Sailing Away RPG - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Primrose Bolger · 02-20-2005, 06:13 PM

Sassy stood to the side, watching Falco strut into camp. ‘Hope it doesn’t rain,’ she muttered to herself. ‘Got his nose so far up in the air he’ll drown if it does.’ She hmmmph’d in satisfaction that despite his snotty ways, he was limping. ‘Serves him right!’ she snorted.

She watched as others went up to welcome him back. Her brother sounded sincere, and Bingo, well, he was downright overjoyed to see Falco. What ever was the matter with them? Falco was a rat. A rat who’d come back, but he was still a rat. She looked sideways at Falco as he stood with Bingo. ‘Nope!’ she said aloud, casting her gaze down to her toes as they wriggled in the dirt. ‘I just don’t like him.’

A little rock came rolling along in the dirt, stopping just short of her toes. Sassy raised her head . . .

Nurumaiel · 02-20-2005, 06:23 PM

Falco's heart was deeply warmed by Bingo's warm welcome. A smile played about his lips, bright and cheery despite its faintness. His smile was not faint from lack of good feeling towards Bingo, but rather because he was feeling faint himself, and he took full advantage of a tree that stood nearby, propping himself up against it. He would have dearly loved to sit down, but he would not let them see how exhausted he was.

"Thank you, Bingo," he said, and paused. "...for the berries," he added. In his heart he was more thankful for the words of kindness, but he was much too embarrassed to say anything about that. He had been afraid of the reaction that would be given when he returned. He had expected at the least dark scowls and angry mutterings, and more probably an open attack on him with sticks and fists. Bingo acted just to the contrary of all these imaginings, and it made him feel that perhaps it was so bad that he hadn't continued on to Sarn Ford. Maybe he could be reconciled with the others yet.

piosenniel · 02-20-2005, 06:48 PM

Sam

‘I heard what you said,’ Sam said to Sassy. ‘It wasn’t very nice.’ He bent down and picked the rock up. With an easy flick of his wrist he sent it sailing through the branches of a nearby tree. ‘He is kind of stuck up and puffed up at times. But that’s just the way he is. Other times he’s a lot of fun. Got a lot of good ideas for games and such. Really sticks up for his friends in a pinch.’ He looked sideways at Sassy to see if she were listening at all. ‘Gotta take the good with the bad, don’t you?’

His stomach rumbled as if making a comment of its own. ‘Look . . . I’m not the greatest fellow either when I don’t get enough to eat. I can get really grouchy . . . really, really grouchy. I’m not very nice to be around. I’m a real pain. I know, ‘cause some of my friends have told me so. But they don’t turn their backs on me. They just tell me to knock it off . . . And throw me an apple or something, too,’ he grinned.

‘Come on over with me and say “hi”. Or if you can’t do that just come over with me and keep quiet if that’s what you want to do. Come on . . . you want to be part of the group . . . come on, Sassy . . .’

Sam ambled over to where Falco stood. He lifted his chin to the returnee and then nodded his head. ‘Glad you made it back, Falco.’ He looked to the right and left of Falco and grinned. ‘Didn’t bring anything good back to eat . . . did you?’

Primrose Bolger · 02-21-2005, 02:20 PM

Sassy wasn’t sure what to do. She didn’t really like Falco . . . and for two very good reasons she thought. He didn’t like her and had wanted to send her back all by herself . . . and he was mean to Sondo. Sneakingly mean and outright mean, too. And despite what Sam had told her about Falco being a fun companion most of the time, she just couldn’t think how she might see him in this way.

On the other hand, she quite liked Sam. And she’d listened carefully to what he’d said to her.

Now he was walking toward Falco, having urged her to come with him. She scuffed her feet in frustration and chewed on the edge of her bottom lip as she watched his retreating back. ‘Go on Sass,’ she told herself. ‘You can hang behind Sam.’

Her little feet hurried to catch up with her friend. She hid behind him as he spoke with Falco, and once, when Falco glanced her way as Sam moved about, she nodded at him in a non-committal manner. Her face carefully neutral . . . or as neutral as a spirited little eleven year old girl can keep her expression. Sassy’s eyes flashed as Falco looked away, and he resumed talking once again to Sam. Careful to keep quiet she looked at him quite pointedly. ‘I’ve got my eye on you, Falco Brandybuck,’ she thought to herself. ‘Both of them! No matter what Sam thinks of you.’

Nurumaiel · 02-21-2005, 04:16 PM

Falco looked from Sam to Sassy. On the one hand, there was Sam, with a smile as kind as Bingo's had been. On the other hand, there was Sassy, and while her face showed no open emnity, he could guess exactly what she was thinking about him. And why shouldn't she? He had been rotten to her brother. That is to say, her brother had been rotten to him, so he had left.

There was a twinge of his conscience, and a realisation that he tried to stomp down. It was becoming plainer to him with each passing moment that he, Falco Brandybuck, had been the one in the wrong, and that it would be his duty to apologise. He would not apologise. He was not wrong.

He turned to Sam, smiling that faint smile once again, and this time it had a rueful look about it.

"I'm afraid I don't have any food, Sammy," he said. "Reggie and I ran out of food some time back, and even if there had been some food left... I lost my pack."

The tones in which he addressed Sam were very comradely. He had always been annoyed at the other lad's grouchiness, but since that first day when the hobbits were all sent floundering in the water, and Falco had pulled Sam out, and the latter had thanked him most graciously... well, Falco didn't feel quite so annoyed with Sam now. Least of all now, when he was giving him a warm, kind welcome!

As for Reggie... Falco had been fully intending to make Reggie feel his bitterness at the desertion by remaining coldly silent towards him, and every so often casting him reproachful glances, but Bingo's words had sent the plan from his mind. After all, Reggie had been the only one to follow him the first place. And they had been out of food.

Falco was not at all prepared to apologise, but he was feeling kind-hearted enough now to give a shaky smile and say: "It's nice to see you again, lads."

Firefoot · 02-21-2005, 05:14 PM

Sondo was taken slightly aback by how warmly Falco was received by the others. Sure, it was one thing to be friendly to him, but this? One would think Falco had been separated from them accidentally rather than striking off on his own, abandoning them all. Sondo said nothing, however; he did not care for another argument, and if he started it, they might side with Falco this time. What they would do, he wasn’t sure, but ultimately he wanted them united, and with him as leader. Still, he couldn’t help but wish that they were at least a little bit more hostile... like Sassy, he thought, noting his sister’s attitude. While not openly unfriendly, she was certainly the least welcoming of the bunch. Falco had noticed it, too, as had some of the others. The corners of his mouth twitched upwards. He had an idea.

He put a scowl on his face and directed it at Sassy, as if annoyed with her for not being more welcome. It was easy enough - he had plenty of practice being angry with her. “Sassy,” he said gruffly, “Come with me for a moment.” He didn’t say it loudly, but sometimes the lower voice drew more attention. He knew the other hobbits had heard, whether they acknowledged it or not. For a moment Sondo thought Sassy would refuse (how like her! he thought. Just when I really need her.), but at a look from him she followed after.

A little ways away he murmured, “It’s an act. Play along.” He took her far enough so that he knew they were out of earshot, by not out of view. Everything about his posture and gestures would suggest he was giving her an upbraiding.

“Listen closely, Sassy,” he said softly. “I can tell you don’t trust Falco. Neither do I at this point, though they do, seemingly.” He gestured off towards them in case any were watching. “But I can’t act upon those mistrusts. It’s my job to keep them all together and get us home. But you - you’re ‘just’ the little sister that isn’t even supposed to be here in the first place. They probably expect a wrong word from you, and that mistrust doesn’t seem so out of place coming from you. They don’t pay as much attention to you; they’ll probably say things around you that they might not around me. I’m not so sure that Falco isn’t up to something - you may have noticed, he hasn’t apologized yet, or even said anything to me except the general greeting to everyone.” Sondo knew he was running a risk by confiding in Sassy like this, but based on the others’ reactions to Falco, he didn’t trust any of them with something like this. “I want you to keep an eye on Falco for me, let me know if he does anything that seems suspicious, okay? And, please, be discrete about it. If they suspect... just don’t draw attention. If you need to, wake me up during your watch at night. Okay?”

Primrose Bolger · 02-22-2005, 03:11 PM

As Sondo was talking to her, Sassy grew a little irritated. Here he was wanting her help and saying all the wrong things. Did he really think she wanted to be reminded that she was ‘just the little sister’ and that she wasn’t really supposed to be here at all. Sometimes he was so annoying!

The sincerity of his request did sink in as he talked on. And she began to soften a bit, because in her heart she agreed with him. Falco was a sneak, big rat. And she was going to keep her eye on him anyway. Her impish nature, however, was not going to let her agree to Sondo’s plan so readily. He was her big brother after all. And how many chances did she get to make him squirm a little. A mischievous twinkle glinted in her eyes as she raised her grimy face up to him.

‘Well . . . I could help you. ‘Cause you’re right, no one really takes too much notice of me. But . . . why should I help you?’ She put on a sour face and planted her hands on her hips. ‘What are you gonna do for me?’ She let him stew a bit, then threw out an offer.

Sassy pulled her little sling from her pocket. ‘You know . . . when we lost the raft and all got dunked in the river, I lost all my nice round stones for my sling. And we’ve been walking along so fast, I haven’t really had time to find many new ones.’ She pointed with her chin toward the area beyond their little camp. ‘Four eyes are better than two, Gran always says. And it wouldn’t take as long to get more stones if you came along.’ She looked up at him expectantly. ‘So . . . fair trade? You help me first, then I’ll help you . . .?’ She started toward the outskirts of their camp. ‘Come on!’

02-20-2005, 06:13 PM	#1
Primrose Bolger Wight Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Near Bywater Pool Posts: 196	Sassy stood to the side, watching Falco strut into camp. ‘Hope it doesn’t rain,’ she muttered to herself. ‘Got his nose so far up in the air he’ll drown if it does.’ She hmmmph’d in satisfaction that despite his snotty ways, he was limping. ‘Serves him right!’ she snorted. She watched as others went up to welcome him back. Her brother sounded sincere, and Bingo, well, he was downright overjoyed to see Falco. What ever was the matter with them? Falco was a rat. A rat who’d come back, but he was still a rat. She looked sideways at Falco as he stood with Bingo. ‘Nope!’ she said aloud, casting her gaze down to her toes as they wriggled in the dirt. ‘I just don’t like him.’ A little rock came rolling along in the dirt, stopping just short of her toes. Sassy raised her head . . . Last edited by Primrose Bolger; 02-20-2005 at 11:54 PM.

02-20-2005, 06:23 PM	#2
Nurumaiel Vice of Twilight Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: on a mountain Posts: 1,121	Falco's heart was deeply warmed by Bingo's warm welcome. A smile played about his lips, bright and cheery despite its faintness. His smile was not faint from lack of good feeling towards Bingo, but rather because he was feeling faint himself, and he took full advantage of a tree that stood nearby, propping himself up against it. He would have dearly loved to sit down, but he would not let them see how exhausted he was. "Thank you, Bingo," he said, and paused. "...for the berries," he added. In his heart he was more thankful for the words of kindness, but he was much too embarrassed to say anything about that. He had been afraid of the reaction that would be given when he returned. He had expected at the least dark scowls and angry mutterings, and more probably an open attack on him with sticks and fists. Bingo acted just to the contrary of all these imaginings, and it made him feel that perhaps it was so bad that he hadn't continued on to Sarn Ford. Maybe he could be reconciled with the others yet. Last edited by Nurumaiel; 02-21-2005 at 04:01 PM.

02-20-2005, 06:48 PM	#3
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Sam ‘I heard what you said,’ Sam said to Sassy. ‘It wasn’t very nice.’ He bent down and picked the rock up. With an easy flick of his wrist he sent it sailing through the branches of a nearby tree. ‘He is kind of stuck up and puffed up at times. But that’s just the way he is. Other times he’s a lot of fun. Got a lot of good ideas for games and such. Really sticks up for his friends in a pinch.’ He looked sideways at Sassy to see if she were listening at all. ‘Gotta take the good with the bad, don’t you?’ His stomach rumbled as if making a comment of its own. ‘Look . . . I’m not the greatest fellow either when I don’t get enough to eat. I can get really grouchy . . . really, really grouchy. I’m not very nice to be around. I’m a real pain. I know, ‘cause some of my friends have told me so. But they don’t turn their backs on me. They just tell me to knock it off . . . And throw me an apple or something, too,’ he grinned. ‘Come on over with me and say “hi”. Or if you can’t do that just come over with me and keep quiet if that’s what you want to do. Come on . . . you want to be part of the group . . . come on, Sassy . . .’ Sam ambled over to where Falco stood. He lifted his chin to the returnee and then nodded his head. ‘Glad you made it back, Falco.’ He looked to the right and left of Falco and grinned. ‘Didn’t bring anything good back to eat . . . did you?’ Last edited by piosenniel; 02-21-2005 at 01:08 AM.

02-21-2005, 02:20 PM	#4
Primrose Bolger Wight Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Near Bywater Pool Posts: 196	Sassy wasn’t sure what to do. She didn’t really like Falco . . . and for two very good reasons she thought. He didn’t like her and had wanted to send her back all by herself . . . and he was mean to Sondo. Sneakingly mean and outright mean, too. And despite what Sam had told her about Falco being a fun companion most of the time, she just couldn’t think how she might see him in this way. On the other hand, she quite liked Sam. And she’d listened carefully to what he’d said to her. Now he was walking toward Falco, having urged her to come with him. She scuffed her feet in frustration and chewed on the edge of her bottom lip as she watched his retreating back. ‘Go on Sass,’ she told herself. ‘You can hang behind Sam.’ Her little feet hurried to catch up with her friend. She hid behind him as he spoke with Falco, and once, when Falco glanced her way as Sam moved about, she nodded at him in a non-committal manner. Her face carefully neutral . . . or as neutral as a spirited little eleven year old girl can keep her expression. Sassy’s eyes flashed as Falco looked away, and he resumed talking once again to Sam. Careful to keep quiet she looked at him quite pointedly. ‘I’ve got my eye on you, Falco Brandybuck,’ she thought to herself. ‘Both of them! No matter what Sam thinks of you.’

02-21-2005, 04:16 PM	#5
Nurumaiel Vice of Twilight Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: on a mountain Posts: 1,121	Falco looked from Sam to Sassy. On the one hand, there was Sam, with a smile as kind as Bingo's had been. On the other hand, there was Sassy, and while her face showed no open emnity, he could guess exactly what she was thinking about him. And why shouldn't she? He had been rotten to her brother. That is to say, her brother had been rotten to him, so he had left. There was a twinge of his conscience, and a realisation that he tried to stomp down. It was becoming plainer to him with each passing moment that he, Falco Brandybuck, had been the one in the wrong, and that it would be his duty to apologise. He would not apologise. He was not wrong. He turned to Sam, smiling that faint smile once again, and this time it had a rueful look about it. "I'm afraid I don't have any food, Sammy," he said. "Reggie and I ran out of food some time back, and even if there had been some food left... I lost my pack." The tones in which he addressed Sam were very comradely. He had always been annoyed at the other lad's grouchiness, but since that first day when the hobbits were all sent floundering in the water, and Falco had pulled Sam out, and the latter had thanked him most graciously... well, Falco didn't feel quite so annoyed with Sam now. Least of all now, when he was giving him a warm, kind welcome! As for Reggie... Falco had been fully intending to make Reggie feel his bitterness at the desertion by remaining coldly silent towards him, and every so often casting him reproachful glances, but Bingo's words had sent the plan from his mind. After all, Reggie had been the only one to follow him the first place. And they had been out of food. Falco was not at all prepared to apologise, but he was feeling kind-hearted enough now to give a shaky smile and say: "It's nice to see you again, lads."

02-21-2005, 05:14 PM	#6
Firefoot Illusionary Holbytla Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 7,547	Sondo was taken slightly aback by how warmly Falco was received by the others. Sure, it was one thing to be friendly to him, but this? One would think Falco had been separated from them accidentally rather than striking off on his own, abandoning them all. Sondo said nothing, however; he did not care for another argument, and if he started it, they might side with Falco this time. What they would do, he wasn’t sure, but ultimately he wanted them united, and with him as leader. Still, he couldn’t help but wish that they were at least a little bit more hostile... like Sassy, he thought, noting his sister’s attitude. While not openly unfriendly, she was certainly the least welcoming of the bunch. Falco had noticed it, too, as had some of the others. The corners of his mouth twitched upwards. He had an idea. He put a scowl on his face and directed it at Sassy, as if annoyed with her for not being more welcome. It was easy enough - he had plenty of practice being angry with her. “Sassy,” he said gruffly, “Come with me for a moment.” He didn’t say it loudly, but sometimes the lower voice drew more attention. He knew the other hobbits had heard, whether they acknowledged it or not. For a moment Sondo thought Sassy would refuse (how like her! he thought. Just when I really need her.), but at a look from him she followed after. A little ways away he murmured, “It’s an act. Play along.” He took her far enough so that he knew they were out of earshot, by not out of view. Everything about his posture and gestures would suggest he was giving her an upbraiding. “Listen closely, Sassy,” he said softly. “I can tell you don’t trust Falco. Neither do I at this point, though they do, seemingly.” He gestured off towards them in case any were watching. “But I can’t act upon those mistrusts. It’s my job to keep them all together and get us home. But you - you’re ‘just’ the little sister that isn’t even supposed to be here in the first place. They probably expect a wrong word from you, and that mistrust doesn’t seem so out of place coming from you. They don’t pay as much attention to you; they’ll probably say things around you that they might not around me. I’m not so sure that Falco isn’t up to something - you may have noticed, he hasn’t apologized yet, or even said anything to me except the general greeting to everyone.” Sondo knew he was running a risk by confiding in Sassy like this, but based on the others’ reactions to Falco, he didn’t trust any of them with something like this. “I want you to keep an eye on Falco for me, let me know if he does anything that seems suspicious, okay? And, please, be discrete about it. If they suspect... just don’t draw attention. If you need to, wake me up during your watch at night. Okay?”

02-22-2005, 03:11 PM	#7
Primrose Bolger Wight Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Near Bywater Pool Posts: 196	As Sondo was talking to her, Sassy grew a little irritated. Here he was wanting her help and saying all the wrong things. Did he really think she wanted to be reminded that she was ‘just the little sister’ and that she wasn’t really supposed to be here at all. Sometimes he was so annoying! The sincerity of his request did sink in as he talked on. And she began to soften a bit, because in her heart she agreed with him. Falco was a sneak, big rat. And she was going to keep her eye on him anyway. Her impish nature, however, was not going to let her agree to Sondo’s plan so readily. He was her big brother after all. And how many chances did she get to make him squirm a little. A mischievous twinkle glinted in her eyes as she raised her grimy face up to him. ‘Well . . . I could help you. ‘Cause you’re right, no one really takes too much notice of me. But . . . why should I help you?’ She put on a sour face and planted her hands on her hips. ‘What are you gonna do for me?’ She let him stew a bit, then threw out an offer. Sassy pulled her little sling from her pocket. ‘You know . . . when we lost the raft and all got dunked in the river, I lost all my nice round stones for my sling. And we’ve been walking along so fast, I haven’t really had time to find many new ones.’ She pointed with her chin toward the area beyond their little camp. ‘Four eyes are better than two, Gran always says. And it wouldn’t take as long to get more stones if you came along.’ She looked up at him expectantly. ‘So . . . fair trade? You help me first, then I’ll help you . . .?’ She started toward the outskirts of their camp. ‘Come on!’