Lost At Home [Tag Much]

[Allan A Dale]

Allan was utterly, totally bored. Not a little bit bored, that could be rememdied with a nap or a leaf, or something to mess around with, but completely and utterly bored.

He'd already tried convincing John to go out to one of the villages with him, aware that a few members of the gang weren't too comfortable with him going off on his own, but the big man had refused and said that he needed his sleep, so the lump was napping in the corner of the camp. Will and Djaq were off God only knew where, as were Robin and Marian (though they, at least, had the courtesy to announce it and so make Allan aware that he had two less people to keep him entertained. whereas Will and Djaq had snuck off), which really only left Allan with one choice.

Not that it was a bad one, after all. He liked going and visiting Kate, she was a good laugh. He was just feeling a bit lazy and didn't really fancy walking all that way. One day, they were going to meet somewhere closer to the camp, to make it easier for him. Then again, she'd probably get in trouble with her dad.

The things he did for women, honestly.

Sighing, he got up, wiped a bit of leaf that had been determinedly sticking to his trousers for the last three days, attached his sword to his belt and his bow over his back, and wandered into the kitchen area of the camp, where Much seemed to live these days. He had briefly considered harrassing the former manservant, but he was so often intolerant of the thief that he couldn't be bothered today. Instead, he nodded a greeting and wandered over to the water barrel. He frowned. It was at least three quarters full, if not a little more, and that didn't really give him much of an excuse to go out and get some more, but he'd use it anyway. He picked up the bucket beside the barrel and grinned at Much.

"Going to get some more water, mate, be back in a bit alright?" he said, slapping the manservant on the back. Okay, so maybe he wanted to harrass him a little bit, but now he'd gotten the idea to go to Knighton, he wanted to get gone. "Seeya later."

[Much]

Much had been cutting and chopping and boiling and making. And generally occupying himself as the rest of the gang had disappeared. John, being John, was asleep in the corner and generally not being helpful. Much me a mental note to send him hunting after some rabbit when he woke. He didn’t like cooking squirrel, it didn’t taste great and all the gang did was complain. Will and Djaq were being unhelpful ‘collecting honey’ or whatever the hell it was they did. Robin and Marian were ‘hunting’, last time they went #hunting’ they’d come back with nothing apart from a few misplaced hairs. ’Yeah,’ Much thought, ’Hunting!’

Now Allan was looking like he was about to start bugging him. Something Much just wasn’t prepared to deal with – the man annoyed him. More than that, he brought out the worst of him. Ignoring things made them go away – ignoring Allan made him worse.

He didn’t say anything to Much, for which he was grateful. He merely went over to the three-quarter full barrel – Much knew this due to the fact that he had been the one to use it in his cooking. But that didn’t appear to deter Allan from using this as an excuse – what was he playing at?

”Going to do some more spying are we?” he said keeping his eyes on his cooking as Allan moved away from patting him on the back. He didn’t intend on irritating Allan. But he couldn’t really trust the guy. Sure in the Holy Lands he had had the decency to allow him the pleasure of their company. Occasionally making snide remarks about his betrayal ((a word Jen couldn’t think of and Shiloh had to give me XD)) and generally jesting about the ordeal – but that didn’t mean he rusted the man.

”Collecting water is one of those things!” he thought to himself before continuing to chop up the carrot he had in his hand. Collecting water would mean Knighton – if that was where he really was going – so what was in Knighton that interested Allan so much? There had never been anything there before – he always complained about it in fact. The point that Robin had occasionally used ‘Collecting Water’ then come back all stupidly smiley was completely beyond the point. Allan wouldn’t be going for Marian. So what was he going for?

(Let the euphemism fun begin!)

[Allan A Dale]

Allan rolled his eyes. He coulda gone out of there, nice and peaceful like, if Much could keep his trap shut. Of course, that wasn't likely to happen in this lifetime, was it? This was Much, after all. Allan turned back round and waved his arms out. "I don't really think the spying thing works if I'm not right here, Much," he replied sarcastically, waving a hand as if to dismiss the notion.

He knew why Much didn't trust him. He was a liar, he was a cheat, he was a born and bred thief whereas Much was all but a noble. He was just lacking the blood, and as soon as all of this was over, that wouldn't matter anyway because he'd have land and a title. Robin felt he owed him that much, and fair play to the pair - Much had gone all the way to the Holy Land to keep their suicidal nutjob of a leader alive, and Allan did respect that. But he could cut a guy a bit of slack. Allan was trying to make up for his past discrepancies, after all.

Allan raised an eyebrow. Much seemed awfully thoughtful. "Don't think too hard, mate, you might do some permanent damage and then where would we be?"

Deciding maybe it would be entertaining to taunt the man a little, Allan leant against the wall and crossed his arms. "Anyway, what's wrong with going to get some water, eh? What if we got trapped in here and all had to survive on just that barrel? Then you'd be thanking me for going and making sure it's all full and proper, eh?"

He walked back over and sniffed the pot. "What's for dinner tonight, squirrel?"

[Much]

”You know what I mean! You’re sneaking away to go and tell them everything we’re planning to do!” not that they were planning to do anything at this moment in time. There was nothing to plan for him to tell Gisborne about. But that was far beyond the point – there could be anything that Allan could be doing. Traitor or not. Going to Knighton for the same (ish) reason that Robin used to sneak off for – but nobody in their right mind would be stupid enough to be with an outlaw in such times. (She’s my character I can say what I want XD)

Much opened and closed his mouth, much like a fish at Allan’s next comment. If Much thought to much it would not do permanent damage. He thought all the time as it was – about keeping the group fed and well, and keeping them safe. That’s what he was there for. To be the fool in their plans to be the sidekick to the leader and generally annoy people into doing things. If Much wasn’t there most of them would just laze around camp instead of trying to avoid him and doing other things – apart from robin, who now seemed to lack in attention given to Much now Marian was around for good.

When Allan didn’t immediately leave – his desired effect not taking a hold this time around, Much inwardly groaned. ”If we got trapped in our camp it would be your fault because you’re a spy!” Much started, ”They’d only know where we were because you’d told them! And besides, three quarters of a barrel is more than enough to last us two days if I use it sparsely in cooking. Maybe even stretch to three because we won’t be doing any exercise so we will hardly need to quench our thirst will we?2 Much believed that he had a very valid point there. Whether he did or not, he nodded proudly at Allan holding his chin up high and turning his attention to the meat that wasn’t squirrel on the chopping board.

”Get away from my kitchen!” Much near shouted, checking over at John to make sure the man of few words hadn’t stirred, not likely. ”It is not squirrel! It is rabbit if you must know that John went and caught earlier.” Hence why the man was sleeping now – he’d done his daily duty.

”You must have made a rubbish spy, if you didn’t even notice that!”

[Allan A Dale]

"Yeah, of course I am, 'cause we're doing a whole lot right now aren't we?" Allan shook his head. Much was truly unbelievable. Even if he had been spying once more, he would have waited till he had a plausible explanation for heading to where ever the meeting point was, and until he had useful information. But the point was that he wasn't spying on anyone, so Much could just sod right off.

Well, he seemed to have shut Much up momentarily, which was a surprise. The man always seemed to have some snarky comeback for him, usually unpleasant as well. Allan shrugged. Whatever, he just shouldn't have risen to the bait. While Much seemed preoccupied (see, there was that thinking again - distracted him, what good was it when he thought, really?), Allan grabbed the spoon from the pot and took a sip of the broth. Yep, squirrel. Ew.

"Oi, gimme some credit. One thing I never did say was were the camp was, an' I wouldn't," Allan replied, a bit miffed. It was the one thing he hadn't done... Well, that and reveal Marian's position as a spy. See, he did some good while he was lurking round about the castle, after all.

Apparently the manservant was done however, turning back to his cooking and screeching for Allan to get out of his kitchen. Technically, it was everyone's kitchen - Much just spent the most time in there, after all. He didn't believe it was rabbit, though, Much was definitely making things up. Or, Allan wanted to believe that. Maybe eating squirrel for so long knackered your tastebuds. He'd find out later, at any rate.

"Oi, can't keep an eye on everyone, can I?" he replied, deciding to play Much's game. "Gotta keep an eye on Robin, eh, he's the one who causes the most trouble." Allan put his hands up, however, still holding the bucket. "I'm going, I'm going..."

[Much]

Much harrumphed, "We don't need to be doing a lot for you to tell Gisborne where the camp is, or where our new stash is!" he mumbled, chopping the top of the carrot off with some amount of vigour that had somebody's finger or hand been in the way of it, that too would have met the same end.

((*Snorks* just so happens to lead on to Allan's next comment that's weird!))

"Of course you wouldn't Allan,” and for his information, it was Much’s kitchen, not Allan’s, or the gang. When was the last time any of them had told him to put his feet up and did the cooking for him. At last look, never. Not even when he was suffering badly with flu back in the winter. He still had to be the one to get up and suffer over a hot stove. No, they didn’t have the right to call it their kitchen, it was most definitely 100% his!

”That’s what your going to do now isn’t it! Spy on Robin and Marian, and tell Gisborne of all of their little actions. Not that I would want to tell him that, in fear for my own life, if I were you!” The thought of spying on Robin and Marian was enough to make any man queasy. He didn’t even want to think about it. But as it appeared you could never be one without the other.

”Now get out!” Much turned, the knife still in his hand, he resisted the urge to wave it in the direction of the exit, and chase Allan away with it. As much as he wanted to do it, he couldn’t make himself. Even he couldn’t be that cruel. Maybe to the squirrels…

[Allan A Dale]

Typical. Much was just a stubborn old git, really, Allan had long decided. And he had meant Much's kitchen, not referring to it as Allan's kitchen - Allan avoided cooking at all costs, so he'd never lay claim to it. Sooo not chatting via RP x3;; He watched as Much chopped up the carrot with rather more force than was necessary, and felt a little bit vulnurable. Just push him a little bit too far and...

Well, you couldn't tell with Much. Sometimes he seemed like the sanest member of the group, and sometimes he seemed madder than even Robin on a suicide mission. He had been thinking about nicking the carrot, but was glad he kept his hands to himself for a change.

Very occasionally, Allan would feel a little guilty about the fact that Much did all the cooking, but frankly the rest of them were terrible at it, so it fell to their resident, always hungry chef. If Much would teach someone, maybe, then they'd be sorted - he could share the load. But Allan wasn't offering to be taught until Much showed him a little trust and respect, and he didn't think anyone else wanted to, so the bloke would just have to deal with it till he realised that Allan wasn't going to stab him in the back. Allan rolled his eyes at Much's comment - nope, never getting the offer. He was an arse!

Allan waggled his eyebrows. "Could be an interesting view." He knew that would probably drive Much a little bit crazy, but it was just so easy to antagonise him! Of course, even Allan had more respect (and sanity) than that. Chasing after Maz and Rob? He'd probably be killed before he got close, and then where would he be?

"Alright, I'm going!" he declared, hands up still from his previous concession. Now, his mind had been working this entire time, and that carrot was still in Much's hand... And it was so tempting because he knew he'd get a reaction...

Deciding it was totally worth it, he darted forward, grabbed the carrot and darted backwards, out of Much's reach, before beginning to munch on it. He chewed a little and waved it around. "Hey, this ain't bad for a snack, is it?"

[Much]

Not bad for a snack indeed, Much was tempted to chase the guy out of his kitchen with a knife and make sure he'd never come back in. Alas Robin would probably not approve. "Out!" he ordered loudly one last time picking up the knife with indignation. He wouldn't do it, but he could threaten with it. If the guy didn't leave immediately he wouldn't be held responsible for his actions.

"Go and 'collect water'!" he said emphasising his new found euphemism. He liked them. Despite not having any for himself, he enjoyed teasing he others whenever he could. One day he was going to check that Djaq and will were actually 'collecting honey'. Allan sure as hell wasn't 'collecting water' with the barrel as full as it was. But he would let him slide if he left the kitchen at that moment.

Maybe he'd follow Allan one day as well. See what he actually did. But then, maybe he really didn't want to know. Maybe he was visiting some poor girl who needed a brain transplant and some sane pills. Or a good hit round the head to knock some sense into her. Or maybe he was spying again, Much would never trust him again. He knew that. He'd get annoyed about it and try his best, but at the end of the day Allan never did anything to help himself in the matter.

One day he'd send Will with him perhaps. Then he wouldn't be able to do whatever it was without loosing him. And Allan was less liking to be able to lose Will than he was Much. For some stupid reason but it appeared to work. Putting Allan and Will together on errands would certainly help their cause. Maybe that is where they went wrong last time. Not putting the two guys together, they were best friends after all. Maybe Will could control him...