Quick background: Josiah is simply in Redwall Abbey's Great Hall, enjoying a break in duties with some studying. He, Amethyst and Augustus are all novices in the Abbey Order. Josiah and Amethyst are both healers. RW Abbey: Great Hall -------------------------------------------------------------------- The Great Hall of Redwall Abbey. Countless paw falls have echoed from these stones, and untold numbers of feasts and merry gatherings have been held here. A table, not nearly so grand or large as its predecessors, but quite functional for mealtimes, rests near the center of the hall. Chairs exist here aplenty, though most of them are obviously not from the same set. Many of the stained glass windows are broken, and have been patched with canvas and boards to fend against the elements. The floor is clean and swept. A fire is kept burning in the fireplace at almost all times of the day and night, and there are several more comfortable chairs and cushions set up here, of varying sizes. One looks large enough to easily accommodate a badger. The Tapestry hangs proud and tall, and while the rest of Redwall may still bear the scars of natural disaster, this most famous of Redwall's relics remains unharmed by beast, time, or the elements. The figure of Martin the Warrior seems to be watching over his own with an unchanging, kindly gaze. Shadows are long in the dying evening light. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Exits/Entrances: [K]itchen [St]airs [C]avern [H]ole [Li]brary [En]try [B]reezeway -------------------------------------------------------------------- ** THIS ROOM IS BROADCASTING ** Amethyst has arrived. Josiah sits on one of the chairs near the fire. He studies from a large book as he warms himself. The mouse has had a bit of a long day today, and is taking some time to read for one of his novice classes. Amethyst comes down the stairs, wrapped in a blanket. She moves straight to a chair near the fire, consequently near Josiah, and plops down into it. Either she doesn't notice him, or isn't bothering to greet him. Josiah's ears pick up Ame's approach, and he turns his head slightly in her direction. He nods to her lightly. "Evening, Amethyst. How are things going?" he says, as his attention goes back to the book. He still listens, though. Amethyst curls up in the chair, "Hi. Everything's fine. What about with you?" Josiah shrugs a bit. "A little busy and/or stressful at times, but I'm managing." Augustus arrives from the Staircase.. Augustus has arrived. Amethyst asks, "Josiah?" "Hmm?" Amethyst bites her lip, then says, "You bother me because it always feels like you're trying to completely take over the job I've been doing for more than a season." Josiah ponders quietly for a moment, and then closes the book he was reading. "I do?" he asks, a little surprised. Amethyst says, "Yes. It's just...it's like...you showed up out of no where, and all of a sudden you're healing everyone all the time and there isn't any reason for me to be there anymore. And then you even followed us all the way to Camp Willow, when the whole reason I was there was to look after Kes after she was rescued, and then you were taking care of her, instead. And I think I was jealous, too, when you were taking care of Augustus while I was right there." Josiah listens quietly. A moment or two after Amethyst finishes, he responds. "..Back before the quake, Silverleaf was the Master Healer here at the Abbey, and I was her assistant. I also worked in the Infirmary at Camp Nueva when all the surviving Abbeybeasts fled there after the quake." He thinks a little more before continuing. "..I guess I feel like I still have those obligations. As for Kes, well..." He breathes a sigh. "I suppose I worried too much for her, and I'm sorry for that. I didn't realize I was seen the way you put it." He gives a little moment for all that to sink in, and then asks sincerely, "What would you like me to do?" Amethyst says, "It seems to /me/ like you came out of nowhere, though. You weren't anywhere since I got here, and I had been looking after the infirmary by myself for a long while before you suddenly came. And...I'm not real sure what I want you to do. I've sort of been thinking it wasn't real fair for me to be so annoyed with you because of that, but I couldn't help it." Josiah says, "Well, you are right, I did pretty much come out of nowhere. I was not around for quite a while. Long enough, at least, that Silverleaf and Kevarr are the only ones I know of that knew who I was when I did come back. No other beasts were familiar to me." Amethyst says, "That's why I was mad you were suddenly taking over all my jobs. Healing was what I liked doing best, and it's how I helped the Abbey the most, and it made me seem all useless." Augustus hobbles down from the stairs, his pace going faster than it had been. His scars remained, but his bruises are dying. The young Novice makes his way across the stone floor before stopping and seeing the others... who looked very serious. Augy turns, making his way towards the library entrance. This makes things more clear for Josiah. He could tell from previous experience that Amethyst didn't seem to like him that much, but he didn't know why. He nods solemnly. "I see.." He then offers, "Should I not spend so much time in the Infirmary, then?" He then asks, "Or perhaps, we could somehow handle the Infirmary duties together equally?" Amethyst says, "It'd probably be better if we could figure out how to divide things up a little..." and then she spots Augustus, "Hi!" Reden comes from the entry. Reden has arrived. Josiah just had an idea, but Augy's presence was noted before he could voice it. He smiles a bit, and waves to him. "Hey Augustus! You're getting around better, I see." Augustus stops in his track, his upper half turning slightly. "Oh! Hello, Amethyst... I didn't mean to intrude..." The mouse says with a slight frown. "I was just on my way out..." He explains, waving his free paw towards the library. "Yes.. .I am, thank you... is everything all right with you two?" A short pain of jealousy hit the mouse... could they be...? No... Amethyst says, "Yeah. Everything's better between us, at least, than has been since he got here." Amethyst says, "You can stay if you want. Isn't it late for studying?" Amethyst has essentially said everything Josiah would, and so he looks to Augustus for his response. Augustus turns and makes his way back over to them. "Well... yes, it may be a bit late..." He agrees and looks oddly at Josiah. Hmm. "Well... it's good you both... worked things out." A large shadow appears upon the wall, moving its way threateningly into the Great Hall from Cavern Hole. The owner of said shadow does not live up to his dark counterpart's image - he is small, dirty, and apparently thoroughly and grandly drunk. "In all my life I've know but I few, but I have met, a lady or twooo and I will say as I always do tha' none are ... as pretty as y. . y . . y. oouuuuuuuueeee!" Armaggedon has come in the form of very bad poetry. Josiah sort of returns the odd look he was given, wondering what that was about. And he wonders that again at Reden's entry and little ditty. "What in the..?" he says as he turns to face the squirrel. Amethyst's ears perk, eyes turning toward the poet, "...Er...Hi." Augustus jerks an ear at the poem, for a moment thinking it was directed at Amethyst. He turns and peers forward, looking almost angry. "...oh..." He says quietly and lets his ears fall back in place. "Where's m' ... m' ... la'y. La'y? Where's m' ears! No! Ears!" Reden jumps in horror, searching his pockets frantically until at last he finds a pair of hare's ears cut out of cloth and starched something horrible. Soberly - well, that's not really a good word to use, so shall we say SERIOUSLY - the little squirrel fits the ears on over his own, secured upon his head by a bandana. "Hi, chaps and chappesseseseses." Amethyst asks, "Are you alright?" "No ..." says the squirrel, "I feel faint ... oh, catch me, my love!" he waves grandly at thin air and falls into thin air's arms. Whump. Josiah whispers audibly to Amethyst, "I have an idea what we could do about that, but we'll talk about it later." He groans as he goes over to the fallen Reden. "I hate it when beasts get drunk../especially/ this drunk," he mutters under his breath. Augustus pulls back, his snout wrinkling up. Josiah then halts, realizing that he's doing just what Amethyst was talking about. He glances over in her direction. "I am /not/ drunk!" Reden slurs in outrage. "I am Colonel Reden Tore of the Short Patrol Twenty-Second Brigade SAH!" He pauses a moment, blinking. "Twenny-second? Wha' happened to the other twenny-one? Oh, righ'," Reden says to himself, slyly tapping what is hopefully the side of his muzzle: "they drownded." Amethyst nods to Josiah with a small smile, and the smile grows slightly as he stops, "Go ahead. It's funnier to just watch." Augustus steps back to be even with Amethyst. "Huh." He grunts, shaking his head. Amethyst says, "...What's the matter, Augustus?" "Me!" Reden states with glee. Josiah gives a face of mock irritation at Ame. "Oh sure," he says with a hint of a laugh in his voice. "Leave me to handle the squirrel that thinks he's a hare." He keeps going over to Reden. As he approaches the squirrel, his face returns to being a little more serious. "Sir, I think you've had a little too much to drink, why don't you come with me?" he offers calmly. "Harumph!" says Reden, producing a monocle from his pocket and putting it on his nose. "I haven't /touchcheched/ liquor, insolent young chappy!" His breath might suggest otherwise. Augustus gulps. "Drunk beasts make me nervous..." Amethyst says, "Oh." Josiah raises a brow. "Oh, you haven't, have you? I suppose that every squirrel thinks they're a Long Patrol hare too?" "No need to be nerv ... nervy ... nervous, then!" Reden exclaims cheerilly. "Tra la la lally wark." And then Josiah speaks. Reden's nose twitches and quivers. "SHORT PATROL! INSOLENT COD!" Augustus lets go of his crutch and clasps both paws over his ears, the crutch falling with a thump to the ground. "Ahg.." "Harumph," Reden mumbles smugly. Josiah cringes slightly as Reden's voice raises. There's a slight pause before he responds. "...Right. Short Patrol then," he sighs. "All the more reason for me to believe that you're quite plastered, sir." Amethyst looks very curiously toward Augustus. Then, however, she stands up with the intention of taking him by the arm and leading him to the library. "Don't go! You shall be demoted!" Reden threatens furiously to Amethyst and Augustus. Josiah cringes a little again at Reden's volume. "..I'll tell you what, sir. Why don't I help you go and have a seat by the fire? It's a wonderful place to relax," the mouse calmly offers. "Marumphumf!" Reden chokes, struggling to his feet. The healer mouse then says, "Help rest your tired footpaws quite nicely." Augustus looks at Amethyst, his lips turning to a frown. "Are we going?" He asks hopefully. Amethyst says, "Yes. C'mon." Amethyst heads off towards the Library.. Amethyst has left. Augustus heads off towards the Library.. Augustus has left. Reden makes strangled sounds and shakes his fist. "There will be a reckoning!" he screams to Augustus' ear. "You ... you ... insolent young ...!" He collapses, exhausted. Were it not for drunkenness being one of Josiah's pet peeves, he might've actually laughed at Reden's conduct. He glances over to where the other two mice were, and finds them gone. He hrms, and then quickly crouches to help Reden up. "Easy there, sir.." "You're not such a bad chap," Reden mumbles, then sniffs. Josiah moves to help the squirrel stand. Rather than answer that, he says, "Let's help you over to the fire, eh?" "No, no, I must see to the troops! Keep them from rebellion and disorder!" Hick, sniffle, cough. Josiah then gets an idea. Adopting a typical hare accent, he says, "Lemme 'andle that, sah. I c'n keep those blightahs in line while ye rest your stumps. 'Ow's tha' sound?" Reden looks at Josiah in amazement. "Can you? Can you really? Jolly good! Whip up Private Murth into shape, wot wot!" He nods and moves towards the fire. "And I'll rest me stumps. Stumps. Rest." Josiah continues to play along, even going to far as to salute the 'hare'. "Yessah!" he says. "Bu' lemme 'elp ye to the fire first, an' then ah'll go tan the tails of those ruffians." He even adds, "'Specially that Private Murth, 'e's a rebellious one, 'e is!" Reden nods happily and allows Josiah to help him, murmuring: "This means a promotion! Yes i' does!" "Really sah? Ya mean it?" says Josiah in mock surprise. Now he can see why Amethyst found this amusing. "Yes, /Major/ ... /Major/ ... sorry, your name seems to have slipped my mind..." Josiah has to think quickly. He spits out the first hare name he can recall reading about in Abbey histories. "Tammo, sah! Tammo de Fformelo Tussock!" "Swear I've heard the name before, Major," Reden mumbles, and passes out. Reden has disconnected. Josiah is sure to catch the squirrel, lest he fall to the floor. He slowly carries the squirrel to a chair near the fire, and sets him in it gently. He can't help but crack a smile, and even chuckle a little. "If only you could see yourself when you're drunk," he says to the unconscious squirrel before leaving the room to find where the others went.