Must be pretty cold in Hellsgates today, for in the Leaders Lounge in Salamandastron, Lieutenant Darklett Fletchpaw can be found... READING! Yes, apparently taking the initiative to learn more about what's going on in the world outside the mountain, he's got a few books on a table near the comfortable arm chair he's occupying, and another in his paws, open. And, of course, on another nearby table, he's got some post-lunch snacks and a tall drink of some sort.

Ohh, leisure time. ;p Rahier is whistling idly as he walks on into the room, unrolling a length of gauze around his finger, letting it trail behind him as he walks like a streamer. Whee. XD He looks about, and notices the ready-Dark. "Allo," he chimes, in the usual fashion. "Whatcha readin'?"

Darklett blinks at the books in blatant disinterest, but keeps on reading anyway... He looks up as the major walks in the room, and... eyes the gauze/streamer hanging off the other hare's finger. "Hey, Rah. Just reading up on some of the, uh... Diplomacy between the Long Patrol and other groups and places." But, not anymore, as he places the book down, and stretches his legs out briefly. "What have you been up to lately?"

Rahier is lumping the gauze into a little ball, playing with it idly. Ahem. "Diplomacy with a stick, eh?" He grins, taking a seat as the other stretches. ;p "Up to? Uh, well, y'got y'bumps n' bruises an' all that... y'know, cryin' babes an' whatnot." More gauze-stretching. Idle hands. Ahem. "I didn't think y'were one t'read."

Darklett grins at Rahier as he takes a chair, shaking his head slowly. "You healers are apparently way more overworked than I thought you were." He chuckles, resting back comfortably in his chair, resting his paws on his knees. "Heh, I don't really read that often. This is more under the suggestion of Colonel Zoe, said I needed to know more about the enemies of the mountain." He thinks for a second, then adds, "Well, I guess I do, heh."

Rahier chuckles. "Overworked an' underpaid," he laments, with considerable practiced woe. Said healer reclines, flicking the gauze-end with a finger. Flap flap. "Oh aye? She never had me read anythin'. Prob'ly took pity on me.. affer all, y'aren't attached t'th'librarian." Grin. "Too much readin'..."

"I have to admit, I really -did- need to read up on this stuff..." Darklett shakes his head at the book stack, heaving a deep, unfortunate sigh. "Didn't know much about Ruingate, and apparently they're a pretty huge deal. That conversation with the Colonel was... Quite humbling, to say the least."

Rahier drapes one leg over the arm of the chair, turning a bit sideways. Ahee. "Ruingate, huh?" Rahier shrugs his shoulders, ears conversely draped over the opposite chair-arm. "Humblin'? What'd she have t'tell you?"

Darklett grins, recollecting that particular talk. "Heh, I don't remember how it was brought up, really. All I remember is me making quite the idiot out of myself." He laughs at this, drumming his fingers on his knees. "I really was not at all aware that Ruingate was even a problem... Didn't know much about Ruingate at all, except that it was in the northlands." He pauses to take a deep breath, grin still present. "Of course, she informed me otherwise, and told me to read up on things."

"Haven't heard much out o' em f'awhile, eh? I haven't ever paid 'em much mind, m'self." He watches over at the other, tugging absently at a minute piece of that abused gauze. "What'd y'learn? I didn't know we had books on 'em."

Darklett shrugs. "Not really -learning- much. The reading's not sticking with me, heh." The lieutenant folds the book that lies on the table shut with one paw with an innocent shrug. "Apparently, this Lord Merdez fox is trying to extend his paw of influence into Mossflower, and that just might cause us some problems in the future."

Rahier laughs. ;p "Readin' in, readin' out?" The major points at his eyes, and then off out into space with a patent blank look. Grin. "Ahhh. Who knows, someone's always tryin' to do somethin' or other t'Mossflower. He ain't so special."

Chuckling at Rahier's expression, the lieutenant rolls his eyes towards the ceiling and slumps in the chair again. "I wouldn't know the difference between a threat and an annoyance, really. With the way the Colonel was talkin' about 'em, though, I can't help but wonder if we're gonna have to go back inland soon." Seeing as he's grown a little somber at this thought, he clears his throat and sits back up straight, dismissing the topic with a wave of his paw. "Taye's turning out to be a fine young patroller, Rah."

Rahier grins at the eyeroll. My my. ;p "Zoe likes t'talk, I jus' zone out." He mimes the gab-gab with a paw beside his mouth. Of course, he takes a quick glance around to see that she's not watching. Whistle.. XD Ooh, Taye. The major chuckles and grins with a fair amount of pride. "Oh, is 'e, now?"

Darklett nods quickly. "Yeah, he is." The lieutenant's paws fall upon the arms of his chair now, and drum with his fingers once again. "I see him around sometimes, and from what I hear, he's helpful to the new recruits and everything. That's not mentioning that apparently he's a heck of a runner, too."

Rahier fairly beams. Hehehe. Well. "Chip off th'ol' block," he says, with a grin. Ahah. ;p "But nah, he's a good kid. I always knew he'd make a good patroller." The major laughs. "Yeh, runnin'. S'what he likes t'do. Never was one much f'it m'self, but he don't much like healin' either." Tsk.

"Well, dad, you can't have everything, I guess." Dark chuckles, his foot reaching over to nudge Rahier in the shin with a smirk. "I really don't think I've ever seen you break into even a jog, Rah. Can't picture you as one to hurry -anywhere.-"

Rahier snorts. "I was runnin' about when y'were but a little 'un." Hehehe. Despite the lack of disparity of age. Ahem. He pokes the lieutenant back. XD "'Sides, I'm too dignified t'be runnin' about, now. I'm respected." Grin. XD "I have underlings t'hurry about for me."

Sloooow brow-raise. "When I was little?" Darklett laughs heartily at this. "Last time I checked, you weren't -that- much older than me." Again, with the eyeroll, one leg coming up to cross the knee at his ankle. "And a little run might do you good. Exercise never hurt anybeast."

Rahier grins. "Look, don't try t'confuse th'issue." He folds his arms, looking resolute. XD Ahem. "I still exercise," he says, defensively. "Why, y'don't know what a task it is t'do inventory in th'infirmary. Like runnin' t'Redwall an' back."

"Well, alright then." Darklett admits defeat here, but comes back with a last second retort: "But you should at least -run- while you do it, heh. Might actually break a sweat." The lieutenant grins, and straightens up in his seat again, finding himself slumping.

"Which I've actually done," he recalls. "Redwall's a great stuffy place, 'tis." Rah snorts. "Break a sweat? That's for young'uns, not us majors." Grin. XD "I jus' have t'sew pieces of people together, thas' m'job." Headscratch. "That an' paperwork.."

Darklett snerks, silently letting his shoulders bounce in a chuckle. "And I guess it's my job to get sewn back together, and make sure you still have a job, eh?" After a brief pause, he adds, more thoughtfully, "And I guess I have the paperwork, too... Ah, well."

Rahier beams. "Yes, yes, y'an' everyone else. If there's not enough o' ya left, I can always make a new hare outta odds and ends o' two o' you." Grin. XD "Obviously y'don't have enough," he says, making note of the fact Darky is here. "I should send s'more down your way."

Doh. "Oh, believe me, it's enough to keep me busy, for sure!" Darklett tries to assure the major of that, to save himself a bunch of extra work. "Especially with all the training I need to do... Being a fighter officer and all, I can't be anything less than perfect." He states this matter-of-factly, nodding for emphasis.

Rahier snickers. XD Oh the enthusiasm. "Alrigh', I believe you. I shan't torture th'officership." He taps his fingers against the arm of the chair. "Anythin' less than perfect?" He grins at this. "Who isn't nowadays?"

Darklett is quick to return, "Myself, unfortunately. Really need to work hard on my close combat. Hopefully I'll be better by the time I need it." He shrugs with a straighter sort of smirk, non-indicative of any smile, but again that same matter-of-fact expression. "Or else you might have another sewing job on your paws, heh."

Rahier chuckles. "Oh, don' worry, I'm th'best. People'll hardly know some o' you was missin' before." He grins in self-pride and then shakes his head. "S'pose. It was hard f'me rote-learnin' all those herbs, so I guess I can relate."

"Speaking of that, actually... I better go to the training room and do some fighting exercises." Darklett almost regretfully stands up from that comfortable chair, smoothing out his uniform and turning towards the major. "We shouldn't be such strangers as we have been."

Rahier ahhhs, and rights himself in his chair, standing with the other. "Thas' alrigh', gotta do whatcha gotta do." He grins anew and nods a few times. "Aye, aye, thas' sensible. Seeya aroun', Dark."

Darklett nods, straightening up at attention and delivering a finely executed salute. You know, just for the sake of being official. After this, he uses that same saluting paw to simply wave to the healer major, stepping backwards once. "Yeah, I'll seeya around." And then, he turns and heads for the exit.

Rahier returns the crisp salute, and then also returns the wave. XD "Don't break a leg," he chimes, before sinking down into his chair to enjoy the fire.

After he's exited, Darklett still hears the major's... quite odd good luck wish. "I'll keep that in mind, Rah!" he calls out, over his shoulder, heading further down the leader's hallway towards the training room.