Here we are RP

[Jukka the Sling]

Jukka's eyes widened as the food arrived.  It smelled absolutely amazing, and her stomach growled loudly in response.  There was so much, and most of it she didn't recognize from the series.  She stood up and helped arrange some of the food on their table, then sat down and waited impatiently for grace to be said.  There was a little more room for other Redwallers to sit at their table, but she kinda doubted anyone would join them.  She hoped she was wrong, since it would be cool to have a proper conversation with an actual woodlander.

[Jukka the Sling]

OOC: Yeah, double post, sorry.
BIC:

Jukka absently watched more Redwallers file into the room.  There were all the typical species, and she found it fascinating.  A large badger entered, and Jukka realized it must be Maurel.  Skarzs was bigger than her.

Just then, an ottermaid who had been helping pass out food came over and sat down at their table.

"Hello!" Jukka said.

"Hi," the otter said, looking between the four of them curiously.  She didn't strike Jukka as being scared of them, which was nice.

After a pause, Jukka volunteered, "I'm Jukka, and this is Dan, Cornflower, and Skarzs."

"Nice to meet you.  My name's Cress."  She paused, then continued, friendly, "So you're travelers?  How long'll you be staying here?"

[The Skarzs]

  Skarzs raised his paw in greeting to Cress. This otter seemed nice. "We probably won't stay too long. Maybe a week." Or a year.
  "A week?" Cress looked confused.
  Shoot, Skarzs thought. They didn't use weeks in Redwall, did they? "Ehm. . . Seven days?"
  "Oh. I see."
  Skarzs felt like he needed to suddenly lose the ability to speak so he wouldn't say stuff that would not make sense. He was saved for the moment by the Abbess ringing a bell and saying the grace, mentioning something about the guests (the four of them), then everyone went into the food with a gusto. As he stacked his plate high with food, Skarzs posed a question to Cress. "What's it like here at Redwall? Have you lived here your whole life?"

OOC: Sorry, didn't want to commandeer the scene or your character. Hope this works.
We don't have to stay with the lunch for too long.

[Jukka the Sling]

OOC:  You're fine!  Anyone can use her, I don't mind.
BIC:

"Most of it," Cress responded, filling her own plate with food.  "Me parents moved here with me when I was just a Dibbun - Dibbuns are what we Redwallers call the little 'uns - and I consider it home.  It's wonderful."  She paused and took a large bite of a cheesy-looking bread.

Jukka seized the opportunity to ask a question that had been lingering in the back of her mind.  "Oh, that's awesome.  Um, I was... wondering... how would you describe the, uh, general attitude towards 'vermin' here?"


OOC:  Skarzs (or whoever) can make Cress answer that.  I'd like to have Cress stay a pretty open-minded, genuine person, though.

[Cornflower MM]

Corn sat on the other side of Jukka, and had kept quiet, preferring to watch the dynamics of the Redwallers. She'd smiled and waved at Cress before piling her plate high with food. The squirrel didn't particularly want to butt into the conversation between Jukka and Cress either, although she followed it closely as she ate.

[The Skarzs]

OOC: Why you gotta make me do dis, Jukka?

BIC: Cress stopped chewing and looked at Jukka, but quickly looked away, and swallowed. She took a slow drink from a beaker before answering. "W-well, we've always been told t' be careful around verm- them. I've heard stories about the battles with badbeasts, but I've never seen any vermin my whole life."
  "A bit shut in, eh?" asked Skarzs.
  "Y'might say that." Cress smiled awkwardly. "But you seem nice, and at Redwall we always help creatures who come in peace." She paused, and looked over to the head table. "If y' want to ask someone who's fought before, talk to Skipper there. He's got all kinds o'stories."
  Skarzs looked over. A big male otter sitting with the Abbess was looking directly at them, but he turned away as soon as soon as he noticed the cougar. Fun, thought Skarzs. He wondered if he would approach Skipper before the otter confronted them.
  He turned back to Cress. "I might just do that. Hey, Cress, is there an Abbey warrior?"

[Jukka the Sling]

Jukka kept a neutral expression on her face as Cress awkwardly answered her.  She didn't blame the Redwallers for their beliefs, since vermin had historically always been the bad guys, but of course it was going to be troublesome for her and Skarzs.  At least Cress didn't seem to be too prejudiced herself.

"Oh, oka-- I see," was all Jukka said in response, stopping herself from saying the incongruous slang word in the nick of time.  She quickly reached for a plate and crammed random interesting-looking foods onto it and began eating as Skarzs talked to Cress.

"Hey, Cress, is there an Abbey warrior?" he finally asked.

Cress nodded, seeming a tiny bit less tense.  "Aye.  He's the Skipper's brother, Drakken."  She peered around the room.  "There he is, with his wife and kits at that corner table.  He's been Warrior for, what, 'bout three seasons now?  He's nice.  Hasn't had all that much warrior-in' to do so far, though."  She gave a laugh and took another huge bite of food, obviously not worried about manners.

[Dannflower Reguba]

       Dann heard his name mentioned at one point, but only had an absentminded hand raise and an oblivious, " 'Sup?" to offer. His mind mulled over the possible futures that existed and, more importantly, what their wisest course of action was. His ears twitched in response to what certainly didn't make that list. He quickly stepped on Skarz's foot under the table to get his attention, whispering so as not to alert the other members of the conversation, but still trying to catch the attention of his friends, "I wouldn't advise using derogatory phrases or descriptions, I can tell you from first hand experience that being called a shut-in does not endear one to another. As it stands, we know literally nothing outside of a handful of names, all those that we speak with at this point will be first impressions, so we need to prioritize courtesy if we're to make the most of what little we've got.... Also, Skarz.... How much of my foot did you even feel?" He returned to nibbling on his.... whatever it was, listening for feedback.

OOC: Assuming you felt it at all 

[Cornflower MM]

Corn brought her attention back to the table she was sitting at with a bit of effort when Cress pointed out Drakken. She thoughtfully took a bite of bread, subtly watching the otter Dibbuns. They're cute. Seem like a handful, too. She thought, taking another bite as Dann spoke up. "Very good point. We've gotta be careful with what we say and do, and try to be on our best behavior. Be friendly, and kind."
The squirrel felt a little absurd adding on to Dann's words, since she was the youngest and smallest of their group by far, and turned her attention back to her food.

[The Skarzs]

  "Well, I felt the little claws you've got on your toes," muttered Skarzs. He couldn't change what he said to Cress. Maybe it wasn't the most gentle thing to say, but he wasn't exactly velvet-tongued.
  He enjoyed the rest of his meal; Redwall fare was as good as he imagined it would be. Though, he wondered how long it would be until he would have meat again. It was probably not good practice to do that there
  He looked around and tried not to stare at the unfamiliar forms that were the inhabitants of Redwall. They were animals, mice, hedgehogs, squirrels, otters, moles. . . But not like the ones he new from his world. They were different, but very much recognizable as what they were. He knew it was rude to stare, but he couldn't help but be fascinated by them, like how someone would be fascinated by a deformed limb in the most innocent curiosity, but does not want to appear insensitive.
  Well, he thought. With everyone being like this, it'll be easier to look at and get used to.

[Jukka the Sling]

Drakken's kids looked adorable.  Jukka hoped the family was nice, because she kinda wanted to go meet them later.

She finished her heaped plate and relaxed in her seat as she studied the Redwallers around her.  They all were more... human-ish than normal animals, she finally realized consciously, which made her happy, as she'd never wanted to picture them as looking like regular animals - it would've been too weird.  And they all seemed to have British accents, just like in the books.  She wondered what Cress thought of their own American ones.

It was all so unreal and amazing.  She grinned at Corny across the table through pure, spontaneous excitement.  "Is it like you thought it would be?"



OOC:  Not sure where everyone's sitting in relationship to each other, but hopefully that's okay.

[The Skarzs]

  Skarzs ate his fill, then sat quietly looking around for a little while. Eventually, he got up, and headed over to the head table. Inside, he was nervous; he wanted to represent his friends properly, and make sure he didn't stress the hospitality they were being shown, and part of that, he thought, would be to talk to the leaders of Redwall face to face. He had done stuff like this before, right? So why were his palms sweaty every time he did it?
  It was hard for anyone to miss the cougar going toward the Abbess's table, and so heads turned, and the mouse, the badger, and the otter all watched him approach. He stopped a fee feet away and looked at them, swallowing before smiling. "Thank you very much for letting us eat here," he said. "It was very good."
  "Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it," replied Abbess Lessia. "We pride ourselves here at Redwall for always being able to provide enough food."
  Skarzs smiled in response, then looked at the Skipper. He extended his paw. "My name's Skarzs; Cress over there said you were the Skipper of otters."
  The otter didn't shake his hand, leaving it hanging there in front of his face. He looked at Skarzs dead in the eyes, and didn't look away. Uh oh, Skarzs thought.
  Badgermum Maurel reached across the table and took Skarzs's paw with a laugh. "Don't mind Skipper; he's not one for strangers. I'm Maurel, the resident badger. Lessia tells me you and your friends saved the mouse Andrew from some vermin. I'm glad somebeast like you is willing to help like that."
  The cougar smiled awkwardly. "Yeah. . . Just. . . Doing what we should."  He cleared his throat. "I know you probably 've never seen a group like my friends. . ." Who was he kidding, of course not. "So I'm glad you let us in. Vermin aren't usually very friendly here, huh?"
  Skipper snorted. "Like you'd know."
  "I'm sorry, sir, I do, but I'm not like that, and neither is Jukka." Skarzs felt a little dizzy after talking like that to the Skipper, but went on. "I know we haven't really earned it, but I'd like to ask if you'd let us stay here. I don't know how long we'll be here, but we'll be happy to help in any way we can to repay you." Was he being too awkward? He hoped not.
  Lessia looked at Maurel and Skipper, then back to Skarzs. "Yes, you may stay. We'll have some beds prepared for you."

[Cornflower MM]

OOC: Sorry, didn't mean to leave ya hangin' for so long, Jukka. BIC:

Corn had just taken a bite of cheese when Jukka asked her if it was like she imagined, and the squirrel hastily chewed and swallowed with a sheepish smile. "It's... Both different than what I would have expected and also very not. The food is much better than I could have dreamed of, but I never expected the Abbey to be laid out quite the way that it is. Everyone seems really nice, though, and I'm really excited to just explore, y'know?" Jukka's excitement was contagious and she grinned at her.
It was around then Skarzs stood up and Corn paused as she went to take a sip of ... Whatever it was that was in her cup. "Where's he going?"

[Jukka the Sling]

OOC:  It's fine.
BIC:


"Same!" Jukka replied.  She took a drink of what was apparently strawberry cordial.

Skarzs got up then and headed to a corner of the room.  "Where's he going?" Corn asked, and Jukka frowned, leaning around the end of the table to see past Cress's head.  (Cress hadn't said anything in a while - she was focusing on downing a large bowl of soup.)  "I dunno.  Oh... he's talking to the Abbess?  And Maurel, the badger?  And Skipper?"  She couldn't hear what they were saying through the chatter of the other Redwallers, but Skipper's expression didn't appear very friendly.  Maurel seemed to be polite, though.

Cress looked over and shook her head.  "Skipper can be a gruff sort when it comes to strangers," she said apologetically.  She gathered her and Jukka's empty dishes into a stack and got to her footpaws.  "I'm on kitchen duty today.  Got to go.  Guess I'll see you all later."

"Yeah!  Nice talking to you," Jukka said with a smile.  She turned back towards Corn as the ottermaid left.  "Think we should go over there for moral support?" she asked, indicating Skarzs.

[Dannflower Reguba]

       "I think he should've said something before he went over there, I'm perfectly comfortable with speaking almost all of the time.... He looks like he's ready to pass out." Dann chuckled lightly at the thought, but there was something that was bugging him, "On the other hand, I'm hoping he comes back soon. Really not likin' how Skipper's lookin' at 'im." He entirely understood that their group would see some adversity, but this level of passive aggression, if it could even be called that at this stage, was beyond concerning. Hopefully Skarz had found out something that would clue them in on their purpose here, unlikely as it was.

OOC: I just wanted to mention something quick in regards to dibbuns reactions to vermin, in that they're traditionally not intimidated by them unless they have an immediate sense of mortal danger. I feel some of the interactions are being over-done, but that's just my two cents.