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In this RP: Lark, Dante, Starlenia, Sivaine, Reogan, and Ardice (spoofed sister of Sivaine)

Dante took the /other/ stairs very specifically. Lark was trying to get him to react during lunch, and he managed to rise above it somehow. But hee's had enough now, and is ready to go back to...reading? How boring. This is an unusual thought, and Dante stops to consider it, a few steps into the Great Hall. And...there she is. Joy.

Starlenia had been quietly sitting on the hearth, meanwhile, swinging her legs back and forth while she watched the troublemaker Lark enter Great Hall. When Lark came close Star moved a bit closer to the fire and mumbled a greeting, adding a small wave in case Lark didn't hear her.

Lark waves in reply, moving closer to Star. "I don't think I've met you," she says simply. "I'm Lark. I've been here at the Abbey about... um... a week? A couple days more, maybe." She tilts her head at the other squirrelmaid. "I think I've seen you around, maybe? At meals?"

Well good. Someone else to talk to. Dante moves towards Starlenia as well, a bit miffed when Lark pre-empts him. He doesn't stop walking towards her, though. Honestly, it's just Lark. They aren't deadly enemies or anything, right? Right. Shuffling up next to the two squirrels, Dante looks towards them and smiles a little, letting them talk for now.

After opening her mouth, and then closing it again, shortly at a loss for words, Starlenia finally settled on a quiet "Yes," and watched Lark for a moment. She felt something was expected of her, but didn't know what it was, and felt very awkward indeed.

Lark pulls over a chair, choosing to sit near the squirrelmaid who's her age, but not immediately next to the maid, who seems shy. "What's your name?" she asks, prompting for a little conversation. She nods to Dante amiably, no trace of her earlier sarcasm evident in her face.

Dante is a bit shocked, but tries not to show it. She's...calm. Normal. Not that he's actually payed attention to her before, but this is definitely surprising. Suddenly he becomes /very/ aware of the room and looks around guiltily. Again, suddenly, he realizes that he's probably looking totally insane. Social interactions are just no fun. He still has no reason to speak, and instead continues to stand quietly, looking more than a little out-of-place.

Sivaine and Ardice are preceded by their voices "..saying is, we should keep moving." "Oh, Siv'. Now? In the middle of winter? I think you've lost your head." The two mousemaids amble in from the kitchen area, swathed in heavy, snow-dusted cloaks, their paws wrapped around steaming cups of tea. "I don't like sitting around." "It's been a day, dear." "A day's enough." The shorter, sandy-furred mousemaid gives the taller one a sideways glance; she's going for a sly look, but sweet-faced Ardice just isn't built for that. "You're missing your spear." "Don't be ridiculous; I just feel exposed. Especially with that gash in the wall."

Clearing her throat, Starlenia nodded to Lark as the latter took a seat closer by. "Starle-le.." she began, stammering, and then gave up on the letter and shortened it. "S-star." With that she shut up and watched Lark for an answer, hoping to get the other's name as well.

Lark smiles, no trace of troublemaking in view, likely surprising the voiceless fox kit more. "Nice to meet you, Star. Have you been here long? Like I said, I've only been here a week, I don't know many people..." With this she contradicts herself, waving and calling out. "Hi you two!" Then she frowns a little, glaring at Sivaine. "You're not allowed to leave yet. You've only told one story."

Dante is paying close attention, still not speaking. This really isn't very much fun. But fun doesn't matter, of course. When Lark's attention is diverted, Dante taps Starlenia on the shoulder. "Hello, Star. I'm Dante." This is spoken in a quiet voice, a touch higher-pitched than the average young boy's. As soon as he speaks, Dante blushes and withdraws his paw quickly.

Starlenia jumped at the touch and quickly shifted farther away to stare at Dante suspiciously, less than comfortable with being touched by anyone unexpectedly. After the initial shock faded she moved a pace further down the hearth, stil nervous at a fox suddenly appearing next to her.

"But there's guards-" "-at the gate-" "-and they've been ever so nice, so-" "Tch." Sivaine gives Ardice a Look. "Hello, Lark." She smiles warmly at the young squirrel - echoed by a cheery "Hello, Lark!" from Ardice - and wryly asks, "Hmm. Not allowed? How many stories to buy my freedom, then?"

Lark headtilts, looking stubborn. "I haven't decided yet. Depends on how good they are. At least fifty, for sure." She looks to the two other young'uns with her, but realizing she may not get much support from them, looks at Ardice. "And you haven't sketched me yet," she points out.

Dante looks surprised, and then realizes why the girl stumbled away from him. He looks down at his feet, breathing deeply for a few moments before walking past the two squirrels, towards the mice. He stops after only a few steps though, realizing he really has nowhere to go. Looking up, the fox smiles awkwardly at the mice. "You...draw?" This is addressed to Ardice.

Ardice's paw flies to her mouth. "Oh, I'm so sorry! It was so late last night, and it's been such a long journey, but-" "Ard." "I could draw you now?" the mousemaid offers. Sivaine takes a long drink of tea, closing her eyes. "Fifty? That's quite a price there.. I don't suppose a very long story now and a promise to come back would do, would it? Hello there, Master Fox." This last is addressed to Dante, but it's Ardice who squeaks in slight surprise and looks down, then beams at the young fox. "Oh! Hello there. Yes, yes I do draw-" "She's really quite good," Sivaine interjects. "Do you like to draw too?"

Lark shakes her head at Sivaine, knowing the mousemaid will see it, but doesn't interrupt, even to answer Ardice, seeing the quiet Dante speaking up. Instead she turns to smile at Star again. "You want a cookie? I can go sneak a few," she offers quietly.

Still rattled, but calming down, Star replied with a noncomittal shrug since she didn't mind one way or the other. Besides, Lark was proving overwhelming enough that Star didn't quite know what to answer anyhow.

Lark slides off her seat and around Dante and the mousemaids (micemaids?) and into the kitchen. It appears she's doing well with her sneaking, except just as the door opens to readmit her, at which point there's a yell of Lark! and a clatter of pans, possibly dropped. Trying to look innocent, the squirrelmaid slips back to the fire, smiling at Star as she extends a warm chocolate-chip cookie.

Dante smiles a little at Ardice, not making eye contact with either of the mice. "I draw." He blushes again, clearly not liking the sound of his voice. "Just a little. Not very good." The fox looks past the mice now, smiling a bit wider. The whole effect of him not making eye contact is a /tad/ odd, but he does catch Sivaine's eye as Lark sneaks past him.

It is odd, but the pair of mice seem too well-mannered to comment; Sivaine gives Dante a wink when he catches her eye, which turns into a mock-exasperated eyeroll at the crashing pans. "I'll leave you here," she mouths to Ardice with a tap on the shoulder, then moves off towards the squirrel girls, finishing the last of her tea. Ardice, meanwhile, is all sunny smiles and enthusiasm with a forgotten teacup in her paws. "I'm sure you're very good," she protests with a headshake. "Would you show me? We can trade - I have my sketchbook here." She pats the side of her cloak.

Dante looks a bit more perky now, the scary squirrel nearly forgotten. "My drawings are in the library." So many words! "That's where I spend most of my time." He smiles and looks directly at the mouse now. "Can I see yours?"

Starlenia takes the cookie she's been offered and sets it down on the hearth beside her, undecided about whether to eat it or not. She says "th-thank you," and is quiet again, watching Lark and Dante and the other two.

Lark smiles warmly, just being nice to the quiet squirrelmaid. Then, unfortunately, Clover appears in the kitchen doorway. "Lark! Since you've stolen my fresh cookies you can help me now, and you can't have any more for being helpful!" The squirrelmaid winces slightly, then grins at Star. "Enjoy your cookie," she comments, setting one quietly on a chair near Dante for him to notice later. She waves at the mousemaids also, then walks over to Clover and salutes.

"Of course, I'll just-" Ardice reaches into the folds of her cloak.. and takes on the half-worried, half-hoping expression of someone thinking 'Maybe if I just turn my pockets out one more time, it'll be there.' Pat. Pat. Patpatpatpatpat. "Siv'-!" "Upstairs in the pack under the bunk," her sister replies without missing a beat. "You forgot to take it with you this morning." "Oh!" Ardice smiles sheepishly at Dante. "I'm sorry; I left my book upstairs.. I'll run and fetch it, all right?" Without waiting for an answer, she takes off, pausing at the stairs to call back, "You could get yours too while I'm gone!" And then she is. Flighty thing.

Dante watches the mouse go, and considers following her up the stairs to the library. Ach, it'd be a waste of time...he's far too slow, anyway. He makes a mental note to carry something on himself next time he ventures out into the rest of the abbey. Perhaps he'll see her again? Hopefully. The fox turns, almost disappointed to see Lark gone, definitely disappointed to see Star still in the room. He trudges slowly towards the stairs.

Reogan enters the room and looks around in awe. Noticing the others in the room he asks "What is this place? It is like nothing I've seen in Southsward!"

Sivaine turns her head to watch Lark go by, waving briefly. "Oops. Someone's been conscripted," she comments to the air, but with a smile in Starlenia's general direction. The mousemaid halts a meter or so from the shy squirrel, letting her have a little space. "Looks like the coast is clear to have a bite, though."

Ardice isn't gone very long - there's only the space of a minute or two before the slap-slap of running footpaws is audible, and then she comes down the stairs at full-tilt, narrowly missing Dante. She comes to a stop and turns, waving a small sheaf of leaves crudely bound between two wooden boards. "I've got it!"

Reogan approaches Sivaine and asks, "You seem as in charge as anyone. Might you tell me what this place is? I've seen nothing like it in Southsward, nor anywhere else I have traveled."

Starlenia looks to Sivaine and waves with less spirit than before, unhappy to see Lark go. The cookie doesn't seem as appetizing as it did before, now that its bearer has been stolen away to work in the kitchen, and wouldn't be seen until the next morning.

Dante smiles thinly at Ardice, his penchant for social interaction obviously vanishing with each passing moment. Silently, the fox walks over to the table and waits for the mouse to join him. He does glance over at Star now, obviously still a bit upset by her snub.

Sivaine turns to give the newcomer an appraising look as he approaches. "This would be the famed Redwall Abbey," she replies a touch dryly. "I can't tell you much more than that, seeing as we only arrived yesterday. Very good tea, though, and a nice warm fire." She lifts her paw for emphasis, dangling an empty teacup from it.

Reogan says, "I simply wish to find a place of rest after my journeys. Could I stay here? I can pay in labor for a bed, for I have nothing left with which to bargain for anything."

Ardice, for her part, follows Dante to the table and, tucking her sketchbook under one arm, pulls out one chair, then a second. She seats herself in the first, sets her sketchbook down in front of her, and gives the young fox an expectant look that turns slightly worried, once she sees his waning enthusiasm. "Ah.. would you still like to see them?" she asks, a little uncertainly.

Dante looks at the mouse for a second, gauging her mood. He then nods, placing his paws in front of him on the table and taking a seat. "What do you draw?" He asks, as if he is not about to find out.

"Hospitality to travelers is part of the charter, I think. Don't think anybeast would have a problem with you," Sivaine replies, leaning an elbow against a chair back. "Here," she gestures with the teacup to the circle of chairs surrounding the flickering fire, "Sit down, put your feet up. There should be a line on the mantle if you need to string anything up to dry."

Reogan looks relieved that he was allowed to stay. As he moves towards the fire he turns again, and looks back at the mouse, "Thank you, but don't I need to do work first? Hospitality is one thing, but free room and board doesn't exist. What does the Abbey charge for a night?

Ardice visibly relaxes as the fox boy sits. "Whatever I see, really," she says, opening the book and pushing it towards Dante. "Lots of plants, stonework.. oh, here!" She reaches over and flips through until she finds a certain page, then sits back. "I like that one." That one is a series of studies of snow-covered, ice-encrusted branches done in dark ink. Sivaine's comment earlier wasn't frivolous - Ardice -is- very good. The sketches are lovingly done, full of tiny details and life.

Starlenia stands up, moves back from the hearth to keep out of Reogan's way, and finds a seat near the fire, presently feeling well out of place, but still keeping as quiet as is possible.

Dante doesn't really look surprised at Ardice's work. Judging by the other mouse's comment, he knew to expect something amazing. Deep inside, he is surprised, however. It is a bit beyond amazing. Beautiful, really. He catches Starlenia's movement out of the corner of his eye and can barely stop his head from snapping towards her. "You're very good, ma'am." A simple (true) fact.

Sivaine leans over the chair back, looking down at Reogan. "They don't," she replies simply. A pause, then she continues, "This isn't a halfway house; it's a monastery. I'm sure individuals would be miffed if you didn't do your fair share, but the Charter they swear by, I believe, dictates they 'offer shelter to all beasts, and food, clothing and warmth to anyone deemed needing it.'" Her gaze turns ceilingward as she quotes, then snaps back to the squirrel. "There's no work to do at this hour in any case; I would find someone in a green habit tomorrow and ask them." A pause, and a wry smile. "If you're really feeling guilty about things, go to the kitchen and offer to pour your own tea."

Reogan smiles at her answer and sits near the fire. "Thank you," he says, as he slowly drifts off to sleep.

Ardice ducks her head, smiling with obvious pleasure as she shyly says, "Thank you. Here's some summer flowers.." she continues, then stops short at the next page. "... And here's some faces," she picks up again, though her voice is a little bit forced as she looks down at a handmade page of character portraits - mice, squirrels, an otter, a fox.. One of the mice seems to be a younger-looking Sivaine.

"Well. I suppose that's that," Siv' remarks, blinking at Reogan's quick descent into sleep. A shrug, then she, too, takes a seat near the fire. "Aren't you going to eat your cookie?" she asks Starlenia after a moment, gesturing with her teacup but not making eye contact. "It'll get cold."

Dante smiles at the portraits, much more genuinely than before. "This is what I like." He breathes in a voice just above a whisper. The fox's eyes scan every inch of the drawings, taking them all in as much as he can. "How did you learn to draw so well?" Obviously forgetting to be quiet, the fox looks up at Ardice with glowing eyes.

Starlenia reaches forward to take the cookie and takes a bite out of it, although even this much is only for Sivaine's sake. It isn't too warm by this point, but Star makes a show of eating it anyway.

"Um, well." Ardice scratches her head, a little unsure how to answer that question, but still smiling - Dante's appreciation of her work is obviously pleasing to her. "I just practice a lot.." she trails off lamely, then perks up as a thought strikes her. "Oh! And I try to look at things - I mean really look at things. I know that doesn't sound like a lot of sense, but.. hm. Look at Sivaine." She gestures to the mouse in her chair by the fire. "See how the firelight strikes her?"

Dante does look, and tries to see what the mouse is pointing out. Ach, this is so fruitless. He glances at her hopelessly and shrugs a little. "Yes, I suppose. I should...I should study before I sleep. Very..." The dibbun doesn't bother finishing his sentence, and instead slips off his chair and bows a little to the mouse. "Thank you..."

Ardice's ears droop a little bit, slightly disappointed. "It -is- getting very late, I suppose. Um." Pause. "But it was very nice to meet you! I'd like to talk about drawing with you more - if you like, that is. Ah. I'm Ardice." She offers a smile and a tentative, outstretched paw. "I'd like to see your sketches some time."

Dante takes Ardice's paw and smiles again, but avoids eye contact. "Yes, I suppose. I hope so. Thank you." And...that's that. Away he heads to the stairs and his beloved library.

Sivaine gives Starlenia a sideways look. Hmm. Her gaze falls on the lone cookie sitting on her chair's armrest - the one Lark brought out for Dante. "I don't suppose he'll be coming back for this," she says, picking it up and turning it back and forth before her. "Shame to let it go to waste.. cookies can get very lonely on their own, you know."

Starlenia curls up in her chair, watching Sivaine poach the last untouched cookie. It was true that it would go to waste, but it still seemed like stealing to take it.

Sivaine doesn't actually eat the cookie - rather, she just contemplates it, letting the firelight reflect off the chocolate bits and the browned edges. "Sometimes, they get so lonely, they go off on adventures." She looks at Starlenia with a smile. "Have you ever heard of something like that?"

Glancing from predator to prey now and then, Starlenia shakes her head no. She's never heard anything anything close to that outlandish.. but who knows, it might be true.

"Well. Would you like to?" Sivaine offers, still twirling the cookie to and fro between her fingertips. "I know a story about it."

A nod from the squirrelmaid sitting by the fire, since Star wasn't one to pass up a good story, no matter how far-fetched the story might be.

"All right then." Settling back into her chair, Sivaine clears her throat and begins. "Not so very long ago, there was a little old dormouse who lived.. well, not so very far from here. It was her granddaughter's birthday, so she had baked a batch of cookies to celebrate.."

Curling up in her chair, Starlenia gets ready for the older squirrel's tale, paying rapt attention to Sivaine's every word, not caring whether adventurous cookies were involved.

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