The old, the sick, and the insane!?!

Characters: Flicktail, Riverdale, Kain, and Z'Fingo

Location: Great Hall - (Redwall Abbey)

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Flicktail walksin and throws some wood on the fire

Kain trods in from the stairs, glancing around curiously. He makes his way over to a chair and paces around it three times, then sits in it and sighs happily. He leans back and closes his eyes, his ears perked upright and listening to the fire.

Riverdale hobbles in, cane tapping an irregular rhythm as he moves. He is a shadow of his former self, thin almost beyond recognition, his face drawn and pale. His eyes do not rise above the level of the floor, and he offers no greeting to either Kain or Flicktail.

Flicktail says, "ello ere" he smiles to the new commers his tail flicking he movesto RIverdale to help teh ancient squirrel to a seat by the fire"

Riverdale shoots a grateful expression at Flicktail. "Ah, thanks, lad." His voice is quite weak.

Kain opens up his eyes and then spots Riverdale. It was appearent on his face that he wasn't sure who that was, but then he slowly started to realized that it was in fact the same beast he had met; the one with the map. He blinks and smiles. "Hi, squeearf."

Riverdale turns his head slowly to regard the mad young mouse. His eyes, vague from a recent nap, squint, then widen slightly with a dawning recognition that never quite resolves into clarity. "Ah..." he says with uncertainty. "H-hello."

Flicktail asks, "woudl anyone loikes something ta eats? oi be ungry" he smiles and he gives the old grandfather a nuzzle on his forehead as he would a dibbun"

Riverdale reflexively withdraws his head from the contact.

Kain smiles and would normaly spring up and out of his seat, but instead he starts to rock in the chair. "Hiya.. uh... who are you? I know I met you, squeearf!" He smiles a little and taps his chin.

Riverdale's stomach grumbles.

Flicktail says, "wot woudl ye loikes, we ave ot root soup, and meadiw creams, and berries, and steamed fishies"

Riverdale says, "Ah... Er, lad... Bring me something, ah, something light, if you would..."

Riverdale sets his cane down beside the chair, leaning it against one of the arms.

Kain shakes his head at Flicktail, "I'm full, thank you. Uh... can... I have some tea, eerf?" He nods his head a little and folds his legs up into the seat, hugging them tightly to his body.

"Ah... I'm called Riverdale," he says, addressing the reddish blob sitting across from him. The old fellow cocks his head a bit, as if in recognition of something.

Flicktail goes to the kitchen and brings out some walnut salad, with carrots and a light vinagrette dressing. Flicktail also brings out some Oolong tea

Riverdale watches Flicktail leave and reenter, his face bearing signs of bewilderment and confusion.

Flicktail seems to be always a bit...bewildered, so he takes no note setting out the fare together with nice cherry cordial

Kain smiles at Flicktail and the tea. He then nods at Riverdale. "Squeearf! Nice to meet you, yes! I'm Kain! You remember me, right?" He rocks back and forth more and more. He then fidgets with his paws.

Flicktail offers Kain honey for the tea...while watching teh squirrel with rapt fasination

Riverdale sighs loudly and heavily. He addresses Kain. "Hm? Ah... oh... Yes, yes. Kain, yes. I'm, ah, I'm called Riverdale." The squirrel's stomach grumbles again. Riverdale leans backwards into the chair, letting his head loll a bit.

Flicktail asks, "don't ya wonts e food? yer tummy says yes" his ears perk"

Kain smiles and rocks back and forth a little more, seemingly amused! "Hehe, and I'm Kain!" He nods his head and chuckles. "You do remember me! I'm glad you did! I remembered you, but... you look different... Are you getting old?" His head tilts sideways as he continues to rock in the chair with his knees tucked into his chest and his arms wrapped around them.

Riverdale wobbles upright. "Oh, yes. Haha, yes, please. Thank you, ah... lad. I'll have some walnuts, if you please." He flashes an eager grin to Flicktail that quickly dissolves again. Riverdale laughs wearily. "Old? Yes, ah, Kain. Yes, I suppose I am getting old."

Flicktail likes teh smile and offers lots of walnuts "ye needsta eat..yes yes

Riverdale scoops a pawfull into his lap and downs several rapidly.

Flicktail asks, "why ye so ungry, arn't no one feeds ya?"

Riverdale's stomach groans again. "Well, ah, B-Brother Miles says I mustn't eat much. Just come out of a... ah, a long sleep." He squints. "Truth is, I, I'm not sure I remember all that, ah, all he said to me."

Kain listens in, rocking back and forth. He smiles and mummbles to himself though, "Hehe, old. Are you old? Yes I am! How old are you? I don't know, but I'm old, Squeearf!"

Flicktail blink blinks "oi..aven't given ye too much ave oi?

Flicktail repeast Kain's words "Squeearf"

Riverdale grins. "I have no idea, lads. To, ah, either question. I don't know how much I'm to eat or, ah, to not eat... And I don't know just how old I am." He eats another walnut, of which a few little crumbs escape into the fur around his mouth. "Truth is, lads... I don't know much of anything." He says this with humor. Riverdale brushes the crumbs away.

Flicktail exclaims, "well then ye be just loikes me!"

Riverdale nods his head blankly, seeming not to have understood.

Kain grins and laughs, "Are we all insane? Hehe, They said I was insane. That's why I'm called Insane Kain, eearf!" He smiles and rocks back and forth a little more before he decieds to spring out of his chair to sit on the floor near the others.

Flicktail says, "Squeearf"

Riverdale inquires, "What's Squeearf?"

Flicktail says, "I dunno, but it sounds nice..."

Riverdale turns it over on his tongue. "Skwee Yarf."

Flicktail nods "ye does at wells!

Riverdale leans back, drops a walnut into his mouth, and says, while chewing, "Shquee Arf!"

Kain smiles, "Well... I used to squeek a lot.. but... I was told that it was a bit annoying, soooooo... now I squeearf. Hehe, I guess it's kind of... like a bark? Squeearf?"

Riverdale swallows the walnut. "So, ah. So it means nothing?" He frowns. "I don't think that's right. No, no. Ah... Must mean something... Why have a word if it has no meaning?" He appears as if to be waking up from a sleep, and it's made a philosopher of the fellow.

Flicktail says, "dibbuns ave wordsloikes at alla time"

Riverdale says, "Hmm. Why do they say them?"

Flicktail says, "it be fun"

Kain nods his head and shrugs. "I guess it doesn't mean anything, squeearf." He thinks a moment, then rocks back and forth yet again. "Hehe, squeearf! Your old, right? Hehe.. how old? Realy old or realy real old?" He says this in a joking manor, "I bet.. realy realy REALY old. That means your wise too, right?"

"How do they, ah... How do they know when to use them?" Riverdale finishes off the pile of walnuts that was in his lap and brushes the remains onto the floor with both paws. Adjusting his spectacles to peer curiously at Kain: "Ah... Haha. Wise, lad? No... Maybe once upon a time. But, if I ever was, I can't say I remember it. Goodness knows I'm old, though."

Flicktail says, "well lads, you two ave a Squeearf, time... Oi needs to be about me chores"

Riverdale says, "Well, thank you."

Kain smiles at Riverdale and waves to Flicktail, then he bites his lip. "So... why are you old?" He slowly gets to his feet yet again and circles a chair three times, only to sit in it and perk his ears up.

Riverdale cocks his head. "I'm old, lad, because, ah..." He scratches his head. "I'm old because I was born a long time ago." He mulls for a moment, then bobs his head. Yeah, that's the reason.

Kain nods his head, "Oh, I see! Hehe, I was born a long time ago too, squeearf. Uh, so... can I do anything for you? I like to help, squeearf, that I do!"

Riverdale says, "Ah, no. Thank you, though." He brightens momentarily. "Squeearf."

Kain nods his head, his ears perking at the squeearf. Of course, he chuckles at the word. "Teheh, squeearf! It makes you smile, doesn't it?" He smiles and leans forwards, his tail swishing back and forth. "Hehe, always makes me smile, squeearf."

Z'Fingo comes down from the infirmary for the first time since yesterday... he doesn't remember much - he's having a very bad memory day. Hooded as usual, refusing to be seen, he stalks into the room slowly... still with that elderly gait so unbefitting his youth, but getting better nonetheless. He nods to all before sitting. He's become a bit more social, as well.

Riverdale remains seated for a few moments longer, ruminating on something in silence and giving Kain only the barest of nods in acknowledgement.

Kain smiles when he sees Z'Fingo enter. He waves a paw and smiles. "Hi." He sits up and stretches, yawning a little. "Hrmm... where's my drink?" He looks around and spots it on the table, so he takes it and starts to sip on it slowly.

Riverdale's eyes drift in the direction of Kain's salutation. He raises a paw slightly, then, with jarring suddenness, reaches over to take hold of his cane and hoists himself to his feet.

Z'Fingo nods at Kain, not speaking yet... wondering why his drink comes next after 'hi'... he looks over at Riverdale and wonders if he's the otter that had that encounter with... hmm, was it a fox? What happened yesterday? He sits, utterly confused about the events over the past week or so. He props his footpaws up on the edge of a table, making sure the robe still covers them, and withdrawals into the safety and concealment of the garment.

Kain smiles a little more at Z'Fingo and bounces to his feet. He looks at him oddly, squinting his eyes. In a bit of a heasitant voice, he squeearfs, "Uh.. w... what are you?" He blushes a little, but figuring the figure before him looks like a shadow, he couldn't tell at all what speicies the beast was! Go figure!

Z'Fingo shifts a bit and out pops a mouse tail! He holds it up with the sleeve of his right arm, although he is careful not to show his paw. His muzzle pokes out a bit into the light for Kain to see as well. His voice starts a bit congested, "Erm, mouse. Erhmmm... Sohrry... sohrry I have to always introduce myself like this..."

Seeing that Kain is distracted, Riverdale excuses himself wordlessly, looking a bit more energized than when he entered, perhaps by the snack, perhaps by the company.

Kain's head tilts a bit but smiles. "Oh, I see! Your like me, squeearf!" He then ponders. "Why don't you ever uncover your face? Hehe... I mean.. Hehe, if you didn't show me your tail I would have ran from you!! Teheahah, squeearf! I mean, realy! What a site!"

Z'Fingo sighs, and is careful not to insult the mental mouse... "You wouldn't wont to know what's undah this hood, I don't think. Just not wohth showing, is all. Not wohth getting looks and stahs, and the whispahs ah especially tiahsome..." He coughs a bit, "Like you?"

Kain tilts his head, making it obvious that all the words flowed through one ear and out the other. "But... why won't you show your face, squeearf? Are you ugly or something? Or.. or... no! You don't have a face?!? WOW! H.. how can you not have one?" He smiles and scoots his chair a little closer to where Z'Fingo was.

Z'Fingo pulls the hood down farther over his face, stretching the fabric. He resents this mouse more and more... "No, please... no closah, please. And the guesses ah not appreciated, eithah..." He sits up in his chair, taking his footpaws off the table and considers moving...

Kain blinks and tilts his head. "What? But.. if you were ugly, well.. I mean... squeearf! Heh, that's no big deal! Look at me!" He puts his paws up to his face and stretches his muzzle a little, making a rather goofy face and crossing his eyes. "Squeearf! See? Hehe, if it's because your ugly, I don't mind... If your just shy, well... squeearf! I guess we just need to get to know eachother more! Right, buddy?"

Z'Fingo huffs, and stands, "Listen, it goes beyond that... the wohst face you can make isn't half of wot I /have/ to be, all the time! You don't undahstand... I wosn't bohn with this, and I don't know how to live with it. It's fate's little joke at my expense, is wot it is... now I don't wont to be friends, so stop." He moves to a chair farther away.

Kain blinks a little, then his ears droop. "Well... I... I guess you don't understand, squeearf..." He sighs, "I think I'd be lucky to be you.. I mean, hehe, squeearf... I-I.. I bet you could have a realy nice mate... an... and not an imaginary one.. hehe, squeearf." He chuckles softly. "Fates joke? Hehe, fate is sure funny! Squeearf!"

Z'Fingo isn't laughing at the joke, that's for sure. He looks over, and shakes his (hood) head, "Nice mate? No... not even when I woz... (who was he??) er, not defohmed... hahd foh me to say what it woz like, as I don't really remembah, but I would know if I had had one." He thinks a bit, "I think I woz a bit too cohse for them all."

Kain blinks at Z'Fingo, an ear perking up. "I-I.. I mean you could actualy /get/ a wife...." He keeps smiling, but it's a little obvious in his eyes that he's saddend. "I have no luck, squeearf. Hehe, the healers don't even want me around." He nods his head, then falls silent for once.

Z'Fingo finds it hard to be sorry for the average-looking mouse... he doesn't see anything immediately wrong with him... besides, well, the squeearfing. "Maybe a common hobby is the best place to staht? Do you have any?" He coughs again, a bit more forceful than at first... he leans over and coughs into a sleeve.

Kain shakes his head, "Uh.. I... would talk to my... well... I guess it was realy myself, but my wife Helen... I realy loved her and... and.. she was everything to me... but... the healers told me she wasn't real, squeearf.." He sighs and nods his head. "I-I don't see how she wasn't... all the memmories... "

Z'Fingo is a tad disturbed now, with the hallucinating mouse talking to him. He was real, wasn't he? He pats himself to make sure, then answers hesitantly, after the coughing stops, "Uh... I..I wouldn't know, r-really... knew a creachah that woz soht of insane, but he couldn't help it. Abbey drove him out to die - you can find many a cruel beast hea'uh." What was the name of that... mole? squirrel? he knew? "Don't remembah a lot about it, though..."

Kain blinks and gets out of his chair, his stomach sinking. "Er.. the... they chased them out fo... for being ins..." His fur starts to stand on ends as he begins to pace around a chair. "I.... th.. they call me insa... They wouldn'..." In somewhat panic now, he clentches his paws tight. "WHY... would they do that to me? I.. I just tried to help and... and... of course! Just cause I never grew up with a friend well..." He laughs and chuckles, his moods swinging quickly. "Hehe, that's why I had Helen!" He falls silent then, stopping in place as well.

Z'Fingo is startled by the sudden movement from the other mouse, and starts to rise in his chair too... finally settling back down, between a stray cough or two, "I don't think you have to wohrry... they didn't like his attitude towords vuhmin... they mistook his just cause foh wohrry as paranoia, you see..." He remembers /that/, well enough. "I suppose if I had made half the fuss as he did, I'd be out on the road too."

Kain shakes his head, "No, no... no, no no no no! You, you don't get it, squeearf? You.. th.. think they care if I'm violent or friendly or stupid?!? I-I.. I'm not right... th.... no one wants a broken mouse.... I.. n... not even a slaver... I... oh squeearf.. They are going to kick me out...." He shakes his head, his face paling as he covers his face with a paw. Once agian though, he seems to laugh akwardly. "Hehe, but that's not the first time I've been kicked out of places! Squeearf!" He starts to tremble, obviously not able to handle stress too well.

Z'Fingo frowns, and the chin of his hood moves with his changing expression, "I left a while agoh, of my own free will... not two steps outside, fate greeted me with /this/. There is as little muhcy out thea'uh as the'uh seems to be in hea'uh... just in a diff'rent soht of way, I suppose..." He hangs his head, "I don't seem to belong many places."

Kain glances at Z'Fingo, tilting his head. "I.. I don't belong anywhere either.. hehe... I.. I guess... that's why I'm here... I'm GOING to belong here... I.. I won't let them kick me out... I..." He blushes a bit red in the face, "I.. guess I chose to stay here for... f-for Helen's sake... and I'm going to hold that promise... even if she wasn't... realy... real."

Z'Fingo chuckles, exciting another fit of coughs. His bottom lip turns red just before his sleeve comes up to wipe at it. "Mmm, 'scuse me... well, I suppose with an imaginary wife, you would have to do all the chohs you'uhself... but at least you'd be able to decide wot the topic of convahsation would be - nothing bohring to you, I imagine, if you'uh talking to you'uhself..?"

Kain blushes a little. "I... I thought I was talking to Helen.. I-I... I mean, we had are arguments... I mean... We didn't always get along but..." He blushes a little more. "I saw her, danced with her, yet... no one could see here.. Th.. they.. hehe, just said I was.. insane... like everyone else did." He nods his head and sighs, "I.. think I even lost it one day and... heh, dressed up as... Helen would be to try and prove she was real... squeearf."

This is getting weird fast... by the way, where did his own clothes go? Did that sob-story of a brother take them with him? Z'Fingo eyes the other mouse, leaning back in his chair to try and get some rest before tomorrow... he's been meaning to find out about what has been happening since, well, he's been out of sight. "Yes, well... dressing as a lass would qualify in my book..." He yawns and his eyes droop.

Kain chuckles nervously, then starts to sense that he might have said something wrong. In a quick attempt to correct his mistake, he paniced! "Uh.. q-qualify? F-f... for what? I-I, I mean.. I... I'd like to know if.. it... it's ok, squeearf?" He blushes a little more.

Z'Fingo shrugs as he lets his mind wander, "Qualify? Oh... uh... qualify foh the... annual males dressing up as females touhnament?" He smiles to himself. This mouse isn't so bad - harmless is the word that comes to mind. Perfectly harmless, or at least he seems that way.

Kain sighs and smiles, "Oh.. I see... I... you think I'd do a good job for that tournament? I.. hehe, I mean, when I wore a whimple, I was told they couldn't even tell who I was and.. heh.." He smiles softly, calming down slowly. "Hehe, my.. I guess, catch phrase, was the only thing that gave me away.. hehe, squeearf!"

Z'Fingo chuckles out loud, almost choking, and turns his head, "Really? I would not have noticed that. Is it just a tick? Or do you use it knowingly?"

Kain blushes a little and smiles, "W... what do you mean? I-I... I mean..." He blushes a little more, "Hehe, it's... pretty easy to confuse me I guess..." He blushes a little and thinks, then his face flushes. "OH! You mean the squeearf? Squeearf?"

Z'Fingo smiles, and nods, "Yes, squeearf." He's feeling better talking to this mouse, now that he doesn't have to indulge his entire past to him. Not that he could, if he wanted to... so many things flying away from his head like butterflies... would he even get them back, ever? Were they still there, somewhere? "Can you help doing it?"

Kain blushes softly and shakes his head. "I... It just happens.. I mean, I.. used to squeek like when I squeearf but... I don't know... I always think I can control it and... Squeearf! Hehe, always when I... er... squeearf! I did it right then and... squeearf!" He blushes a little more, and nods his head, "I.. can't... help it.... squeerf.."

Z'Fingo chuckles and shakes his head, and tries to fall asleep.

Kain smiles softly, then yawns. He paces around a chair three times as always, then flops down in it. He then turns so that he's now resting sideways in the chair, curled up tight with his knees tucked into his chest. "Oh squeearf... I... I'm so tired...." Soon enough, he falls dead quiet except for his soft snore.

Inside Joke of the Log: Squeearf © Kain 2009

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