[PRP] A New Friend (Zelopytia x Badgemagus)

[Dame NightFury]

Badgemagus strolled around the base of Castle Mountain, taking a mental - well sometimes verbal - inventory of all the elements around that could be used and for what. The small exercise helped pass the time of the day. Every day. It was really too bad that he couldn't visit other provinces all that much, but they were pretty far away and Badge wasn't sure he wanted that much activity at the moment. He wasn't even sure how he felt about this daily inventory stroll.

Basil. Ginger. Aloe. Bamboo. Eucalyptus. Periwinkle. Senna. Guava. Acacia. His list went on and on. And it hadn't changed from yesterday. Or the day before.

Badge sat down rather suddenly, mentally exhausted. How long had he been doing this exercise? And he never found it trying before? Maybe he should collect some of the plants and stones. And some flat stones. He could put the stones out to bake in the sun before using them on his muscles to relax. Help shake off this .... this mood and attitude that had suddenly come on and finish the day's ... well the walk. He'd stop the inventory for a while. Maybe he would do it once a month - the inventory part. Movement was good for a body so he would still go on his strolls, but he didn't have to list the plants he came across. They really weren't going anywhere in a hurry.  

[RuIerr]

The edge of the Mkoani province where it touched the base of the Castle had become a safe haven. This was where Zelopytia now roamed when she was stressed out, even in the slightest, in an attempt to feel safe and get her mind off of things. Today, though, she was not nearly as preoccupied as she normally was. Today was much different. She’d actually come to find this area to be a comfortable place to exist when she had nothing else to do. Her job was more or less as a liaison from her province to the King, but considering the state the King was currently in, she wasn’t really sure there was much to do. Particularly because unrest was pride-wide and couldn’t really vary that much from province to province. It really wasn’t something to bother King Uther about at this point. And so, Zelopytia grew bored and restless.

Of course, it seemed as if that boredom wouldn’t last long. She was striding forward when she noticed a rather brightly colored male plop down abruptly, huffing and looking just downright exhausted. From what she could see, he seemed to be wrapped up heavily in his own thoughts. Zelopytia grinned, remembering her days as a Scholar. She recalled those fondly, briefly, before approaching the male. “Are you alright?”

Dame NightFury

 

[Dame NightFury]

Ruler of Everything

Badge jumped up to stand again, startled at the voice. He obviously hadn't known anyone else was around, especially here and now. No matter how often he'd gone on his morning stroll in the past, he hadn't really run into anyone .... He really needed to start paying better attention to more than the materials to treat ailments in his surroundings. Seeing the female approaching, Badge smiled and gave a small bow to be polite. "Yes, thank you, I'm fine. Just a little weary with my daily schedule. The grind of it all."

Badge eased back into a sitting position and smiled at his new companion. "I'm Badgemagus. Badge, if you like." Badge tried to place the lioness in his memory. A name or thought to the face and he was failing. Yet another example of why he needed to start paying attention to everything and everyone around him. Gods, he hoped he shouldn't know who she was. That would be very embarrassing. No way to avoid it, but still embarrassing. "How are you today?"  

[RuIerr]

Padding closer, Zelopytia found that she recognized the other faintly - probably from her rounds through and around the Castle province. However, when she reached into her brain for a name, she came up blank, nearly sighing audibly with relief when he introduced himself. Although she wasn’t expected to know the names of everyone inside the Castle, she really did hating like she forgot names.

“I’m Zelopytia,” she stated, making a mental note of his name even though she was sure Badgemagus would be difficult to forget. “Governor of the Mkoani,” she added, knowing that sometimes others appreciated knowing her position within the pride. Well, that and she enjoyed the feeling of pride that she still got by telling others that. Although it had been a while since she’d been elected, Zelopytia continued to be shocked by it all.

Glancing at Badge, she tilted her head, brow furrowed. “Oh? And what is it you do?” She was genuinely curious, as the male seemed stressed out by whatever it was that he was attempting to do. “I’m doing well, thank you! But you seem like you’re a bit… troubled. Anything I can help with?” And that was the part of her job she loved the most – getting to meet others and extend a helping paw and call it “work.” Zelopytia was continually grateful of the fact that she got to live her life this way; even amid the current events within the pride she still managed to make herself feel useful.

Dame NightFury

 

[Dame NightFury]

Ruler of Everything

What did he do? Well how to answer that. Because this was the second time in a few days that a female has asked him something along those lines. Nothing is what it felt like at the moment. But then he was a commoner so he was supposed to do nothing. He had no responsibilities to take care of, nothing to make him do anything really. So what did he do?

“Well, Governor,” Badge started, unsure of what to call her. Was it polite to use her given name? She was the first governor he had met, well first one that counted really. Who knew if he had ever really met another governor and not even known or notice. “I walk around and take a mental inventory of all the material in the area that could be used to heal or in general medicinal purposes. It’s good to know that in case of emergencies that can happen. I make not of the features each plant or rock that can be used to treat ailments.”

Hmm what else did he do? He did a lot of thinking. Thinking about the material mostly and how to use it if he ever needed to, but so far it had never been an incident that required it. After all the Medicine Scholars were all around the pride’s lands. Well, that was about it then. And it was kind of depressing. Maybe he should do something. Find a job or something.  

[RuIerr]

The lioness let out a soft chuckle at being addressed by her title. That happened, sometimes, when others seemed to look up to her as if she was in some grand position of power. But it really wasn't that important - at least, not as important as being in the Council, anyway. A cloudy look crossed her face at the thought, but was replaced quickly by a smile. "Please, just Zelopytia."

At the other's listing of his duties within the pride, Zelopytia's eyes visibly lit up. Before she had been elected in as Governor, her passion had been studying the Tokakinji's history as a Scholar. The pride really was her everything, and before she had a chance to be more hands-on in her duties within, she had really enjoyed getting to research and educate others on the history of their beloved pride. "So, you're a Scholar? That's excellent!" Grinning now, she prepared herself for the excited bubbling of emotions that was bond to pour out of her mouth.

Dame NightFury

 

[Dame NightFury]

Ruler of Everything

Well, um ... this was awkward. Badge wooshed his tail from side to side. Zelopytia seemed to have gotten the entirely wrong impression. How was he going to actually explain this when he didn't understand why he was doing nothing with all the knowledge he'd acquired. Or at least find a way to change the topic without being so obvious about it. But a change wasn't coming to mind. Badge blushed and cleared his throat. "Um. No?" Badge looked away and licked his lips. "You see, I only take the inventory and am prepared for a worst case scenario - just in case someone needs some help and can't get to a Scholar of Medicine. This was-is a ... a passion of mine. Nothing else, really." Gods, he sounded pathetic even to his own ears. Especially considering the impassioned excitement the governor now. Apparently, he'd struck on a good nerve of hers. Better than a bad one, but it was not exactly small talk anymore...


So much for subtlety. Badge cleared his throat and gave good old try to change the subject before he had to figure out why he was becoming so, well so discontent with doing the same routine and being a Commoner. Because Badge wasn't sure he had a reason for it or ever had, never mind a good reason. "Were you interested in scholarly workings before becoming a governor?" Good idea, Badge. Stay on the same subject but focus it on her. He wanted to groan at himself, but didn't. Instead he refocused on Zelopytia, looking at her and trying to keep his tail still.  

[RuIerr]

It was easy to see the change in Badgemagus's attitude - Zelopytia read lions for a living, after all. The too-quick swishing of his tail back and forth and the way his eyes were moving indicated a clear discomfort. It was difficult for her not to c**k her head and immediately ask what was wrong, but she tempered herself. There were other ways to find out. Then, when he responded audibly, she began to understand. Kind of. So... he wasn't a scholar, but did pretty much all the work of one. The male appeared impassioned by his work and knowledgeable but... wasn't... a... scholar. The thought made Zelopytia's brain hurt.

When he turned the conversation to her, she could see what he was attempting to do. But that didn't stop her eyes from lighting up immediately, shining with the memory of years past. "Why, of course I was! In my mind, there is nothing more noble than the pursuit of Scholarship." She stated the last part with a pointed glance his way. "Personally, I focused on the history of the pride. Traveling throughout the provinces, collecting stories, figuring out what was true..." At this point her gaze had drifted far off in the distance, staring down at the land beyond the Castle. She shifted her focus back to him, feeling herself caught up in her own history. "Would you mind explaining to me why on earth you dedicate your life to medicine but refuse to label it so?" A bit of sass had entered her voice, as she was clearly confused and frankly, a bit offended at the male's rejection of her past position. Was the title not good enough for him?

Dame NightFury