Quinten - 154 - 25 02 2009 - An offer

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Salamandastron: Caverns - Boxing Chamber

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This room obviously has a rather singular purpose, and that purpose is not

hard to discern, if one was only to look around. There is only about ten

or fifteen feets worth of space in which to walk, around the perimeter, and

the reason for this is that the rest of the space in the room is taken up

by a slightly elevated fighting ring. The platform is about two feet above

the floor, and upon each corner of the square platform there is a wooden

post. Encircling the ring in are lengths of rope extending from each post.

The floor of the platform is somewhat giving, as it is in someway padded.

So far as the perimeter of the room, chin-up bars attached to the walls

are staggered with benches, from which creatures can watch the fights.

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Immediately Tam's ears shoot up. "Ender!" The glove drops from his hold; he's already bolting down along the benches when it connects with the one Tam's feet were propped on. He bounds down to the floor and makes a dash for his caretaker, lunging forward and up, feet kicking the ground in a leap that gets him high enough to throws his arms around the rabbit's neck. He is /ecstatic/. "Gran'da'! Hi hi hi! Y'r back!"

If he was having an off day he would have dramatically toppled over, but today Ender is /alive/. "Tam, tam, tam! My fav'rit buck." He does take a little step back, bending so Tam can release. "Getting bigger, eh? Didn't think I was gone /that/ long."

Tameus doesn't /want/ to release though. His feet skim the floor as Ender bends but he holds on doggedly, face pressed to Ender's neck, hugging him with little chirping noises of adoration. "'m jus' gonn' 'old ont' y' f' a while!" he informs the rabbit, leaning his head back a little to grin at him. "/'m/ I bigger, y' think?" Now he does release, only with a great amount of reluctance, and ends up hugging Ender around the middle instead.

Ender is getting a teeny bit emotional, which is the norm. He pats Tam's head with one paw and sets his stump on his shoulder. "Do I think y'r bigger? I know! Almost killed me with th' hug..squeezin' the life out of me right now." He squints his eyes and pushes on Tam's head to better make eye contact. "You've been practicin' boxin' too much, eh?"

"Ain' n' such thing's practicin' 't /too/ much!" Tam argues, a playful tone in his voice. His arms loosen but stay around Ender's midsection as he peers up with a happy, bright expression on his face, scut giving little enthusiastic twitches. "I practice e'ery day though! Boxin' an' saber an' m' sling too! An' readin' an' writin', 'm gettin' real good!"

Ender's eyes widen with slight exaggeration. "Boxing, saber, sling, reading, AND writing?! Why...you're going to be smarter 'n' stronger than me in no time, eh?" He lets his head fall, begging for a /bit/ more love. "What use iwill I be then, eh?" A tiny smile forms, making sure Tam doesn't take this too seriously.

Tameus's eyes widen a little also, and he shakes his head. "No, no 'm not, not f' a lon' time yet!" He leans up, hugging firmly again, nuzzling his muzzle alongside Ender's so their whiskers scruff together. This makes the leveret croon and then giggle. "Y'll a'ways be'a use! Don' be /silly/! ... Ender-ender I missed y' /sooo/ much!"

Ender considers this and relents. "I guess so. But when y'r older you may have to take over all m'responsibilities so I can go be old, eh?" He lets his forehead rest against the leveret's, bending again. There is silence for a couple moments. "Now. Where's your gran'ma? I would like to see her. Very much."

Tameus finally straightens with a half-step back from Ender, ears angling backward. "I d'nno, ain' seen 'er yet t'day. We c'n go check 'er office though. She's gonn' wann' see y' too, 'course she 's!"

A buck steps into the boxing ring and pauses, staring at Ender in surprise, the short patrol hare grins and starts to move in towards. "Ender... it seems the rumours are true. You do plan to outlive us all." Quinten grins and salutes the old rabbit.

Ender tousles Tam's headfur one last time. "Yes, yes. Looked in her office, didn't see her. Wonder where she got off to..." He looks up sharply at Quinten voice, a flicker of anger passing across his face before he replaces it with an apathetic expression. "Quinten. See you didn't quite disappear. It's been a while."

Tameus turns a little, one hand still grasping at Ender's shirt. His ears tilt up and he smiles. "Quint! Hi!" A glance goes at Ender and his ears tuck back again, the change in the rabbit's tone alerting Tam to some sort of tension. He looks curiously between the two.

Quinten stands at attention and smiles, "No sir, Colonel Zoe sent me on a 6 season patrol to settle me down. nice to be back sir." He glances at Tam and smiles, "Nice to see you too Tam." He then bows to Ender. "I will leave you to your business Ender sah, i'd not wish to be awkward."

Ender is taken aback for a moment. "Six seasons is enough to change anyone, Quint. I trust you've learned what you were supposed to." He sniffs and looks around, obviously uncomfortable. "No need to go. And no need to be so formal..just an old rabbit."

Tameus's inquisitive gaze rests again on Ender. ".. what's wron' gran'da'?" he asks, leaning in a little.

Quinten smiles at Tam, "I was... a very difficult young buck as a recruit. Me and Ender had alot of disagreements. But I have learnt what I was supposed to learn sir."

Ender nods briskly now. "I believe you. Will believe you more when I see it, eh?" Another pause in the flow of conversation. "I heard from that doe you were with a few weeks back. Gabriel. She's in Southsward again, or so she says. Seems happy, but letters don't say much." Eh...news takes the edge off. Sometimes.

"Who's Gabr'el?" Tam asks, quietly, the query a little hesitant.

Quinten smiles and sighs, "I must have missed her.. Gabriel was a very good friend of mine. And Ender's grand daughter too.. in a sort of adopted way I think." he salutes, "Well I am expected in the infirmary sir. I will see you around, Southsward is a lovely place."

- End Scene

- Start Scene

Salamandastron: Leaders' Office

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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.

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Having been in the Caverns under the mountain it took some time for the Colonel's messenger to reach him. Which may explain why Quinten was running to reach her office. Slowing himself down he stops outside the door and knocks on it politly, adjusting his uniform jacket and waiting patiently. Being summoned to the Colonel's office always makes him nervous.

Zoe_Lang is, of course, seated at her desk. She's not working, though, she's just waiting. Her paws are folded together in front of her on the desk.

With a soft click the door opens and Quinten pokes his head inside. "Colonel you summoned me ma'am?" He steps inside, shuts the door and salutes. "Sorry it took me so long, I was in the Caverns."

Zoe_Lang looks up, quietly, and gestures for him to sit. "That's fine, Private. Have a sit."

Quinten inclines his head and takes a chair, folding his hands in his lap and fidgeting, he's never in his life been asked to sit in the presence of the Colonel.

"Something has come to my attention that's a little worryin', lad." The Colonel's fingers steeple together and she rests her chin in the nook of her thumb and index fingers. "Do you have any idea what I might be referrin' to?"

Quinten blinks and his ears stand up, he looks quite confused. "Ma'am? I'm sorry I do not follow you? What would I have to do with anything worrying? I'm not an officer ma'am.. surely anything worrisome would come through them? I've only been back a week. So I am afraid I do nto know what you are referring to."

"Quinten, you are aware that if I was t'catch wind of you... being with... anothah buck, that that would be the end o' you and the Patrol, correct?" Might as well get right to the quick of it all.

Quinten chokes and stares, "ME! And a buck! That's forbidden Colonel!" he stares at her in shock. "That is the first thing you taught me! You drummed it into my head and threatened to turn me into a hat! Doe's are the only suitable companion for a buck to have."

Zoe_Lang's gaze is long and considering. She tap-tap-taps her fingertips together. "Ender seems t'think that you have been with anothah buck based on something that Tameus said."

The patrol hare stares, "What! I'm back for less then a week and that old rabbit is... I was even polite to him when I saw him!" he clenches his paws into fists and visibly shakes. "I spent an afternoon trying to explain to Tameus that bucks do not belong with other bucks!" He all but shouts, thumping one fist on the arm of his chair. "Would I have tried to teach you grandson that it is wrong if I was slipping around doing unspeakable and forbidden things behind your back." He glares at Zoe and then seems to remember who he is glaring at and slumps in his chair.

Zoe_Lang considers Quinten's outburst, silently. In the end she merely nods. "... Okay, then." And then she shifts her paws, sits up. "Private, I have a proposition for you t'considah. Will you do tha' for me?" Of course, that probably depends on the suggestion.

Quinten shoots another glare at the Colonel, before tugging his collar straight and fingering the badge of a private on his lapel. "I will hear your proposition's ma'am. I live to serve the patrol. It is all I have."

"Would you be interested in a non-active duty position?" the Colonel asks. "We have been in need of an official Recordah for some numbah of seasons, now."

Quinten stares, jaw dropping open for a moment, first she drags in him here and accuses him of being romantically involved with bucks and now she wants to make him Recorder. "You want me to resign from the patrol and become Recorder?" he asks baffled. "You mean you are letting me stay here? Not sending me off for anothe r6 seasons of wandering?"

"That's what I'm saying," Zoe confirms, with an upward arching of her brow. "Six seasons ago I thought you needed something t'focus yourself on. And I think I was righ'. I think that patrol helped you - made you into a bettah Patrol hare. I think focus is good for you. I don't want you t'lose your focus. The Recordah job carries a lot of responsibility. You'd be responsible for caring for the library and scheduling the classes for the dibbuns 'n' Recruits in regard t'readin' 'n' writin'. You'll have the discretion t'hire on some staff t'assist you - though mine will be the final say-so, in that regard."

Quinten tugs at his chin. "I'd... i'd be honoured ma'am.. Really I would be... to accept. I mean.. you where right. I wasn't much of a patrol hare back then." he lowers his ears, "I've always believed you only let me become a private because I helped with retaking the mountain... I.. well I didn't really feel fit tae be a patroller until I was out there.. patrolling." he sighs leaning back. "I guess I'll never get that promotion? I mean how does it work? If I become Recorder i'm no longer on active patrol? Part of a patrol at all?"

"We'd want you t'keep up your skills 'n' endurance, of course, so you'd go out on occasional patrols," the Colonel shrugs. "We'll iron out the details ovah the next few days. Does that work for you?" And then she nods towards the door. "That's all for now, though...." But it looks like that isn't /quite/ all. She tilts her head, thoughtfully, and looks back to Quinten. "Quinten, if you /knew/ of someone doing anything inappropriate, you'd tell me, wouldn't you?"

Quinten stands up slowly and salutes. "Of course ma'am.. I look forwards to arranging the details. I.. I am honoured. I'll keep up my training of course." The short buck seems fit to burst and then she asks him that question. Oh why did she ask him that, he blinks and tries to keep his face clear of emotion, but his salute falters. "If I ever see any bucks acting in an inappropriate manner ma'am. I will report it at once." There.. that is not a lie, he /suspects/ certain things about people. But he has never /seen/ them do anything.

After a long silence, the Colonel merely nods. She gestures towards the door in dismissal.

Quinten salutes and once outside the door he leans against it, he's sweating and trembling. And filled with doubt, can he carry on and not tell her? With her putting all her trust in him to be her recorder. He half turns as if to go back inside then turns away, chewing at the tip of his long ear and worrying. It's a great honour.. but....

- End Log