.  Ah, well.

Jarril nods slowly.  "That's true.  Well, see how things go, if something comes up then it comes up.  If not then it doesn't."  The hare finishes his first glass and smiles.  "So, what would ya say if I ask my cousin if we can arrange for ya ta come in here regularally since ya working so hard with the dibbuns and all.  May as well make it official, besides no doubt ya be glad ta get someplace ta settle and rest comfortably."

Ender takes the shift in conversation in stride fairly well, considering how slow his mind is working as the alcohol dulls his senses.  "Isn't that n-nice of you.  If Zoe agrees, I'd certainly love to get away from everyone in here.  It's a nice place, that's for sure, eh?"  The rabbit tries to think of something else to say and comes up dry, opting to finish off his glass insteead.

Jarril smiles and remains quiet for the time being, sipping his drink as he relaxes with someone else in front of the fire.  Something does pop into his head but he decides that's not something to mention at the moment..  "Well, can't see how she could deny it.  Anyways, Ender... Have ya ever thought of retiring at all?"

Ahh...  It's so easy, once you set aside your consience.  The scotch is warming him up, the fire in front of the two of them causing him to sweat a little.  "Aren't I retired now?"  Ender smirks.  "I let a few dibbuns abuse me a few hours at a time, make 'em sleep, and then repeat.  Quite enjoyable, honestly.  Except a few of them.  I swear, it's like Quinten and Zeraph managed to have children..."

Jarril gives a slight involuntary shudder to that one.  "Oh don't remind me.  I was Quinten's teacher when he was a recruit and now he's in my patrah as well, though thankfully he hasn't done anything ta annoy me yet.  As for Zeraph..."  The hare ponders.  "He's in my patrah as well but not had any problems with him yet either.  Don't think they like ta mess with me anymore.."

Ender is happy to see Jarril shudder, as it at least confirms that he's not the only one who found the whole fiasco distasteful.  "Quinten was involved with my Gabriel before she went off to, erm, Redwall.  Told him I'd kill 'im if he screwed around on her...guess it doesn't matter now."  He smiles sadly, looking at the fire.  The flames dance in his vision, encouraging him to pour himself another glass.

Jarril nods his head.  "Well, he nearly didn't make it into the patrah.  Had ta send him home from the abbey.  He was just one more thing ta go wrong before I was going ta kick him out anyways."  The hare pours himself another drink again.  "Managed ta kick some sense into him, wasn't sure anything less would've worked.  I expect a lot from my patrah hares, wot."

Ender feels a bit silly, sitting here getting drunk with someone with such high morals.  But...he's older.  And that's earned him something, just as he said earlier.  Did he say that earlier?  Ender thinks for a few seconds before filing away the question for later pondering.  "You'd best expect a lot from them.  This is the Long Patrol, eh?"  This seems to kill that topic.  "Have y'seen Keita at all?"

Shaking his head, Jarril replies back with some thought, his mind still able to come up with answers though that's due to training from Earblade and Bludstripe in the past.  "No, not recently.  I think it's been a season or so now since I even stepped into the village.  Pretty much been around here or on patrah."

Ender nods very slowly, eyes not quite focused any more.  "Understood."  The rabbit tries to stand, wobbling a little and finally flopping back onto the chair.  "Ugh."  This is said very simply.  "Been nice talking, Major.  Think I should...take a bit of a rest.  Before the young 'uns are clamoring for me again."

Jarril nods and slowly gets up from the chair, removing the glass and the bottle from Ender's reach.  "Well, just stay here and have a sleep.  No one should be about for the time being.  As for me, I should get back ta work."  He moves to head out of the room and stops.  "I'll send someone around later ta make sure ya are up in time."

Such a nice...young.....fellow.  Thoughts are coming even /more/ slowly as Ender drifts off.  "Thank you, Major.  We'll have to..."  A full minute passes.  "Have to do this again, eh?"  Ender cracks an eye open, smiles, and sinks deeply into his chair.

Jarril nods and walks out of the room, shaking his head as he slowly closes the door behind him before returning back to the chaos that is known as being on duty or in this hare's case.  Evil tyrant army of paperwork.