[PRP] My, What Big Teeth You Have! (Kijembe, Lucetta) - FIN

[Mogami]

Lucetta snuck out of the den while her father, a large purple Guard, was having a serious talk with her brother Vor. It was something she wouldn’t normally do but the young lioness had been feeling somewhat… restless lately. She couldn’t quite explain how but things were strange when her parents were together as they either seemed to be falling apart or strained in their alone moments (when she actively spied on them). Well, Lucetta didn’t like it. The confident lioness wasn’t immune to the rumors surrounding her mother – foolish whispers that stated she was still in love with a certain commoner - and not being able to change the situation scared her and made her feel rebellious and frustrated. So without much thought Lucetta decided to wander, her paws taking her higher up the mountain with each step.

Briefly she wondered if she’d be able to see a member of the royal family, perhaps even the King! Surely, that would be enough to lighten her mood considerably. She started running as soon as she spotted the King’s quarters in the distance. She probably wouldn’t be allowed to get very close but Luce wanted to get as good a look as possible.  

[Lithiasaur]

The King's Assassin did not have much work. As it turned out, the royal family were rather well liked, and they were peaceful and did their best to be welcoming. Kijembe could not complain about that, really.

He didn't complain about anything, in fact.

He rarely spoke at all.

The seasoned killer spent his days as a terrifying doctor that no member of the pride in their right mind willingly came to see. It wasn't anything he did on purpose. He was just a very dark lion, his red splotches looked like permanent blood and no one knew if they were real markings or actual blood stains.

He tried to be nice, but it wasn't very easy for him. He never smiled, and his eyes were sharp and dangerous.

His den was near the King's, of course, even if his rank was secret everyone knew he served the King directly. He saw something approaching and stood like a looming shadow, though this one was solid, as it approached. He said nothing, just watching her with an icy gaze that wasn't actually as cruel as it seemed.  

[Mogami]

Luce’s cheerful sprint ended abruptly when she almost bumped into the dark figure in her path. She wasn’t used to seeing purple-less lions so far up the mountain and the young nearly froze when she recognized the dark lion before her. He was the King’s… something. Honestly, she didn’t really know. But he was always there, just a few steps behind Bwana and it was clear he had the young King’s confidence.

But. He was. So creepy.

Her father was big and dark Guard but he had a way of making everyone feel at ease around him. When Luce looked up at the dark lion whose name she didn’t know however, she just felt… cold. And so very small. Why was he looking at her like that? Why didn’t he say anything?

“Uhm… I…” The young lioness just stood there for a few moments, wide-eyed and worried. And then she took a few tentative steps to the side, wondering if she’d be able to simply walk around the lion and avoid him.
 

[Lithiasaur]

Kijembe looked at the youngster blandly, not finding her threatening of course. She was just a cub, and clearly off playing or with some idea in her head that was harmless. He watched her impassively.

Generally, he didn't have to say anything before others scampered away from him. Young or old, no one really took to him and far less actually wanted to speak with him. He was used to it in a way that meant he didn't focus on it and almost didn't notice.

"Are you lost?" he ventured to ask, his voice low and almost unsure. He did not speak very much, considering his fairly lonely and singular existence. He barely spoke to the King, in fact, and the Queen rarely took an interest in him. He was fine with things being quiet, as he often found he wasn't the best at talking anyway.

He never knew what to say.

His eyebrow arched a bit as she tried to walk around him, and he turned a bit to indicate that he was watching her. He didn't block her, per se, but his glare was strong enough to stay most escape attempts. He wasn't doing it on purpose, actually just watching her because he was interested.  

[Mogami]

Oh, Luce was so confused! The poor cub had no idea what to make of the dark lion’s reactions. Most adults would’ve asked the same question with a gentle smile and a pleasant voice, probably lowering themselves to her eye level if they were the really friendly sort. Some might even compliment her coat and ask about her parents. This was… different.

“No…” she answered at last, her voice a little higher than she’d intended. With a mental shake of her head, the young lioness tried to shake off the ridiculous pressure she felt just by looking up at the icy gaze of the adult. She reminded herself that Bwana was a very kind King and that he wouldn’t allow a cub to be harmed right in front of his den and that the Nobles would be furious as well if something happened to one of their own. Interestingly enough, while those thoughts did embolden Luce somewhat, she still couldn’t relax under the cold glare. She took a few more tentative steps as she slowly circled the dark lion and stopped only when she was behind his back, a place – she found – where Luce felt much more at ease. Her previous objective momentarily forgotten, she had to admit to being rather curious about the mysterious lion. “Who are you?”  

[Lithiasaur]

Kijembe watched her coolly. Coldly, almost, from her point of view.

The poor lion lacked any social graces. he did not miss what he had never had, not since his mate had been taken from him so long ago. A bit of a tragic sort, he would much rather keep to himself than get close to anyone. He feared losing them in the same way.

So his icy behavior was more a defense mechanism to protect himself than it was a cruel streak or a purposeful way to hurt someone.

But she was right. She had nothing to fear of him, save his attitude and the way he glared. He would never harm a cub, even though he was probably the worst lion in the world to be around them. They were small and confusing to him, and he was not particularly good with them. But he certainly would not hurt one.

He let her pad around him, not even his tail flicking as she did so, staring at the spot she had occupied until she returned to it. Which she didn't. He frowned at the ground for a long moment before he looked over his shoulder at her.

"My name is Kijembe," he answered evenly. "Who are you?"  

[Mogami]

For some reason she couldn’t quite explain, Luce hadn’t expected the dark lion to actually talk again much less answer her question and ask something in return. This strange lion who stood unnaturally still baffled her senses and confused her greatly.

“Lucetta...” she finally answered, slowly realizing that the got the exact same chill down her back when he turned his neck to look at her. Where she was supposed to go from the little introduction, the young girl wasn’t really sure. Usually, the adults would ask her about her family, make silly small talk, ask her about her favorite plays, warn her about the Groundlings’ forest… that’s how it usually went. This was…well, who said it had to anything different? She was also not acting like her usual self. Circling around the lion to stand in front of him again, the purple lioness blurted out the first thing that came to her mind.

“Do you like the Theatre?” she waited for his answer expectantly.  

[Lithiasaur]

Mogami

Kijembe watched her as quietly as ever, taking note of her name without seeming to do so, or even caring. But he did like to know the people of the pride. Not being their friend, of course, as rarely he had the opportunity to even try something like that and thus had no practice in it, but simply know who they were and what they were about.

Cubs were not exempt in that, no matter how young and cute they might be. They could still grow up to be someone he needed to know about, after all, depend on who they talked to.

He was always on guard, even in times of peace.

He watched her as she seemed to decide she would face her fear of him and came back around to his front side. His head was tilted downwards, watching her, though he did eventually lower himself to his stomach so he was perched in front of her. He made no motion to hurt her, at least.

"I suppose I tolerate it," he said slowly, after a lot of thought. Conversation really defeated him, and it may have been his greatest weakness. He looked at her, though, trying to make his expression soft or even nice and warm. It didn't work very well. "Do you?"  

[Mogami]

Lithia_Brandon

Luce shrunk under the dark lion’s looming shape, finding him far too close to her taste. Someone really needed to have a talk with Kijembe about the concept of personal space… someone other than her, of course.

“Tolerate it?!” Well, clearly there had been a right answer to her question and the dark lion had failed to provide it. “What do you mean, I tolerate it?” she asked, her voice starting to take a slightly higher pitch before it switched to a slow and lower tone as she did a surprisingly good imitation of Kijembe’s answer.

“Of course I do!” Who didn’t?! Besides Grumpy Face over here just about everyone she knew deeply enjoyed watching the plays. It was one of the most important and interesting things in the Suka’Fumo. “All those stories, the pretty costumes, the funny parts… why don’t you like it?!”
 

[Lithiasaur]

Mogami

Kijembe had not realized he had been taking a test, and his answer was unsatisfactory. He watched her with a bland, almost confused expression, head slightly tilted to the side. It would be confused, at least, if he were a bit better at expressing himself. Still, the aura came off well enough because of the head tilt.

He blinked at her.

"I do not give it much though," he elaborated, as she pressed him to explain his 'tolerate' idea. He was finding she was oddly endearing, her attitude and passion making her seem bold and determined. Good qualities for a cub to have young, and cultivate as they grew.

He never had much chance to hang out with cubs.

"I did not say I do not like it... I simply do not like it as much as you do. I do not get to see the performances that often, I suppose." He kept himself occupied in the name of the King, even though Bwana would likely much rather have him watching plays and having fun. Kijembe could not help his sense of duty.

"Perhaps I will go to the next one, and I will be able to give you a better review."

These were a lot of words for him, and he was looking tired by them. He did not talk to others much, but she was managing to keep him entertained and not run screaming from him. He had a slightly squishy side, it was just hard to get to.  

[Mogami]

Lithia_Brandon

“Well, you definitely have to watch more then.” That was the only way he’d be able to form a proper opinion on the subject. You know… a proper positive opinion.

“You need to watch a comedy and a tragedy at least.” Was he confused? It was so hard to tell! The young lioness eyed the dark male defiantly, finding that her unjustified anger was a great help against Kijembe’s strange aura. It was a lot easier to speak to the dark lion after berating him for no good reason and not being chastised or punished for it. It actually gave her a slight feeling of empowerment.

“Alright, it’s a deal. After the next performance, I’ll come back.” She jumped back, after her one-sided decision, feeling a little more comfortable with the new distance between them. “Don’t forget, Kijembe. I’ll find you!” And she walked away having completely forgotten her initial objective. The young lioness didn’t go far until memories of her mother’s lessons started nagging her about what she’d almost forgotten. She did a quick graceful turn and lowered her body in a slow little curtsy.

“It was pleasure meeting you, Kijembe.” She said with a small playful smile.  

[Lithiasaur]

Mogami

Kijembe watched her passively, thinking that if he saw a comedy or a tragedy that basically covered the whole gamut of plays, did it not? Of course, his knowledge of them was severely limited despite where he lived and who he served. He did not bring the point up though, thinking it might incite her again.

He lowered himself to the ground, laying his head on his front paws and watching her almost lazily. But his eyes never seemed lazy or detached: he was always watching, always ready. He knew better than to let his guard down completely.

Even when he wasn't anywhere near the King.

At the deal he had not really meant to make, he nodded his head against his paws, smirking a bit. Since his expression was generally a frown, the slight curl of his mouth just made the line of his mouth straighten out. But it wasn't a frown, so that was a good thing.

Her little threat of finding him was what did it. He imagined if he didn't want her to he could hide from her easily enough, moving like a shadow, but he found it didn't bother him. Going to see a play and talking to her about it did nto seem like the worst thing in the world, and it was different to his usual day.

"And you," he said, rising to offer her a proper bow. "Until next time."  

[Mogami]

It was a good thing that Kijembe chose not to mention those types of plays as if they were the only ones in existence for Lucetta would certainly take it upon herself to thoroughly educate the older lion on her favorite kinds of plays… which meant most of them. Whether they were adventurous tales on faraway lands, romances of princes and princesses or even mysterious tales of magic and prophecies that kept her up at night, the young lioness watched them all avidly with little discrimination.

“See ya!” Luce said cheerfully, finally turning to leave. It was really hard to understand the lion’s expressions (or lack thereof) but Luce was certain that she’d seen him smiling… smirking… something. She was quite happy about it.

- FIN -