Quinten Log 151 - 21 07 2006

Salamandastron: Festival Hall

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Salamandastron *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Immediately drawing your attention as you enter the ballroom is the sheer size. Designed to house all the hares of the mountain for one mass gathering makes this room look rather colossal compared to the majority of rooms around the mountain. Hung on the ceiling are beautiful chandeliers of polished glass, each one holds twelve candles, gathering small amounts of dust for lack of use. Along the stone walls are simple, colourful, and skillfully made tapestries, each kept spotlessly clean. All the works display colourful depictions of festivals and feasts. As your eyes wander down the center of the room, they come upon a wide floor, expertly sanded down to a level surface for dancing and socializing. Down the length of the walls are heavy oak tables, each holds a small brazier for candles and a small box of flint and steel at the base of the holder. Every few tables there are a couple chairs, ordinary ones like every other in the mountain.

Lastly, in the far end of the room there stands a large raise platform used as a stage. Various chairs and the like sit around and on it, with strange looking constructions that look like some kind of holders. A general emptiness fills the entire room, as if it hasn't been used for some time...

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

This marks the first time that all of the Long Patrol has been together in the same room since... well, since before the takeover. Smells waft this way and that throughout the room, tables lined up along one side of the room with the foods of the feast set up on their surface. It is a notably /smaller/ feast than most held in the mountain, but that is to expected in their current state. The room itself has been cleaned up brilliantly, appearing never to have been disturbed. All of the hares are either milling about or sitting, waiting for things to start. Most of the officers have grouped up toward the front of the room, though one is notably absent. And that's because Zoe is /just/ entering through a side door, adorned in the traditional dress uniform for just such occasions. She is followed behind by two young recruits, no more than five seasons, and they carry small wooden cases in their paws. The three approach the other officers, with the two younger hares looking rather nervous in their duties.

Quinten is sat in a corner of the hall quill out, ink pot on the table next to his half drunk beaker of tea and a large sheet of parchment before him. He is scribbling away madly, pausing to dip his pen every now and then. The greater festivities going over his head and only a flick of his ears, one of them three inches shorter then the other now, going towards those who call out to him.

Ender is one of the few sitting, and is actually towards the front of the room, shedding any previous "rebel without a cause" persona. His paw is in his lap, self-conciously covering the banadges on the end of his right arm. The rabbit looks old and awkward, shoulders slumped, eyes lacking any kind of inner light.

Watching the two young recruits walking behind the colonel is a learn natural skill that Jarril has obtained over the seasons of looking after them. Standing at ease amongst the other officers, the major has his uniform all clean, with whatever medals he has obtained during his eleven season service in the patrol full on display, even his eye patch has had a good clean as well but he gives a small nod to the young recruits signalling that they're doing a good job.

Rahier is sat in the officer-section with the others of his kind, grinning and speaking in low tones to another next to him, his eyes occasionally traveling up and to the room. He is distracted from the conversation by the appearance of Zoe, watching her approach.

Taye is seated with the younger crowd, as usual. Quite a few chairs have been brought in for the occasion, and Taye is seated in a bunch that have been put together in a semi-circle. He and a few of the others are smiling and chatting in a low murmur. After all, there are quite a few other hares present that aren't as cheerful. Must be respectful.

Gregorian is somewhat of a late arriver, lost track of time again and had to get ready before turning up, sliding in the door he joins in with the mass of beasts about, wandering through them to look for familiar faces.

Terrance has taken position leaning against the side wall, arms crossed as his eyes flick idly. Every now and then, some recruits in the same position on other side strike up little bits of chit chat with the recruit, but that's about it.

Flaxpaw has wandered into the festival hall because that's where everyone else is going, but she's settled herself to try to look inconspicuous at the end of one table, kinda hard to do as she no longer wears a patrol uniform. Really, she just looks out of place and slightly miserable, watching the door for a certain buck by the look of her.

Sometime after Flax and Greg enter, Seven actually decides he'll be good enough to actually attend this meeting. So, in the private strides, ears tilting about as he looks around for a specific someone. That.. appears to not be who everyone would assume? Or maybe he just gives up his search. Instead, the buck starts in the doe's direction, going to sit down by Flaxpaw with a grin sent in her direction in greeting. That's about it.

Seven room-pages, "Hey. Don't you dare go anywhere. :O".

Zoe_Lang doesn't look toward the gathered hares as she heads directly for the other officers. This is only in part due to the fact that the eye patch obscures her view of everyone. When she reaches the other officers, she stops behind a table which seems to have been set out for such an occasion. A recruit steps up on either side of her, setting out the wooden cases. With their heads lowered respectfully, not speaking a word, they turn the locks and flip open the cases, revealing one full of medals and another full of what appear to be badges of some sort. Standing in front of the table, Zoe finally looks up and out over the crowd, clearing her throat lightly in preparation for speaking. No one seems to be making much of any noise, so she doesn't feel the need to call for quiet. Rather, she simply raises a paw for attention.

Quinten raises his head as two beasts sit down near him and smiles at Seven and Flax, "Hey Flax be a dear and pass me the sand will you?" He nods towards the small wooden box of sand, used to help the ink dry on his parchment. He glances about and raises a paw in greeting to a couple of recruits he knows.

Silently, Jarril moves to stand to full attention when he see's Zoe raise a paw and looks at her with his ears erect and tall.

Ender just watches, for now. He's mentally crushed by many factors at the moment, and the ceremony is only serving to twist a dagger in his wounds. He doesn't turn around, though the sight of Flax would probably set him over the edge. At the words, the rabbit's ears flick slightly. They should be /quiet/. x.x

Terrance peers as he looks over the heads of those in the crowd, looking towards the solum recruits and the mysterious boxes. As Zoe raises her paw, Terr catches a hint from the Major and comes to attention, the recruits around him doing the same.

Well, that wan't the buck she was looking for, but, Flax doesn't seem to mind at all. She gives Sev a huge grin, but does quiet down before she can do more than whisper a hullo, 'cause Zoe said to. She gives a huh? look to Quint atg his request, but does pass the requested sand when she figures out what it is he wanted...then her attention goes back to the colonel.

Rahier had ceased the smalltalk already, and has his eyes on the Zoe who stands nearby, so he folds his paws in his lap, neck turned up and at her at her call for attention.

The hares around Taye catch on one by one to the shift in the crowd, and one by one their heads turn and a hush falls. For his own part, Taye is just about the last to take notice of the raised paw. He blinks when he does, blushing a faint red as he ducks his head. Hum. He turns a sheepish look up to the Colonel, likewise coming to attention in his seat.

Sloouch. Seven has nothing but respect for Zoe, but he's attentive and quiet so he figures he doesn't have to act like there's a rod stuck uncomfortably up through his back. The buck gives one flick of an ear towards Quint's voice, but instead of shushing him, remains casually gazing towards the Colonel. He just hopes he won't have to get up during this thing.

Zoe_Lang waits several seconds for silence to descend and eyes to turn her way. When it does and they do, the Colonel feels an uncharacteristic flutter in her stomach. The fingers on her left paw curl and uncurl with antsy movement. She clears her throat and drops her gaze briefly to what appears to be a parchment resting on the table. "... Good evenin', ev-" She clears her throat. ".. Everyone." She looks up, her focus shifting from one face to another, though it rests for a more extended period on first Ender and then Jarril. "It's good t' see everyone t'gethah again. I only wish it was undah bettah circumstances, as m'sure you all c'n agree." Ahem.. hem. Throat clear. "We have a feast t' enjoy, here, so I'll try t' be brief. As we enjoy our good food, there are many beasts who cannot be with us who we all should remembah. I will not waste yer time by listin' the names. We all knew them 'n' lived with them, from day t' day, 'n' we will miss them greatly." She bows her head. "I'd just like us all t' take a moment t' remembah them, now, if we could do that. If ya have anyone ya'd wish t' remembah in a few words, please speak up 'n' do so."

Looking back at Zoe, Jarril gives her a supporting look as she reads from the parchment. After she had come to a stop and asked if anyone had something to say, Jarril cleares his throat and speaks. "May we all remember them, for their duty, their loyalty, their friendship." He pauses for a moment. "We knew everyone of them, some more than others but it matters not, they were family. They made the mountain sad, they made the mountain happy, they gave the mountain warmth throughout each of our hearts. Each and every one of them loved being here, being in service and so we honour each and every one of them." Finishing, Jarril lifts a paw up and gives off a small salute for those that have left and goes quiet.

Quinten lets his parchment roll up whilst the Colonel is speaking, looking straight at her and listening to her words. He tucks the unfinished something back into his dress uniform and bows his head, one paw moves up to touch his injured ear, lingering on it as he lets his mind wander over those who are missing, especially his and Dande's missing friend Vic. Listening to Jarril's words he rubs at his eyes with his other paw, scrubbing away the tears that are threatenning to fall and as the Major salutes he bows his head in silence as he bids them his own fairwell.

Taye is amongst the crowd who are, well... looking around at everyone else to see if anyone's actually going to stand up and say something. For his own part, Taye was fortunate not to have lost anyone too close. All the same, at Jarril's words, tears pin-prick at the back of his eyes and he's forced to duck his head, nodding in appreciation of the Major's words. After a few seconds, he almost angrily swipes a paw across his cheek. Meh.

Ender tries to stir up some tears, but they just aren't there to come. He sighs and continues looking forward, not making any eye contact, a tiny bit of moistness springing into the corner of his left eye, whether it be self-pity or actual emotion can't be seen.

Terrance stays standing, his expression pretty long like most of those in the room, but

thankfully he doesn't get much more then some watery eyes at the speeches.

Flaxpaw listens in silence to the speeches, all of them, looking carefully at each hare as they speak, first the colonel, then Jarril, and finally Quint. A couple tears leak out, but she just lets them, turning a subdued look at the table.

Woah. They're all.. crying. Seven suddenly feels like a real JERK. The buck glances around, before his attention settles on Flaxpaw and Quinten, then just fully upon the doe beside him. This should make her feel better! And make him look a little less 'ZOMG, that guy isn't emotional about this!' He puts out a paw and rests it on her back. There, there. Somewhere's here to care you are in pain. He's not the best at it though.

Once it seems that everyone has finished offering their words of respect, Zoe clears her throat softly and scans the crowd once more. "I know that many of you have othah creatures on yer minds... yer young ones, who've been stolen from ya... some righ' from her very arms. I tell you now, we /will/ bring them home. And the vermin /will/ pay fer what they have done t' us..." She look around for a long moment, the silence broken occasionally by a sniffle or in some cases by a sob. Zoe is blinking rather frequently, herself, and her head turns /just/ slightly, but so far there are no tears. She clears her throat once more, but waits a moment before continuing.

Jarril just stands there listening to the words with a rather determined look on his face when he hears about bringing justice to those that have kidnapped love ones from the mountain, the hare had tensed up slightly but he remains still and quiet.

Quinten sits back down after a few moments and listens to the Colonel's speech, his paw picking up his quill pen and fiddling with it as he looks over the crowd to the officers a sad look in his eyes as he thinks of those whoa are missing.

Terrance remains stoic as the colonel continues, but the promise of justice does result in his ears perking up.

Flaxpaw turns a watery smile to Sev when she feels his paw on her back, wiping her eyes with the back of her paw. "silly t' cry. they died bravely an all that...." But, Zoe's words seem to catch her, and her face goes to cold anger. "An the little ones... Seven, the officers know where they were taken, don't they? we can get 'em back....?"

"Err. I don' know if they know.. But yeah. We'll get 'em back." Nod. Seven has a way of sounding more sure of himself than he actually feels, but then again this is probably for the best at the moment. "It'll be fine." Another smile is offered, then he tries to cover his fangs as he remembers them. /That/ might not be so comforting..

"... I have but one more announcement t' make before we move on t' the slightly... happiah portion of our evenin'." She hesitates, dropping her gaze back to the parchment once more, though she doesn't seem to be reading from it, exactly. Finally, after several seconds of silence, she looks back up, her eyes falling on one hare and the another, and another. "We the Patrol have always taken a slightly... isolationist approach t' our lives on the shore. T' the greatest extent possible, we leave our neighbahs t' live as they will, whethah vermin or woodlandah, until they become a problem fer ourselves or any othah free beast we choose t' protect." Her eyes rest briefly on Flaxpaw before shifting to Seven and then moving on. "Howevah... it is felt by some that we have been too lenient in the handlin' of our lands, 'n' the handlin' of those vermin which inhabit them. In light of our current situation, I am forced t' agree."

Taking a deep breath, she continues. "This day will forevah mark a shift in our relationship with those vermin who live on our shores. No more will we bear their presence with a wary tolerance, no more will we risk the lives of our lev'rets 'n' the safety of the Fire Mountain. From this day forward, we will send a message loud 'n' clear t' all vermin who dare t' entah our lands - you are not welcome here /any/ longah. They will not be /endured/ any longah. For the creatures we have lost, 'n' for our children."

For the whole time that Zoe has talked, Jarril has stayed in his standing position, his ears hasn't moved at all for the major, long since trained by a strict major seasons ago during his own recruitment training. Nothing to say until the colonel has finished.

Quinten sits up straighter and his ears stand up on high at the Colonel's announcement. He just looks at her and nods his head once, agreeing to what she has said before sitting back down in his chair and listening for what else might be to come.

Ender almost stands and cheers before remembering, again, all that has transpired. He's useless now, nothing more than an old codger to take up space in the mountain. Ender's nobody, and he hates it.

Terrance arches a brow slightly at that announcement, that's going to make things interesting.

Rahier fidgets some with his paws in his lap as Zoe speaks, eyeing the tabletop. Eh heh. And then she finishes, and he raises his eyes to the nods of agreement. The major frowns briefly, before looking back up to continue to watch Zoe.

Um. Seven's attention has returned to Zoe long enough to note something. Why did she look at him before she said that. He slouches down further and folds his arms, leaning in against Flax to almost go invisible. That'll /really/ work. Erf. Both ears fold back.

Flaxpaw has been considering the situation, and looks back to Zoe with a sort of determined look when the colonel's eyes pass over her and Seven. Then Sev is leaning against her? She glances at the sniper in surprise, then, seeming to assume he's in need of comfort, she wraps an arm loosely around him, kinda giving a pat-pat, and looking a tad questioningly around the hall, especially to the door.

Zoe_Lang almost sighs with relief when nobody jumps up to protest, or... anything else unforeseen. Her paw comes up and her fingers touch briefly to her right brow, just above the eye patch. Anyone close might notice the slight tremble to her movements. The two recruits still standing dutifully beside her definitely do, and share brief glances. "... All righ', then. Now t' the rest." It's at this point that she lifts the parchment from the table's surface, and clears her throat. "We have some... recognition t' give, t' certain hares amongst our ranks." She smiles slightly, her focus shifting briefly to the younger hares in the audience. Ahem. "I would first like t' call up the followin' recruits..." Ahem-hem. "Recruit Dandelion, Recruit Gregorian, Recruit Quinten, Recruit Terrance, Recruit..." And she goes on in this manner until she has read through the list.

This is the time where Jarril will be looking proud of the names that have been called out within the recruit rank, the major slowly lets a smile form on his face though he keeps looking at Zoe for a moment with thoughts of concern in his head.

Terrance flicks an ear as he hears his name and almost smiles. He then waits for some of the other recruits to start getting up and heading forward before he goes to the forward himself, doing such in a sharp military fashion of course, squaring his corners and such. He takes his place in line, 4 or so recruits ahead of him.

Ender watches the recruits go forward, slouching lower in his own seat, definitely wallowing in his own self-pity by now. And yet...for a few names, his eyes twinkle with some kind of pride. I know him! His mind proudly proclaims, a small smile beginning to tug the edge of his lips. The solemnity crashes down on him again. Sigh.

Quinten jerks as his name is read out and scrambles to his footpaws, still fiddling with that quill he has to shove it into a pocket and move out into the centre of the room and look about for someone to follow hopefully before making his way towards the edge of the room. Fiddling with his injured ear again.

Seven blinks slightly, turning his green-eyed gaze to the arm around his shoulders. Meh. With an indifferent expression his attention goes around to the recruits that are being called up. It probably would be an odd sight to see the sniper leaning on anyone. When Quinten goes into shaky movements and stumbling into line he raises a brow in.. dull amusement.

As the recruits begin to step forward, the Colonel smiles slightly and turns, looking to Jarril. She then takes a step to the side - as does the recruit on that side, to make room for her - and gestures him up. Her voice carries, from seasons of practice, across the entire room while somehow not sounding like a shout. "... Though I s'pose I could do it, 'n' m'sure you'd all smile dutifully, I have a feelin' that... it would mean slightly more t' some of you t' have Majah Jarril take ovah, at this point." She gestures him forward to where she stood, whilst she turns to remove the first pair of badges from the case. These she holds out to Jarril.

Okay, so all of the training that Jarril has been through with early morning torture by his father never prepared him for this and the major wasn't expecting Zoe to step back. A bit shocked, the major's ears drop slightly but they perk back up as he moves forwards and nods his head, giving Zoe a small quick salute and taking the first pair of badges from her as he turns to look at who is the first recruit to give them to.

Terrance steps up and raises a salute, "Recruit Terrance reportin' as ordered, sah"

Jarril nods his head with a smile as he smiles, slowly taking off the recruit badge from Terrence uniform and speaks. "For your hard work, loyalty to the patrol and heroism. It is the patrol's pleasure and mine." The major gives Terrence a smile as he pauses slightly. "That I hereby promote you to private rank with all privileges and duties that come with it." Pinning the badge onto Terrence uniform, the major gives a quick salute.

Terrance returns the salute, barely holding back his smile, and then does a left face and heads to a free seat, feeling free to grin widely now.

With the way Zoe's looking from Jarril to Terrance and back, it's hard to tell who she's proud of. Both, no doubt. She nods at intervals as Jarril speaks, then throws her own salute to Terrance as he passes before turning her attention to the next recruit in line. She readies the next set of badges, holding them out to Jarril.

The line moves along slowly, each recruit stepping up to report to the Major and receive their new ranks and badges. The line moves quickly with recruits moving off past the Colonel to salute her and then going to stand to one side. By virtue of his surprised stumble when he got up Quinten has wound up at the backof the line, his short height hiding him from view until the doe before him steps up, as she moves off Quinten steps forwards and stares up at Jarril and raises a paw to salute him. "Recruit Quinten...reporting sir.." He sounds rather shaky as he speaks not sure what to expect.

Taking the badge from Zoe's paw, Jarril turns around and hides the badge from Quinten's view. All the major does is look at the recruit with a fond smile as he slowly walks up to where the recruit is and begins. "And lastly we have Quinten. My, we've been through a lot haven't we?" The major's words bring some laughter from around the hall as he looks at the recruit with a grin. "Let's get this over and done with, shall we." Coughing, the major slowly takes off the recruit badge from Quinten's uniform as he begins to speak.

Quinten stands there before the Major and shifts as he speaks, just nodding his head as he speaks and murmurs just loud enough for him to hear. "Aye sah....quite a lot we been through..just do it ok sah...." Dreading whatever is about to happen, he really can't believe they wouldpromote him. He closes his eyes for a moment and then looks up again as his recruit badge is removed from his dress uniform.

Jarril speaks. "Recruit Quinten. For your hard work, determination to succeed, loyalty to the patrol and heroism. It is the patrol's pleasure and mine." The major pauses as he slowly places the badge on Quinten's uniform. "That I hereby promote you to private rank with all privileges and responsibilities that come with it." The major gives Quinten a Salute and murmurs. "Breathe lad, wot." He speaks up again. "Congratulations."

Quinten stares at Jarril as if he's gone mad and raises a paw to touch the badge before it moves up into a salute, his ears have stood up as straight as they can. "sah....i...." he trails off and moves off like the others did to Salute the Colonel before walking over in a daze to join the other new privates.

Quinten's promotion gets a /special/ smile from the Colonel, and an extra salute to her salute. Mm-hm. She's leaning forward slightly, a paw resting on the table's edge. Oomph, this is taking a long time. She steps around behind Jarril, then, moving to the other side of the table and the other case, this one full of medals. Clearing her throat, she starts calling out /another/ list of names. "Private Mel, Private Seven, Private Taye..." and so on. She waits as they all file forward, picking up the first of the medals. As the first of the privates reach the front, she beckons them forward. "For service t' the patrol above 'n' beyond yer duties, I award t' you this medal..." She says the same to each and pins each medal on the breast of their uniform.

Continuning to watch and salute each one getting a medal, Jarril smiles but keeps to the side, ready to move back down to where he was before when the ceremony has ended.

Taye's ears perk as his named is called. He look around at some of the other privates as they stand and decides it'd be best to join them, jumping out of his chair and kind of stumbling forward. What's this, now? As he approaches the front, he sends a glance Rahier's way, kind of raising his eyebrows. He hadn't expected anything like /this/. He looks around to spot Seven, next. Whatsit?

Quinten raises a paw to clap them briefly as each Private steps forwards to line up to get their medal, right up until he decides that now he's no longer in the spot light he can sit down and promptly does so. Sitting himself on a chair to watch the proceedings, a smile on his muzzle as he watches them all.

Oh great. They /had/ to call him, didn't they. For a moment there is a sad little thought going through Sev's head like 'Don't get up. Don't get up. Please don't ge- Oh crud.. Taye..' It is the other buck that gets the sniper to move from his chair, having to lift Flaxpaw's arm off of his shoulders as he gets into line. At least he doesn't have that annoying limp anymore. However the eyes on him makes the private look a little awkward.

Mel gets up from her seat, blinking in confusion, but following the other privates up. Her expression remains schooled as she goes, though the glint in her eye may indicate that she at least is thrilled by the whole ceremony thing.

- End Log As i had to go to bed.