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Post by Geordie Brushtail on Jul 12, 2009 2:22:32 GMT
*Geordie snuffles a bit in his sleep and tries to turn over. Being in a chair, it doesn't turn out so well--he gets turned sideways in the chair before he overbalances and falls onto the floor with a loud thud. He doesn't wake, just curls into a ball using his tail as a pillow.
Through the snores, a few words can be heard as he mutters in his sleep, snatches of dream conversation barely audible.*
Nae, it's a kilt, nae a skirt....stop that, ye'll ruin tha coider...Dougal, need te get te the hayin' tenoight...
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on Jul 27, 2009 16:11:56 GMT
*As one, Terragon, Romula and Kael immediately turn to Geordie, Terragon's alarm greatest of the three. But as the grey squirrel continues to sleep Romula stands, stifling a sharp-toothed yawn and murmuring to Terragon, her accent more noticable for her tiredness.* 'S late an' there's herbs t'be prepared a' first light, but I'll be back t'check 'e's alrigh'. *With this and Terragon's grateful nod, she makes her way to the door and slips quietly out of it and down the ladder. Kael too stands, pushing his chair neatly back underneath the table.* I'll leave you in peace now too, Terragon. I'll not trouble you for breakfast tomorrow either- *He begins, but Terragon interrupts the quiet otter.* Don't be ridiculous, breakfast as usual tomorrow. *Kael grins and strides to the door, turning as Terragon adds.* If you see Ashnel on your way over to St. Ninian's... *The otter smiles again.* If I see him, I'll remind him that it's late and that you've locked the door but left the window in his room open? *Terragon nods firmly but a ghost of a smile plays across her lips.* Precisely.
OOC: Skip to the following morning?
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Post by Geordie Brushtail on Jul 28, 2009 1:43:01 GMT
OOC: Agreed. Not much to do when you're sleeping.
BIC: *Geordie gradually comes awake to the sound of young beasts playing outside. Opening one eye, he glances out the window. It's apparently mid morning, and he can smell something good coming from the other room. He opens the other eye, noticing with pleasure that the swelling has gone down. The pain in his paw and ear are lessened as well.*
Se it wasnae a dream las' noight, *he says to nobeast in particular. Sitting up, he takes a careful inventory of his person. Wrinkling his nose, he observes,* Och, if'n Ah dinnae need a bath, then Ah'm a tattypole. An' me kilt has a big rent in it. Ah wonder when tha' happened?
Where's me pack? *Looking around, he sees the dirty bundle in a corner where Terragon must have tossed it the night before.* Ah'm sartain Ah left a change o' clothin' in here....
*He digs through the pack, pulling out a few pawfuls of chestnuts, some fishing line, a polishing kit for his weapons, a small bag of trinkets, a sewing kit, and finally the long yards of a Brushtail dress tartan. He unwraps the plaid and pulls out a long, cream colored shirt. Grinning in satisfaction, he dumps the odds and ends unceremoniously bag into the pack. Pausing a moment, he reaches back in and retrieves the sewing kit.*
Naow, where te change? Och, that'll do, Geordie me lad, *he remarks, climbing to his feet and ducking into another room to change. He emerges moments later, freshly clad in shirt and plaid, swordbelt about his waist, and sets about mending his tattered brown and green hunting kilt.*
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on Jul 28, 2009 17:50:36 GMT
*Awaking early again despite the lateness of his return to Starsett Hollow, Ashnel had made his way out into the main room intending to leave the house and wander down to the town square, but was stopped in his tracks by the sight of a familiar figure asleep at the foot of an armchair.* Geordie?! *He'd muttered in astonishment and had nearly gone to wake Terragon for an explaination before recalling the hour. He'd ask her later, he decided, leaving the house quickly and quietly.* *It is nearly mid-morning when Kael arrives, bearing two freshly caught fish from the lake. Terragon, wearing a long, embroidered white tunic and brown trousers, her fur neatly combed and a smile set upon her face looks up at his polite knock annd rolls her eyes.* Door's unlocked, Kael. *The otter enters and greets the squirrel with his usual grin, unable to fail to note the shadows beneath her dark eyes, the only sign of the drama of the previous evening. He doesn't comment, but sets the oatcakes down on the table and carries the fish over to the house's small stove. A fire is already lit, the smoke that does not escape through the chimmney filling the room with the scent of dry bark.* *Breakfast is prepared in near silence and it is not until both squirrel and otter are seated at the table that either speaks. Before beginning to eat, Kael surreptitiously bows his head, his lips silently forming words. Finally, the silence is broken.* Oatcake? *The otter accepts gratefully, sliding a pot of hotroot pepper towards his plate and applying eyewatering quantities to the dish.* Is he awake yet? *Both pause and listen. The sounds of Geordie muttering to himself in the next room can be heard and Kael nods.* Signs of life. Thanks to you and Romula, *Terragon murmurs, though the otter raises his paws in modest protest.* Geordie? *She calls hesitantly.*
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Post by Geordie Brushtail on Jul 28, 2009 18:06:23 GMT
*Geordie's remaining ear perks at the sound of his name. Removing needle and thread from his mouth, he grins openly and, setting sewing kit aside bounds into the room Terragon's voice came from. He rushes over to her chair, grabs her about the waist, and swings her up into the air, knocking the chair over in the process.*
Och, an' ain't it tha Braw Terri herself, bringin' me back frae tha dead? *He laughs before kissing her soundly on the cheek, grinning impishly at her the whole time. A belated sort of sixth sense kicks in and he glances over at Kael. He blushes and sets Terragon back on her footpaws but doesn't let go of her waist.* Ah seem te remember meetin' ye last noight, lad, but tha memory's a wee bit hazy, aye?
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on Jul 29, 2009 13:56:38 GMT
*Terragon blushes but moves closer to Geordie, taking one of his paws in hers while Kael stands and introduces himself.* Not to worry; Alkael Ageirr, sir. Kael, that is. *He extends a paw in greeting.* I'm living over at St. Ninian's Chapel, *He explains, nodding his head to indicate the direction in which the building lies.* ... oh, but of course, *The otter adds suddenly, rolling his eyes at his own mistake.* The Chapel was built in your absence. You'll have to allow me and Terragon to show you around it when you're fully recovered, which I'm sure thanks to Ms. Heathrel, will not take long at all. He's being modest, *Terragon tells Geordie at once.* Kael's one o'Terralux's best healers.
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Post by Geordie Brushtail on Jul 29, 2009 16:40:58 GMT
Aye, Ah seem te recall somethin' aboot me footpaw. Good as new, aye? *Geordie says, putting all his weight on the bandaged paw before grinning and seizing the extended paw in a firm handshake. The other paw holds on lightly to Terragon's.* Ah feel loike a new squirrel, belike.
Te be honest, Ah'm jest glad Ah made it here. Been wanderin' aboot for nigh on twa weeks, withoot fresh bandages or anae ither koind o' provender.
Speakin' o which, somethin' smells good in here. Naow, if only Ah had a bit o' tha pure te go with it...*He sniffs the air and smiles wistfully.* But Ah can thank tha filthy corsairs fer that; had to use me last drop te clean out tha ole' footpaw after tha fight.
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on Jul 30, 2009 16:36:15 GMT
*Kael grins enthusiastically as his patient manages to lean on the bandaged footpaw.* Glad to hear it, although - I'm sorry - I should probably tell you that it's possible your ear may not entirely heal, *His face takes on a look of regret.* Although, that said, I'm not the expert Ms. Heathrel is. I'd take her advice rather than mine, *He tells Geordie brightly, his smile returning.* Now, what would that be about corsairs? I'm sure Terragon won't mind me telling you to sit down and share your tale and help yourself to some breakfast. *He goes to fetch an extra plate and proceeds to set a place for Geordie. Terragon smiles gratefully, remaining close to the grey squirrel.* I'm so glad you're back, *She whispers, feeling as soon as the words are said that they are inadequate.*
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Post by Geordie Brushtail on Jul 30, 2009 18:48:51 GMT
*Geordie smiles and squeezes her paw gently before accepting the spot Kael has prepared for him.* After Ah eat lad, havnae seen decent grub in awhoile, naow...
*Geordie uses his free paw to carefully dissect the meal, eating rapidly and with obvious enjoyment.*
OOC: Have to go to the store, will put up Geordie's story when I return triumphant with dish soap, milk, and crayons! lol If you feel like posting something while Geordie is eating, feel free Terri.
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on Jul 30, 2009 20:13:29 GMT
OOC: No rest for the wicked? BIC: *Terragon and Kael return to their seats and continue breakfast, chatting absent-mindedly partly for Geordie's benefit. Much has happened in Terralux.* I had to throw out a few of the stoat clan last night, *Kael tells Terragon regretfully.* They'd been causing trouble down at the Whispering Willow a few evenings in a row and were loitering around the Chapel. I decided that after the thefts Captain Centurio reported, it just wasn't worth the risk. Ah well... they'll be back through the settlement gates by nightfall on Thursday. *Terragon looks up sharply.* Has everybeast's guard really dropped that much now? *Kael returns the shrug.* Now Terralux is out of immediate danger, everybeast's just enjoying the peace, Terri. Don't worry, that clan are young and a few evenings sobering up in the woods is probably all it'll take to "show them the error of their ways." *For a brief moment, the otter's voice takes on a bitter edge and Terragon glances away as though embarrassed by the sudden change. But Kael's usual amicable smile soon returns and he continues.* Danniar's fine though. She would be, *Terragon laughs in agreement thinking of the barmaid of the Whispering Willow's determined demeanor.* Drunken stoats are the least of her worries. *The door opens and Kael and Terragon both look up. Ashnel pauses in the doorway hesitantly taking in their expressions as though to judge the atmosphere of the conversation before entering. His eyes move to Geordie and despite himself, he takes a step forward into the treehouse, his eyebrows raised questioningly and a small, surprised smile springing, unbidden, to his lips.* I wasn't mistaken; Geordie Brushtail?!
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Post by Geordie Brushtail on Jul 30, 2009 20:22:09 GMT
*Geordie takes a sip from a glass, hurriedly washing down the last of his breakfast, as he stands. Rushing over, he clasps Ashnel's paw in a tight, viselike grip.* Tha one an' only, minus an ear tho' naow. It's thanks te Kael there Ah still hae a footpaw, belike.
Och, an' it's good te see ye agin. Ah was jest aboot te tell Terri what Ah've been up te, ye ken?
OOC: I'm trying to find a few details of Geordie's somewhat murky past, lol. And by wicked, did you mean you or me? Cause I'm a good little highland squirrel, se Ah am...
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Post by Geordie Brushtail on Jul 31, 2009 1:29:56 GMT
*Geordie sits back in his chair, crossing his legs at the ankles and settling into the comfortable pose of a storyteller.*
Ye’ll recall when Ah left, aye? When we were foightin’ those magpies, nigh on eight seasons gan. We got separated in tha nests. Weel, ‘twas then that Ah foun’ someat.
Was an old silver tailring, in the knot work fashion. Ah’d ne’er seen it’s loike, save once. *Geordie continues to smile, but hints of an old pain are clear in his eyes and the set of his jaw, the tension in his shoulders.*
Ah’ve tole naught but Terri o’ this, but…Ah was engaged, once. Te a lovely lassie o’ a neighboring clan. Thistlerose, tha’ twas her name, ye kenn? Te me she was jest Rose. A sweet thing, ne’er belie’d ill o’ anaebeast. Independent, too. Loiked te go aboot in the fields an’ moors alone. Tha’s how Ah met her; she was pickin’ herbs oot agang tha heather. Ah sang “Heather on tha Moor” te her, that first day…
If Ah was king, Ah’d make her queen, tha lass Ah met agang tha heather an’ it’s heather on tha moor…*Georde sings softly, lost for a moment in thought.*
Rose came te live at Heather Hall, an’ Ah was settlin’ down te farmin’, e’en lairnin’ brewin’ frae me fayther. But one day, she didnae come back frae gatherin’ her wee plants. We spent sev’ral days lookin’, but tha only soign was a vermin trail. Slavers, we guessed, boi tha rusted manacles we found. We followed the trail, an’ we found a silver tailring. They were a set, ye ken. An engagement gift frae me. They’d been me great-grandmither’s. *Geordie’s voice thickens with emotion, and he takes a second for a drink before continuing.*
When Ah found its mate, all these moiles awa’, Ah couldna think straight. Ah worked tha nearest magpe o’er till he tole me where it wa’ foond. Said he took it off’n a searat.
Ah spent tha better part o’ six seasons sarchin’ searat ships fer anae soign o’ her. Tha hares’ve been a great help; ne’er actually got te Salamandastron, but if’n Ah do, Ah’m gonna tell that laird he’s doin’ someat right. They got me onte tha ships te talk te tha oarslaves, whene’er we had tha opportunity te. Ah finally foond a clue when we rescued an escaped slave. But…
*Geordie hesitates as if he is unsure what to say next.* It wa’ too late, ye kenn? *Tears are visible in his eye, but like any stoic Highlander, he hasn’t let them spill over.* She kept gi’en her rations te tha other slaves. Said she was foine te do wi’out, seein’ as she was cook’s prentice an’ nae oarslave. She got too weak, an’ caught a fever nursin’ some o’ tha ole ones through a plague.
Tha hares headed back to their mountain, an’ who could blame ‘em? Sartainly nae meself *Geordie shrugged, passing a paw over his eyes.* But Ah couldnae rest wi’out foindin’ tha blaggards that did this.
An’ Ah did *he nodded grimly, paw straying to where his dirk rested at his side.* Don’t recall much else, after that, cept bits an’ pieces o’ tha fight. What Ah do ken is that Ah took on tha whole crew, an’ wi’ nobbut a little aid frae the slaves, slew every…last…one. Then Ah made me way here, an’ ye ken the rest better than meself.
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on Jul 31, 2009 7:51:22 GMT
*Ashnel grins back at the grey squirrel.* Well, don't let me interrupt. *He pushes the door closed and helps himself to an oatcake before leaning against the wall to listen quietly.* *As Geordie's explaination draws to a close, there is a long pause. Kael's gaze is fixed on the table and his jaw, Ashnel notes, is tightly clenched, his head resting on one paw and making the otter look far older than he is. Finally, Terragon - whose eyes Ashnel has been avoiding - speaks.* I'm so sorry, Geordie... *She feels an ache of sadness for a squirrel she's never even known and perhaps might, if it had not been for the braveness Geordie described, have been jealous of. But hearing the grey squirrel speak of her, Terragon finds it impossible to muster any emotions other than admiration and sadness for Thistlerose. She looks over at Ashnel but, accidentally meeting the dark squirrel's eyes, turns her gaze away and does not glance at him again. His tale can be told when the quiet atmosphere of the room is broken.*
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Post by Geordie Brushtail on Jul 31, 2009 21:33:09 GMT
*Geordie sits awhile in quiet thought, then shakes his head as if drawing himself back to the present. He reaches one paw out, lightly taking Terragon's in his. As if drawing some kind of inner strength from this, a smile--a genuine, honest, lopsided Geordie grin--spreads across his face and he looks around at the company.*
Och, an' ye look loike some wee stoatkin's gone an' spit in yore holiday puddin', so ye do. Nae worries, there's a big ole broight patch in tha Tragic Tale o' Geordie Brush. *His voice carries no hint of false joviality, only sincere affection. More quietly, as if he is talking only to her, he turns to Terragon and says,* Twas duty more than anaethin' ought that drove me te search fer her. She was a Brushtail, at tha end; an' one under moi protection. That's what brought me south--that an me mither's notion that Ah needed a change.
Ah owed it te her, te foind her, and seek a highlander's justice fer her. Tha entoire toime Ah was gone, tho, me heart was someplace else, ye ken?
*He reaches out and takes her other paw in is free one, clasping both of them together and speaking earnestly.* It was here, wi' tha Braw Terri.
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on Aug 1, 2009 10:49:28 GMT
*Terragon nods mutely and with a faint smile rests her head against Geordie's shoulder, forgetting to glare at Ashnel as he reaches past her to take a second oatcake from the table.*
Perhaps Ashnel could tell us about his journey too? *Kael suggests after a pause, instantly regretting vocalizing the idea. Ashnel looks away and Terragon frowns slightly, though she cannot quite bring herself to comment.* Perhaps later, then, *Kael mutters hastily, his voice thick with embarrassment.* How's your footpaw faring, Geordie? We could show you around St. Ninian's today if you're convinced it's alright, though you must tell me if it gets any worse, *He adds, ever the healer, as he begins to collect up his and Terragon's plates.*
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