Caught on the stairs

[Prankster101]

The noonday sun shone softly through the opened windows at Redwall Abbey. The birds were singing their beautiful songs as they flirted back and forth in the sunshine. The pink cherry blossoms opened wide, filling the air with their sweet sent as the joys of spring awakened from their long winter's sleep. The Abbey dwellers were finishing up a perfectly prepared lunch in the orchard and were going their separate ways, many to take a nap in the sun on a full stomach. Travioso Trueflight didn't have that idea. He peeped his head out the open window in the staircase one last time to see the creatures dispersing. He chuckled quietly to himself. T'is is gonna ta be good, he thought. Then he turned back to his task. He was plastering glue all over the stair in front of him and sprinkling it with stone dust he found in the cellars. He couldn't wait until some unlucky creature decided to take a afternoon nap in the dormitories. He was so concentrated on his little joke that he didn't hear the light sound of a creature calmly walking on the stairs behind him until it was too late. He knew they were there and that he was caught in the act. The creature let out a light cough to get Travi's attention and he turned around slowly, sulking like a dibbun caught with their paws in a cookie jar.

[Tirael]

Brush crossed his arms and gave the young sea otter a reproachful face. He hadn't seen Travi at lunch, and knowing him, he had expected something like this. "Well, Travi, since you've probably had this conversation with a dozen adults, I suppose I don't need to give you it again. We can just skip straight to the punishment." Leaning over the crouching 'convict', he snatched the small jar of glue and set it on the windowsill, away from Travi's immediate reach. "Now, let's see what'll work, hm?"
______________________________

As various Redwallers wandered back to their chores, Tirael was the only one immediately heading for the stairs to the dormitories and the infirmary. As he climbed, he began hearing something up ahead:

"...and once you're done in the kitchen, you can go clean out the gatehouse. Should take up a nice few hours."

Sounded like somebody was being chewed out...best to avoid that. Shifting over to the edge of the stairway, he was only a little surprised when he saw it was Travioso. Wonder what he did this time... he thought, moving to sidle past Brush and continue up the stairs.

"Just be glad that I caught you before anybo-Tir, don't!" Even though Brush shot out his arm to try and block the infirmary keeper from going any further, it was too late; Tirael's right footpaw was firmly on the booby-trapped step. The look on the otter's flashed concern as he said, "Why, what's the matt-" Concern changed to confusion as he tried to move off of the step. Slowly, his eyes narrowed and he stopped tugging. "TRAVI..." he hissed through clenched teeth.

[Prankster101]

*laughing hysterically* Thanks Tirael! Nice! LOL!!!!

"Well, Travi, since you've probably had this conversation with a dozen adults, I suppose I don't need to give you it again. We can just skip straight to the punishment."

Travi winced as the glue bottle was taken from him. It was bad enough that he was caught, but it was even worse to be caught by a warrior of Redwall. So he slouched against the wall to blankly stare and pretend like he is listening to the talk he always gets.

"Now, let's see what'll work, hm?"
________________________________________

"TRAVI..."


Travi burst out in a gruff otter laugh, his hat slipping over his right ear, and his arms clutching side sides.

"Hahahahahaha..Ooooooo...Hahahaha..Dat's gad matey...Dat's ta gad.....Hahahahahahaha....I lov' dis..Hahahahaha!"

[Tirael]

"Hahahahahaha..Ooooooo...Hahahaha..Dat's gad matey...Dat's ta gad.....Hahahahahahaha....I lov' dis..Hahahahaha!"

Tirael glared at the laughing Travi, just about prepared to strangle him. Brush, noting the murderous look in the infirmary keeper's eyes, stepped in to try and defuse the situation. "Well, since Tirael here was the one unfortunate enough to be your victim, it seems fair that he should be compensated somehow...Tir, what do you need help with in the sickbay?"

Though still seething, Tirael tried to come up with an answer to the squirrel's question. The truth of it was that there wasn't much; there were never very many creatures in the infirmary. In fact, he was usually alone there for most of the day, so he had plenty of time to do whatever he needed. Of course, why make Travi do something relevant when he could have an entire day wasted with pointless and mind-numbing activities?

"Well, for starters, he could dust off all those old jars and bottles in the cabinets. The floor could use a nice scrubbing, too. Might be more, I'd have to check." Nodding, Brush turned back to Travi and gave him a shrug. "Well, that settles it then. From dawn to dusk tomorrow, you do whatever he tells you to. Got it?" He started down the stairs, but stopped and turned. "Oh, and Travi..." Fixing him with a stern look, he said, "If you try to pull anything while you're in the infirmary..." Sliding his finger over his neck in the 'you're gonna get it' gesture, he turned and continued downward, finally releasing the smile he'd been suppressing since Tirael had gotten stuck.

Tirael watched forlornly as the squirrel left. What was he supposed to do stuck to the stairs!?

[Prankster101]

Travi shut his mouth, when he got that murderous glare from Tireal. Although he had to put a paw about his mouth to kept it shut.

"Well, for starters, he could dust off all those old jars and bottles in the cabinets. The floor could use a nice scrubbing, too. Might be more, I'd have to check."

Travi rolled his eyes. Was there anything more boring that Tireal could make him do? But then he had and idea, and continued to look bored out of his mind, while his thoughts turned with machine like procession with a devious plot.

"If you try to pull anything while you're in the infirmary..."

Travi nodded very seriously to Brush, however he knew that Brush would never kill him. The worst he would do is try and ground him for a season, or something like that. His real thoughts included a plot to having fun for today and tomorrow, no matter that Brush said. When Brush had walked out of sight he turned to Tirael with a mischievous grin.

"Well, mate. It be a lookin' dat yer stuck...Beafore ah ga ta da yer bidin' in da infirmary, wauld ye like some help der?"

[Tirael]

"Well, mate. It be a lookin' dat yer stuck...Beafore ah ga ta da yer bidin' in da infirmary, wauld ye like some help der?"

Despite Travi's smug grin, Tirael knew he'd have to relent and accept his help. Opening his mouth to respond, he stopped as a mousemaid came into view. She stopped, looked at Travi, looked at Tirael's awkwardly placed footpaw, looked at Tirael...and stepped over the glued step. A short bit after she disappeared farther up, the healer could hear her laughing.

Turning to Travi, he said, "Make it quick. Please." It was already awkward enough talking to others when they hadn't seen you glued to a staircase...

[Elicia]

Brightly was walking quickly-though he didn't know where. He stopped when he saw all of the creatures gathered around the stairs. "Stuck, Tirael? Sorry about that, what's got ye?" He was still smiling, just beaming at everyone the little mouse saw. "Well, I'd love to be of some help, but I'm afraid that I've got flour on me paws. Helping out in the kitchen, you understand, and I like to look like I'm working! Don't suppose I would be of much help, anyways. I'm not a strongbeast, like some!"

[Tirael]

"Stuck, Tirael? Sorry about that, what's got ye?"

Tirael hadn't noticed Brightly's approach, and as such was a little surprised. Turning to look too quickly, he lost his balance, and only managed to prevent himself from falling and twisting his ankle by making a rather undignified grab at the windowsill. Pulling himself back up to a stable level, he gave an embarrassed, unhappy laugh. "Uhh...glue."

"Well, I'd love to be of some help, but I'm afraid that I've got flour on me paws. Helping out in the kitchen, you understand, and I like to look like I'm working! Don't suppose I would be of much help, anyways. I'm not a strongbeast, like some!"

To be honest, the otter healer was lost by the sudden explosion of words from Brightly, an odd sensation, considering that the mouse was usually the one that ended up being confused. Blinking, he could only manage a very bewiledered, "...uh?"

At this point, he just wanted the blessed seclusion of the infirmary.

[Prankster101]

Travi paused in confusion for a minute trying to recall all that Brightly had said, but then shook his head with the realization that he probably would never understand and turned to Tirael, pulling out a knife of his.

"Well, matey, Ah'd lov' ta be o' service by 'elpin' takin' da glue off wit' me beautiful blade 'ere, but ah 'ave all o' this work ta da, and naw time ta help ye." He smiled evilly. "Mahbe we can be proper gentlebeasts and figure somet'in aut. Like, say, na wark tamarraw? Wat ya say mate, ar da ya want ta stay 'ere, wit' Brightly who says 'e can't 'elp ye?"

He spun the knife in his paws till the blade became a spinning circle of silver, and stopped suddenly, flipping it in the air and because of the brief motion it landed back safely in Travi's belt.

Travi then stared back at Brightly who was still smiling..."Wat be ye lookin' at?!?!"

[Elicia]

Brightly was staring at Travi. "Nothing, nothing, nothing at all!" He smiled jovially. "Just wondering...who could get the young Master's foot off of the stairs...That was a cool trick you did with you knife!" Brightly patted his robe, searching for something.
"Oh, well. Seems I've lost it. Oh well!" The mouse smiled at everyone. "Hello, hello? Did I really lose that? Oh, oh my!" He had been looking for his ladle, to show Travioso that he could do that trick too. However, being a forgetful mouse, he had misplaced it after leaving the kitchens. "We're having the most delicious dinner today! There's trifles, and pasties, and cakes, and soups....It'll be just wonderful! And I helped make it all!"

[Tirael]

"Well, matey, Ah'd lov' ta be o' service by 'elpin' takin' da glue off wit' me beautiful blade 'ere, but ah 'ave all o' this work ta da, and naw time ta help ye."

Tirael felt a little bit of dread in his gut as Travi smiled rather evilly. This couldn't be good...

"Mahbe we can be proper gentlebeasts and figure somet'in aut. Like, say, na wark tamarraw? Wat ya say mate, ar da ya want ta stay 'ere, wit' Brightly who says 'e can't 'elp ye?"

What? The healer couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You're trying to swindle me? Forget it! I'd rather be chained to these stairs for a week than give in to that!" The fact that there were several other abbeybeasts that could (and would) help him didn't hurt, either. It was only a matter of time, and even if Travi didn't cut the glue, it would dissolve and break naturally.

...eventually.

From now on, he was wearing his sandals inside the abbey as well as out.

"Wat be ye lookin' at?!?!"

"Nothing, nothing, nothing at all!" Just wondering...who could get the young Master's foot off of the stairs...That was a cool trick you did with you knife!"

Tirael slumped against the wall, feeling rather defeated. There was no way he was stooping to Travi's deal, but he really needed to get off these stairs...turning himself to face Brightly as best he could, he listened to the last of what the mouse was saying.

"We're having the most delicious dinner today! There's trifles, and pasties, and cakes, and soups....It'll be just wonderful! And I helped make it all!"

Smiling, Tirael said, "That's great, Brightly. I'm sure it will be." Biting his lip, he continued, "Hey...do you think you could do me a favor and get me some sorta knife? There's one in the infirmary that'd do quite nicely..."

[Prankster101]

Travi looked at Brightly like he could believe what he just said, then continued on.

" Ah ain't tryin' ta swindle ye mate. Ah tink it be a fair trade. Ma day off fer yer foot off da stairs."

"Hey...do you think you could do me a favor and get me some sorta knife? There's one in the infirmary that'd do quite nicely..."

"Ah, ah ah! Naw dat ain't bein' very nice matey. I was a offerin' ye help. Ta bad ye dan't need it" He stepped down a few steps and put his arms around Brightly. "Come on mate. Let's ga check out yer pasties. I'm sure since ye made dem dat dey are da best dere." Then he turned and winked at Tireal, "I'm sure somebeast whose strong like me can help 'im find 'is knife."

[Elicia]

Brightly, with a sudden fit of anger, shook Travi off. "Nobeast is going to touch my pasties, Travioso!" The mouse used Travi's full name, instead of Young Master or Travi as he usually did. "I've got goodbeasts guarding our supper, so don't you try anything!" His cooking was his one passion-and the little mouse wasn't going to let any creature interfere with his meals.

The mouse blinked, then smiled again. "Master Tirael, of course! Of course! I shall fetch your knife!" He bustled off towards the Infirmary.

[Tirael]

" Ah ain't tryin' ta swindle ye mate. Ah tink it be a fair trade. Ma day off fer yer foot off da stairs."

"Not on your life, Travi." Simple as that.

"I'm sure somebeast whose strong like me can help 'im find 'is knife."

Tirael just stared and shook his head in disbelief. This was just cruel, leaving a creature so easily embarrassed in this position. At least if he had a broom, he could pretend to be sweeping the stairs, although anybeast going back and forth on the stairs would have to wonder why he kept sweeping the same spot...

"Nobeast is going to touch my pasties, Travioso! I've got goodbeasts guarding our supper, so don't you try anything!"

The outburst was more than a little startling. Tirael had never seen Brightly mad; it was almost surreal. He nodded distractedly as the once-again-jovial mouse went off to the dormitory floor, rather confused by everything that was going on. At least the knife was coming his way, and the thought made him allow himself a brief smirk in Travi's direction. Slave-driving him tomorrow was going to be so fun...

[Prankster101]

"Nobeast is going to touch my pasties, Travioso!"

Travi threw his paws in the air. Stunned that the bright and cheery mouse could become that angry by "Pasties"! Maybe he had snitched one too many from the kitchens.....

"Master Tirael, of course! Of course! I shall fetch your knife!"

Travi muttered something to himself just quietly enough that Tirael couldn't comprehend what he was saying. This was not working out as planned. Brightly was too loyal and loud to be "accidentally" locked in a closet or something, so Tirael was defiantly getting a knife, and most likely getting off the stairs...and that means he would defiantly be working his rudder off tomorrow....He just had to think...Then Tirael smirked at him, and he got the best idea he had during this whole adventure. So he returned the smirk with an innocent looking smile.

"Ah, well mate. It looks like ye may be a gettin' off deis stairs after all...*fake yawn*...Ooo..Ah be tired after dis fun time."

He stretched his arms out, and with his rudder, knocked the glue jar that was sitting on the windowsill after Brush put it there, and it fell right next to Tirael's paw, plastering his foot in fresh, wet, glue.

"Ah, na matey. Ah'm saw sarry mate. Gad tin it didn't 'it yer paw. Ah, na, naw yer paw be covered in wet glue! Ye can't get a paw out o' glue dat's dry covered in glue dat's wet wit' a knife! Wat are we ta da mate?" He said with a look of pure innocence, that was fastly being replaced by and evil grin.

[Elicia]

Brightly got back from the Infirmary quickly. "Young Master! Young Master!" He called as he was bustling down the stairs. "I've found your knife, Young Master!" The mouse was going as fast as he could, and overshot himself a little. Ending up below Travi and Tirael, he looked up at them. "Ha! Haha, that was funny! I missed!" Brightly walked back up to the otter. "Here's your knife, Young Master!" However, seeing that Tirael's paw was stuck with new plaster, his eyes widened. "Ah!" He said, shocked. He recovered, then continued. "It's still wet! Pull your paw up, and you can get it off before it sets again! That way you won't be trapped with two paws instead of one!"

[Tirael]

"Ah, na matey. Ah'm saw sarry mate. Gad tin it didn't 'it yer paw. Ah, na, naw yer paw be covered in wet glue! Ye can't get a paw out o' glue dat's dry covered in glue dat's wet wit' a knife! Wat are we ta da mate?"

Tirael suppressed a look of horror, and in fact tried to not even look at the now much-more-trapped footpaw, not to think about it, not to react. After a moment, he couldn't resist a forlorn glance downward, before sighing and shaking his head. "I don't think you realize you're digging your own grave here. The more you bother me, the harder you work tomorrow. And don't think I'll be going soft on you."

Hearing Brightly rushing back down the stairs, Tirael turned to look. Holding out a paw expectantly, he watched first with anticipation, then confusion as the mouse passed them, turned around, and came back. One way or another, both Travioso and Brightly were making his situation more difficult. At least Brightly wasn't doing it on purpose.

"Here's your knife, Young Master!"

"Thank you!" he said hurriedly, taking the knife and bending down to free his footpaw. Sure, the extra glue would require extra cutting, but he was getting off this step, and it would be easier to do it before the glue hardened...

...not that it would be easy either way. Tirael was glad he was a healer, he already had some experience with careful incisions...

[Prankster101]

"I don't think you realize you're digging your own grave here. The more you bother me, the harder you work tomorrow. And don't think I'll be going soft on you."

"Aye, dat's what ye be a thinkin' mate...." Travi said in a low murmur. If Tirael was able to cut through the wet glue, he still had a back-up plan. Tirael couldn't work him if he couldn't find him.

"Here's your knife, Young Master!"

Travi growled at Brightly. He was not making things helpful to Travi. The mouse was kind and loyal, yes, yes, that was true, but
he was just being down right annoying. Travi knew Tirael had expert cutting skills being a healer, but no beast could cut through glue that quickly. Meanwhile he thought now would be the best time to take his applause and bow out....

"Ah mate, ah. ..Looks like ye got de situation handled then...Ah'll just be a goin' naw..."


(I don't plan on leaving the board, if anyone got that idea. I'm giving anyone the chance to catch him if that's what you'd like! )

[Elicia]

Brightly smiled. "Can you get your paws off, young master? I can get anything else if you need it!" His face was practically shining with happiness. Why...then? Brightly smiled even more, if that was possible. He didn't know. He didn't care. He wasn't even thinking about it as he watched Tirael with the knife. "Nothing else, then, young master?"

[Tirael]

"Ah mate, ah. ..Looks like ye got de situation handled then...Ah'll just be a goin' naw..."

Looking up sharply from his cutting, Tirael said, "Don't you da-" But it was too late. He sighed, but then he realized that the work wasn't starting until tomorrow anyways. Shaking his head, he resumed slicing through the glue.

"Nothing else, then, young master?"

Pausing again, the healer looked up at Brightly with a grateful expression. "No, this is all I needed. But thank you very much, Brightly." After a moment, he looked down and finished cutting. Nervously, he stood up and tested the paw. There were still a few bits of glue attaching him to the stairs, but a firm tug and they separated. He was free! Now he just had to decide whether to retreat to the infirmary or go after Travioso...

After a moment, he made a dismissive gesture at the stairs to the main floor. He'd had enough for one day. "S-see ya later, Brightly..." he said, his more timid personality taking over, as his anger had receded. Trudging up the rest of the stairs, he sighed and made his way to the infirmary.

[[That's about all I can think of to do in this thread. Sorry.]]