Spring Planning - 24.3.10
Characters: Layne, Martha, Lorimis(Spoofed by Lucas)
RW Abbey: Great Hall
The Great Hall of Redwall Abbey. Countless paw falls have echoed from these stones, and untold numbers of feasts and merry gatherings have been held here. A table, not nearly so grand or large as its predecessors, but quite functional for mealtimes, rests near the center of the hall. Chairs exist here aplenty, and they are all of a matching set. High above, the stain glass windows give the Great Hall a beautiful appearance. The glasswork is exceptionally done, crafted by a skilled artist. The floor is clean and swept. A fire is kept burning in the fireplace at almost all times of the day and night, and there are several more comfortable chairs and cushions set up here, of varying sizes. One looks large enough to easily accommodate a badger.
The Tapestry hangs proud and tall, and while the rest of Redwall may still bear the scars of natural disaster, this most famous of Redwall's relics remains unharmed by beast, time, or the elements. The figure of Martin the Warrior seems to be watching over his own with an unchanging, kindly gaze.
Red, blue, orange, green...vibrant patterns of color are painted on the floorstones of Great Hall by the high afternoon sun that is streaming through the stained glass windows.
Exits/Entrances:
[K]itchen [St]airs [C]avern [H]ole
[Li]brary [En]try [B]reezeway
Contents:
a message (board) with notes tacked to it
With:
[IC] Martha
[IC] Layne
The Battle of Lunch is over for another day, the victorious (and well-fed) forces of the abbey returning to garden, to dorm, to orchard and library and classroom, leaving only the vanquished dishes behind and a few sympathetic souls to clean up the remains. Layne spent the morning pacing out garden plots with two squirrels and a mole, and decides to linger to carry a few dishes and finish off the warm bottom third of a soup mug.
Martha has water, has cloth. She's hear to wipe the tables clean. And she looks mostly distracted, wandering through the hall in mostly her own little dreaming world, which might be more hazardous were there a few more beasts about. Without much thought to the process, the wet cloth is applied to table.
Annnnd... almost right on top of the dark paw of Layne, as the mousemaid is curling it around some errant flatware. Spoons jangle as she yanks it back. "Uh, my hand's clean, Martha-- thanks?" She blinks at the dazed looking hedgehog, as she drops the spoons into a clanking salad bowl filling with similar small utensils.
"Hmm. Oh? Wh-? What? S-sorry, Layne. I, um..." She smiles apologetically and moves the cloth further up the table, making sure she's wiping along the unoccupied spaces. "I was just... Miles away, I-I g-guess." Wipe, wipe. Making sure she doesn't wipe any other beasts.
"Yeah, but the dishcloth is right here, and it's drippy-- are you ok?" Layne follows the hedgemaid along the edge of the table, finding a spoon here, a butterknife there, and whatnot, collecting a small harvest of used lunch things in her salad bowl along the way. She eyes Martha's face, looking for some sign of the tone of her distraction, positive or negative. Is this an 'he loves me, he loves me not' sort of haze, or a 'alas, poor me', sort?
There's a blink as Martha doesn't quite get it at first. "Oh. Um, Y-yes. Sorry." She apologises and continues to wipe. Some of the things Layne collects may have been made wet by the distracted hedgehog. She smiles, though it's a show smile when she speaks, not quite to the eyes. Mostly she looks thoughtful.
Layne's tempted to grab Martha by the shoulders and give her a small shake. Tempted, but not stupid. Hedgehogs are pointy on all surfaces. Instead, Layne just watches her for a minute, eyes narrow and curious, but then she simply shakes her head. And shakes out the cloth napkin Martha just wiped down, turning it into a soaked rag. Hmm. "So. Everything ok with you and Meester Barkus?" she asks, in a mild and polite sort of gossipy way.
Martha nods. Automatic response. "Hmm." She replies without answering, then blinks. "Um, what? S-sorry... Y-yes. Yes, we're okay. Getting used t-to waking up e-everyday again. L-lots of work again." She blinks again, eyeing the cloth napkin. "Um... D-did I do that?"
The lull after lunch seems the best time to be wandering about and getting work done as the Abbot appears quietly up the stairs and pauses there to look around. Ah, one of the beasts he was looking for, what luck! He heads for mouse and hedgehog, politely coughing to interrupt as he gets closer.
"April shower." Layne smirks at the damp napkin and drops it into her basket, about to reply when the air coughs! Wait. She turns and sees authority figure #1. Oops. Her first reaction is to look guiltily at the basket. What'd she do wrong? What didn't she collect? "Uh, yes?"
"Apri- huh?" She doesn't get it again. Then the cough and Layne's reaction makes the hedgehog look up. She blinks, and without thinking, waves the damp cloth, before embarrassed, lowering it again. "Um. H-hello Father A-Abbot."
Attention successfully gathered Lorimis smiles "Good day Miss Layne and of course Miss Martha" his eyes focus on the mouse "I'm afraid I have a small favour to ask. The spring celebration is in need of organising. Time flies doesn't it? Well, anyway, I've heard good things about your halloween parties" he chuckles "Well, from those who weren't too scared of the food and ghosts walking about"
Layne's tail fidgets, though she stands quite still-- almost fearfully so-- and stares at the spot just below the abbot's chin. "Sister Beverly asked-- I just thought--" Slowly it dawns that there's no censure in the mention of the Harvest Festivals, and she manages a dry, "Uh, thanks? I mean... I had help from Sivaine, and Ardice, and Lucas, of course, and, and..."
Martha smiles, and would nudge Layne supportively, but that would probably not be appreciated from the spiky creature. Instead she listens, smiling, and continues on with her wiping task, keeping in earshot, but trying to look like she isn't eavesdropping too much.
The Abbot chuckles once more "Well by all means pull in as much help as you want. Certainly I'm sure you could get Brother Lucas to lend the help of every paw he has. Perhaps even Miss Martha would like toss in a few ideas?" yes, he still knows she's there "I may even bring my lute, work permitting"
Huh-- the abbot playing at the celebration? The abbot playing? Layne relaxes marginally and her throat loosens up. "I... really? Is there anything special you'd... uh, want? When should I plan on it?" The question foremost on her mind is /'why me'?/ "I mean, spring-- there's the garden and the beehives, and Moira, of course..." No, now it sounds to her like she's making excuses. Layne unkinks a spine she didn't know was slouching and nods. "I'll do what I can, abbot?"
"Um. Well. I'll h-help if L-Layne wants b-but I'm n-not good with ideas..." Martha trails off into almost mumbling, and continues on with the tables. She's just let on she was listening still.
Chuckling again Lorimis shakes his head at the pair "You'd think I was asking you both to wash every pot in the abbey. Do the best you can, most beasts are already delighted to be outside again, I only request there be a great deal of food. I shall leave it to you to think something up, I still have far too much to do today"
Layne flashes a quick, totally guileless smile, all mouse-incisor and embarrassment, at Martha, before she snaps her eyes back to the abbot. "Food, yes, outside, yes-- a picnic? How about a picnic? We've got a big kitchen-- well, why am I telling -you- about what the abbey's got, Abbot, it's your abbey... It should be warm enough for a picnic over the next week, right?"
Abbot's already getting all ready to move out again and get back to work but he pauses briefly at the idea "Excellent! A big giant picnic with plenty of entertainment. We can only hope it doesn't rain. Next week...will probably be alright" he chuckles "I should ask Brother Lucas or one of the gardeners, they always keep good track of the weather. I look forwards to it already"
"Uh, I think I can ask Lucas," murmurs Layne, a small tracery of her usual smirk returning. "I'm pretty sure I know where to find him. I'll get right on it, Mr. Abbot." She sets the salad bowl back down on the table, the still-damp napkin making a small dark patch on the tablecloth. Layne watches the abbot moving away.
Martha is further down the table. Which is looking nicely... wet along with some of the cutlery. And a little more clean. The hedgemaid stops wiping as the Abbot moves off, waving briefly and dipping her head. Then standing back. Well, that's actually probably done. The cloth goes halfway in the bucket.
The Abbot leaves with a final chuckle "Thank you very much Layne. Good day" and he's back off to the stairs again, nodding his goodbye to Martha on the way too.
/Now/ Layne lurches over to the hedgehog, and in a voice a hair towards panicky, she squeaks, "What do I do? Should I ask the kitchen staff? You said you'd help-- we'll need spring drinks! Uh, dandelion wine! Cordials! Cool things! I have to find Lucas... where would he be...?" Wait, is she actually looking under the table? For her husband?
Castus wouldn't know where any husbands are, he's been outside enjoying the new spring weather. And what a relief it is, to actually feel the sun on his fur and all that. He's actually... whistling! Whistling a cheery tune as he comes inside, having just put up his staff and looking like he's had a jolly good time leaping around and hitting things with it.
"Um... Y-yes?" Martha looks startled. "I'll h-help. An-and, I'm sure the k-kitchen staff will h-help too." She fidgets, bucket on arm now. "W-well. I'll ask B-Barkus t-to help t-too." She actually flinches somewhat at the cheery whistling, as if startled. "I th-think I'm done w-with the table."
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