RW Abbey: Augustus' Quarters(#225826R)
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The room before you is a very neat and tidy room. There is a small bed in the opposite corner, usually made and un-creased. By this is a small oak nightstand, complete with an oil lamp, a few small books, and a little drawer full of personal items. On the wall just to the left of the door is a large wooden wardrobe, with the owner's clothes. The only other thing in this room is a small slanted desk, with an ink well and a large feather quill. Above the desk is a four panel window, allowing the sunrise to sneak through.
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Exits: [O]ut
Keith arrives from the hallway.
Keith has arrived.

A knock sounds, well, at a very late hour.

The dark night is trying it's best to creep into the small room, only kept back by the small lantern of oirl perched on the edge of a small wooden desk. Over it is hunched a small mouse in a bed robe, his drooping eyes fighting to stay up as his quill scratches into the parchment. The knock causes him to jump slightly, his now-wide eyes turning to the door. Augy slides off his chair and creeps forward, opening the door. "Yes? Ah... Keith?"

Keith is standing there, looking vaguely out-of-sorts. His ponytail holder is missing, so his hair is scattered wildly around his shoulders and face. He looks like a very gangly girl. Almost. "Augy." he mumbles, rubbing the back of his neck. "I .. /really/ need .. um.." he rubs harder, "To talk."

Augustus blinks for a second, taking another look to make sure this is in fact Keith. The mouse squeaks slightly and steps back, drawing the door away and fully open. "Oh... oh, of course! Please, come in. Make yourself at home." The mouse says in a kind voice, motioning to the bed for him to sit. "What might the trouble be?"

Keith steps in hurriedly, as if he were being pursued. He makes his way to Augustus' bed where he flumps down and spreads his knees. The mouse sets his elbows upon them, and then his chin in his upturned paws. "Girls. I mean. Love. No, I mean.. no. I mean, you know what I mean."

Augustus closes the door and turns, making for his desk chair. He tugs on it and turns it around, facing it to his company. "Ah, yes. I know what you mean." He says with a smile. "But you seem flustered, Keith. Any reason why?" Augy asks, lowering himself into the chair.

Keith's fingers slink up the side of his face and curl into his unruly hair. He looks like he's been standing in the breezeway, with the way his fur is rumpled. "I almost asked her, tonight." he mumbles, "You know. That.. that forever thing."

Augustus lays his back flat against the chair, his paws folding into his lap. The mouse studies Keith for a while and nods in understanding. His face, however, holds no sign of a smile or a frown. "I assume you mean Kestrel... and marriage." He prompts, tilting his head towards Keith.

Keith's fingers clench inward and he drops his face into his paws. "Yeah." he says hollowly, "I can't explain it. I just .. she ..."

Augustus watches the mouse for a moment. "Do you think she will say no?" He asks gently.

Keith replies, "I don't know. That isn't.. that's not what I'm worried about. If she says no, and .. just wants to be.. to be what we are, that's fine."
Keith says, ".. but if she says no, and doesn't want anything to do with me.."
Keith looks up at Augustus suddenly, his eyes bright. "My father was horrid. He was .. he was never /there/. He was never there for my mother, he was never there for his children. He'd come home from war, pat our heads, and leave."
Keith says, "I'm so afraid.. I'm so afraid I'll be like him."
Keith admits, his voice sorrowful. "Even my mother couldn't honor her marriage vows."

Augustus finally nods his head, his eyebrows arching in understanding. "Ah, I see. You care about her very much." He says with a deep bow of his head. His fingers drum gently, the mouse falling into a moment of thought. "I will not deny that sometimes we hold traits of our parents... for often we do. But you recognize the faults they held, and there for you are already a step ahead to addressing such a problem." The mouse says calmly. "Do you wish for your children to have a better father than you yourself had?"

Keith exhales, "Well .. we really can't.. " he trails off at that, "I want to be a better husband then my father was."
Keith looks up at Augustus suddenly. "What do you think?"

Augustus chuckles. "Yes, of course. But the fact that you wish to be a better mouse than your father is where I am getting at. I do not believe your father meant to be a /bad/ father and husband. No beast usually means for that to happen. But often they do not think about it either way." Augy smiles gently. "/I/ believe you will provide a good mate for any to have. As everyone should, you must often stop yourself and reflect on how you act and behave and go from there. And if you stray from your path, I am sure Kestrel will be one to inform you."

Keith mumbles, "If she's got her Mom's attitude, you'll see me flying off the ramparts."
Keith clenches his fingers together, "We're not too young. I know. We're adults. Hellsteeth, Augustus. When the hell did we grow up?"

Augustus looks slightly amused. "I suggest learning to fly then." He says with a laugh. "Keith, if you are /half/ the mouse you have shown me you can be, then I have no fears that you will make a marvelous husband to Miss Kestrel." Augy unfolds his paws and waves one in the air. "I ask myself the same thing! But to that, I'm afraid, no cook or scholar in all of Mossflower has the answer to."

Keith clears his throat, tugging his collar. "The last time I tried to fly, the last guy who did it after me got punched in the face." he admits, and then shrugs off the punching memory with a sheepish grin at Augustus' praise. "Oh.. eh-heh.." he tugs at his collar, "So. I will. I --.. AUGUSTUS."
Keith says, ".. WHAT ABOUT ATMA?"
Keith has suddenly gone dead pale..
Keith stands up, hands in his hair. "He'll kill me!"

Augustus blinks slightly at the sudden jump in his friends voice. "Oh my." The mouse tugs gently at his whiskers. "Atma..." The mouse glances up. "I do believe... and it is a thought... that if Kestrel accepts you, her father will too."

Keith leans in towards Augustus, his eyes wide. "Are you sure?" with the fear in his face, an expression that's seriously rare on his muzzle. "What if he decides to chop me into tiny bits? That's his first borne! The apple of his eye!"

Augustus crosses his arms and gives Keith a smile. "I'm fairly certain about this. Though, I do suggest talking to him about asking for Kes's paw in marriage /before/ actually doing it."

Keith steps back, looking a little placated. "You think so?"

Augustus nods. "Of course. It will show that you are concerned for her family as well as her... not to mention the tradition of it all. Yes, ask /him/ before /her/. Express your love and compassion for his daughter. Who is he to refuse?"

Keith thinks about it. Former Assassin. Definately one to refuse. However, he isn't going to let that worry him right now. He steps up, attempts to grab Augustus around his entire body and lift him upward in a hug. "Thank you!"

Augustus squeaks in surprise as he's caught up into a hug.The mouse smiles and returns it. "My! Well, you're very welcome. Come back if you need to talk more about it. My door is always open, of course!"

Keith steps back and brushes his hair back with a grin, "Thanks. Aug. You've saved my life."
Keith says, "Unless of course, Atma kills me."

Augustus presses his paws together and laughs. "Oh, of course! But lets hope he doesn't do that." Augy says with a wink. The mouse turns to the door and opens it up. "But I don't suggest catching old Atma into a hug, in my own opinion."

Keith tips his fingers away from his brows and heads towards the door. "You got it."
Keith winks, "Let's uh, keep this between .. us, eh?"

Augustus grips the door, peeking around it with a nod and smile. "Not a word to anyone." He says soundly. "Goodnight, Keith. Try and get some sleep."

Keith smiles briefly and disappears.
Keith heads back to the hallway.
Keith has left.